ITV's political discussion show Peston returned to screens with host Robert Peston joined by UK Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, Labour MP Clive Lewis, former Conservative Party co-chair Sayeeda Warsi, and former Bank of England economist Andy Haldane. The panel discussed current affairs, but the conversation quickly turned into a fierce debate over the Makerfield by-election.
Labour Panel Clashes Over By-Election
Lewis stated: 'I'm going up there Tuesday, and I have a lot of friends on the ground. The issue is the Labour Party is toxic in Makerfield, that's the reality.' Before he could continue, Nandy questioned: 'Have you been?' To which the MP for Norwich South stuttered: 'I know this for a fact.'
The Culture Secretary hit back: 'But you've never been, I live there.' As Lewis attempted to justify with 'I'm going up tomorrow,' an unimpressed Nandy retorted: 'Come on though, please,' before branding Lewis' rhetoric as 'breathtaking arrogance.'
Lewis Defends His Position
Lewis continued: 'You've seen the literature, it is Andy Burnham, it isn't about the Labour Party because it's the only way we're going to win the by-elections.' A disappointed Nandy blasted: 'Clive, I've lived in this town for 17 years.'
He responded: 'I'm sure you have, I've got eyes, I've got ears, I can read, I can listen.' Nandy blurted: 'Well, you can't listen if you haven't been and spoken to anybody.'
The heated exchange highlighted deep divisions within the Labour Party over the upcoming by-election. This is a breaking story, and updates will follow as more information becomes available.
