UK politics - latest: Inflation falls as Peter Bone suspension triggers byelection for Rishi Sunak in 2024

Falling petrol prices help drive a bigger-than-expected fall inflation

Michael Gove calls for criminal case to be brought against Michelle Mone

UK inflation eased back to its lowest level for more than two years last month as falling petrol prices helped drive a bigger-than-expected fall, official figures show.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the rate of Consumer Prices Index inflation fell to 3.9 per cent in November, down from 4.6 per cent in October, and the lowest level since September 2021.

Most economists had been expecting inflation to fall to 4.3 per cent last month.

Elsewhere, Rishi Sunak will face another by-election test early next year after MP Peter Bone lost his seat in parliament in a recall petition.

The Northamptonshire MP was suspended from the Commons for six weeks in October after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct.

Some 13.2 per cent of eligible voters – 10,505 people – in Mr Bone’s Wellingborough constituency voted for the recall petition, surpassing the 10 per cent threshold needed to trigger a by-election.

Key Points

• Falling petrol prices help drive a bigger-than-expected fall inflation
• Bone suspension triggers fresh byelection for Sunak in 2024
• Gove reveals he has co-operated with NCA probe into PPE Medpro
• Mone accuses Gove of overseeing ‘huge waste in PPE contracts’

[19 December 2023 19:37 · Andy Gregory]

Good evening, we’ll be using this blog to provide the latest updates on the PPE procurement scandal, after under-fire peer Michelle Mone accused Michael Gove of overseeing “huge waste in PPE contracts”.