Downing Street must have been looking forward to the Conservatives gathering in Birmingham.

Labour’s conference week was dominated by rows over ministerial freebies, winter fuel payments and claims of Downing Street in-fighting. Birmingham was a chance to remind people what a shower the last lot had been. Memories refreshed, perhaps the public would take it easier on Sir Keir Starmer and what Pat McFadden, his wartime consigliere, acknowledges have been “squalls” over gifts.

Except it did not turn out that way on the Sunday politics shows. The latest uncomfortable moment for the Prime Minister arrived when the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg interviewed Rosie Duffield, the former Labour MP for Canterbury.

Duffield resigned the whip on Saturday, accusing Sir Keir Starmer and his government of pursuing “cruel and unnecessary policies” and engulfing the party in rows over gifts.

Kuenssberg spoke to her on Saturday night, airing the interview the next day. Towards the end, Kuenssberg asked Duffield if the Prime Minister “has a problem with women”. Duffield replied: “I’m afraid I do, yes.”

The now-Independent MP went on: “I have experienced it myself, but most backbenchers I’m friends with are women and most of us refer to the men that surround him, the young men, as ‘the lads’ and it’s very clear that the lads are in charge.

“They have now got their Downing Street passes, they are the same lads who were briefing against me in the papers........

© Herald Scotland