Spiked Online Editor Tom Slater has revealed the mood around London is “incredibly tense” after the UK parliament erupted over a ceasefire vote. Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle apologised to MPs for the chaos that ensued over the Gaza debate but insisted the safety of MPs was on his mind when he made the decision to allow a vote on a Labour amendment. “The mood is incredibly tense… I think MPs have a right to be concerned,” Mr Slater told Sky News host Peta Credlin. “It was only a couple of years ago, 2021, that David Ames, a Tory MP was murdered by an Islamist terrorist because of his support for airstrikes against Islamist state. “We’ve had a Conservative MP Mike Freer recently announce that he is going to step down at the next election … because he’s been menaced with death threats for years.”

Spiked Online Editor Tom Slater has branded the UK Labour Party’s way of convincing the Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle to consider their amendments to a ceasefire motion “deeply chilling.” It follows a debate which erupted in British Parliament after the Scottish National Party put forward a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. In a break of protocol the Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle allowed a vote on Labour’s amendments to the motion which included an “immediate humanitarian pause” rather than a ceasefire. “Even if the Labour Party did lean on Lindsay Hoyle in a way that I think is pretty plausible, I think the way in which they convinced him is still deeply chilling.” Mr Slater said in response. “There is clearly a terroristic threat to MPs.” The debate went on for a total of six hours and resulted in more than 50 lawmakers submitting letters of no confidence in the Speaker.

Sky News host Steve Price says the Dunkley by-election will have a “major impact” on the futures of both Opposition Leader Peter Dutton and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. “The quality of individual candidates and the raft of Independent and minor candidates running is almost irrelevant,” he said. “This is a poll of 111,000 registered voters on the biggest issues, mainly the cost of living, and who those 111,000 voters blame for mortgage increases, crippling rents, power bills that never went down as Labor promised they would, petrol prices and checkout pain at Coles Woolies and Aldi. “It’s also a poll on something politicians on both sides don't really want to talk about, immigration. “More particularly how many people are coming into Australia and where they’re coming from.”

The Australian’s National Editor Dennis Shanahan says Prime Minister Anthony Albanese wants to “hold on” to younger voters after he was spotted going to a Taylor Swift concert. Mr Shanahan joined Sky News host Peta Credlin to discuss Mr Albanese’s reputation after attending the concert. “Well the Prime Minister is constantly trying to appeal to the younger voters,” he said. “That’s one of his keys. “So he constantly talks about being DJ Albo, he goes on FM radio, does very soft interviews, he talks about Toto – and TayTay … there is a juxtaposition here which is awkward.”

Aged Care Minister Anika Wells says the Albanese government is “determined to help” aged care workers and the sector. The Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety was established in October, 2018, with the goal of assessing whether the services were meeting the needs of the community and how they could be improved. The Fair Work Commission ordered a 15 per cent pay increase in minimum wages for aged care workers which was introduced in June, 2023, and the government invested more than $2 billion to the sector in December. “The Albanese government made a commitment to back workers – in the Fair Work Commission to get a meaningful pay rise,” she said during Question Time on Monday. “That is what we did, and that commitment has meant personal care workers – are now taking home an additional $141 per week, or more than $7,300 every year.”

Defence Industry Minister Pat Conroy says Labor’s plan for the Australian Navy “more than doubles” the number of surface combatants which will be available to Australia. The Royal Australian Navy, after the completion of the additional vessels, will hold three Hobart class air warfare destroyers, six Hunter class frigates (reduced from nine), 11 new ‘off-the-shelf design’ general purpose frigates and six new large optionally crewed surface vessels to boost the long-range strike capacity, which also has autonomous capabilities. “Last week’s announcement by the Deputy Prime Minister and myself was the most consequential announcement for the surface fleet of the Navy since World War Two,” he said during Question Time on Monday. “It’s not just more vessels, it’s getting them faster. “Under the plan of those opposite when they were in power, we would have had one additional surface combatant vessel by 2034 – under our plan we’ll have four.”

Singer and actress Charlotte Church has been accused of spreading an anti-Semitic message during a performance in Wales. The Welsh singer included the phrase “from the river to the sea” at a pro-Palestine concert. The incident sparked outrage with some calling for the start to be cancelled. One user created the hashtag '#cancelCharlotteChurch' on X. UK Andrew Percy labelled the incident as “deeply concerning” adding that those who joined the singer should “hang their heads in shame”.

Sky News has spoken to Frankston residents about who they’re planning to vote for in the Dunkley by-election on Saturday. The by-election will be the government’s first major ballot box litmus test and the stakes are high for both leaders. The passing of former federal member for Dunkley Peta Murphy will be at the front of mind for many voters, saying they will vote for Labor candidate Jodie Belyea based on the fact they sympathise with the circumstances. Meanwhile, some say they will vote independent, wanting to vote for change. The main concern in Dunkley going into Saturday’s by-election will be cost of living pressures.

Education Minister Jason Clare says the Australian Universities Accord is going to act as a “blueprint” for higher education reform for the nation’s future. The Universities Accord contains 47 recommendations with dozens more sub-proposals with the aim of doubling the size of the sector over the next 25 years. “Under Bob Hawke and Paul Keating the number of kids finishing high school jumped from 40 per cent to almost 80 per cent, that includes a lot of us here, that was nation-changing stuff,” Mr Clare said during Question Time on Monday. “On the weekend I released the Universities Accord, a that’s a blueprint for how we reform higher education in this country for the next decade and the decade after that. “What this report says is that by the middle of this century we’ll need a workforce where 80 per cent of that workforce haven’t just finished high school, but they’ve got a TAFE qualification, or a university degree as well.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has delivered a rare update on the number of Ukrainian soldiers killed in the war with Russia. He has revealed 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers have died but he remains confident critical Western support will continue. This comes as Ukraine’s war with Russia reaches its second anniversary. A UK-led program has been training Ukrainian recruits in warfare in Eastern Europe with personnel from Australia, Canada, New Zealand and many other countries. Over 30,000 Ukrainians have been trained to become soldiers since June 2022 as a result of the program.

Daily Express Royal Round Up Host Pandora Forsyth says the trust between Prince Harry and Prince William is “entirely broken down”. Ms Forsyth says the issue with Harry is “trust”. “Whatever conversations that they have with each other in these rooms, how does William know that it’s not going to get back into a book, into a podcast, into an interview,” Ms Forsyth said. “He just doesn’t know that’s going to happen because of Harry’s track record which is the issue here moving forward. “If they want a full reconciliation then how is that going to happen with someone where you don’t know if you can trust them or not.”

Political commentator Shemeka Michelle says she is “desperate” to not have Joe Biden in the White House for another four years. The United States is all but sealed for a presidential rematch between Joe Biden and Donald Trump in November. “I don’t think we can afford it,” Ms Michelle said. “America is broken ... we’re back at having to try and put America together again. “I think it really depends on how desperate people are.”

Sky News host James Morrow says young leftists have been “trained almost from birth” to not look out for their own interests or the interests of their country. Mr Morrow reacted to a video of a young Democrat voter questioning why America’s democracy is prioritised over the lives of Palestinians in Gaza. “They have been taught that people like Hamas – who violently hate the personal and sexual freedoms the left enjoys – are their friends,” Mr Morrow said. “If Joe Biden or whomever is on the ticket for the Democrats come November loses that election, that will not be the end of this problem that the left has. “Which is going to tear that side of politics apart but also I fear, the country as well – if we’re not careful.”

Writer and broadcaster Esther Krakue warns United Kingdom MPs are being intimidated by the pro-Palestinian “hate mob” after protesters marched outside parliament. Ms Krakue lashed a “ludicrous” Gaza ceasefire vote which sent the UK’s House of Commons into chaos. The debate was sparked when the Scottish National Party put forward a motion calling for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. The debate went on for six hours and led to more than 50 lawmakers submitting letters of no confidence in Speaker Lindsay Hoyle. Ms Krakue branded it a “giant virtue signalling exercise” that will have no impact on what is happening in Gaza. “We all across the board are seeing intimidation of MPs, particularly when it comes to this vote which is largely ceremonial, completely meaningless,” she told Sky News Australia.

Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers claims Prince William is still “appalled” at Prince Harry’s behaviour and does not want to welcome him back into the family. Reports have emerged the Duke of Sussex, who stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the US with his wife Meghan, is open to a temporary senior role to support his ailing father. Prince Harry spoke to Good Morning America earlier this month where he admitted King Charles’ cancer diagnosis could have a “reunifying effect” on the royal family. “The issue for Prince William is certainly he feels like his brother needs to come to the table and apologise to the family,” Mr Myers told Sky News host Caroline Di Russo. “You’ve had countless TV interviews starting with the Oprah Winfrey, then the Netflix series, then the memoir that absolutely savaged each and every member of his family and still no accountability from Prince Harry.”

The Queensland government is pouring nearly $3 billion into building a critical rail line in the Sunshine Coast. The Miles government has conceded that it won't be fully built in time for the 2032 Olympic Games in Brisbane. The direct rail line from Beerwah to Maroochydore has long been a pipe dream for the Sunshine Coast. Queensland Treasurer Cameron Dick says the Federal government has already put $1.6 billion “on the table” to help with the project. The state opposition has criticised the business case for the project, believing it could have been completed by 2032 under their government.

Recycling exporters are warning new regulations could force them to pass on millions of dollars in costs to consumers. The proposed legislation will charge companies more for the approximately 1.2 tonnes of excess paper and cardboard Australian recyclers export each year The National Waste and Recycling Industry Council is calling on Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek to scrap the proposed changes. They say they amount to a 'recycling tax' and will only lead to increased costs to the public and more recyclables ending up in landfill. The regulations are proposed for recyclables exporters from July 1.

Daily Mirror Royal Editor Russell Myers warns Princess Anne could be Prince Harry’s “only ally” in the Royal Family at the moment. Reports have emerged the Duke of Sussex, who stepped down from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to the US with his wife Meghan, is open to a temporary senior role to support his ailing father. Prince Harry spoke to Good Morning America earlier this month where he admitted King Charles’ cancer diagnosis could have a “reunifying effect” on the Royal Family. King Charles has also been urged to send Princess Anne to speak with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to mend the relationship. “The no-nonsense attitude of Princess Anne would probably shake them and shake their heads and say, ‘we have got to try and work this out with the family’,” Mr Myers told Sky News host Caroline Di Russo.

The accidental discovery of a shipwreck off the New South Wales coast has sparked a worldwide search for the descendants of the 32 crew members who died. The SS Nemesis vanished in 1904 with authorities wanting to provide answers to the families left behind. Under the control of Captain Lusher, the ship had left Newcastle and was bound for Melbourne when it ran into the eye of a fierce storm. “It was a terrible time when this shipwreck occurred, bodies were being washed up on the beaches and we never found out what happened to them,” New South Wales Heritage Minister Penny Sharpe said. A remote sensing company looking for lost cargo came across the Nemesis shipwreck 160 metres under the water and 26 kilometres off the New South Wales shore. “They came across something that they weren’t sure what it was … with work between them and a great collaboration with the CSIRO we can now say that we have now found the SS Nemesis,” Ms Sharpe said.

The Prime Minister's overhaul of the stage three tax cuts have failed to deliver a bump in support, according to the latest Newspoll. Ahead of the crucial Dunkley by-election on Saturday, Labor's primary vote has dropped one point to 33 per cent. The Coalition's primary vote remains unchanged at 36 per cent. On a two-party preferred basis – Labor maintained its lead over the Coalition, 52 to 48. As preferred Prime Minister – Anthony Albanese improved a point – leading 47 to 35.