Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has recently defended the work ethic of MPs amidst criticism regarding a “zombie parliament,” characterized by notably shorter sitting days. The average length of a Commons sitting day has been reported to drop to a record low of seven hours and nine minutes, sparking concerns over the lack of government business. Former Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt supported MPs, highlighting the significance of their work in constituencies and the dedication of Conservative MPs to their roles.

The Financial Times has spotlighted the legislative inactivity within the current parliamentary session, prompting criticism from opposition MPs, including Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and several Labour MPs. Despite these criticisms, a Tory source has defended the parliament’s productivity, pointing out the introduction of 26 Bills in the current session, against accusations of a dwindling legislative agenda.

In political commentary, Labour MP Jess Phillips predicted the failure of Reform UK in securing seats in the next general election, singling out member Lee Anderson and controversial politician George Galloway. Comments were made on Sky’s Electoral Dysfunction podcast, where former Scottish Conservatives leader Ruth Davidson also expressed skepticism about Reform UK’s electoral prospects under the current polling conditions.

Amidst discussions on party leadership, Penny Mordaunt has been highlighted as a potential favourite to replace Rishi Sunak as the Conservative Party leader. Despite her popularity among some Tory MPs and according to opinion polls by Savanta and Michael Ashcroft, reservations about her views on social policies and her past performance in leadership races have caused a mix of reactions within the party. The possibility of Mordaunt stepping in as a unifying figure to prevent expected electoral defeats for the Conservative Party remains a topic of speculation and debate among MPs.