Presenter Cathy Newman skewered Mel Stride live on air

Cathy Newman used Mel Stride’s own claims against him in an awkward exchange on Channel 4 News last night.

The presenter was interviewing the Tory leadership hopeful over his vision for the party and his legacy as the former work and pensions secretary – and she did not hold back.

Newman began by referencing the new prime minister’s most recent speech, and said: “Keir Starmer says you guys left the country in a complete mess, this budget is going be painful and it’s your fault.”

“It’s a smoke screen,” he said, while claiming Labour had been planning to raise taxes “all along”.

But the presenter hit back: “No, hang on a second – I want to pick you up on what you just said, because you have advocated a........

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