Nigel Huddleston, the new Conservative Party co-chair, is now joining Sky News, and is asked about the government’s decision to abandon a proposed smoking ban in pub gardens.
He says: “I do understand that they’re not going to be doing the smoking ban outside pubs, which caused a lot of concern to my constituents and colleagues in my party.
“I am glad that that has been removed, because it is about balance.”
Mr Huddleston says the bill will likely face a free vote, adding: “We will probably having people voting different ways.”
The conversation then turns to Labour plans to raise university tuition fees in line with inflation, soaring to £9,535 in England.
“This is yet another example of what we’re seeing as a pattern here,” he says. “Labour in opposition saying one thing, and in government doing another.
“Usually at the cost of somebody – in this case, students.”
He adds: “We saw this the other day with the budget, ‘we’re not going to raise taxes, all of our policies are fully funded, we’re not going to increase debt’.
“They did the absolute opposite, and they did again – one week later – on fees.”
The shadow minister accuses Labour of “not being straight” with the British public.