Nigel Huddleston, the new co-chair of the Conservative Party, now joins Sky News and is asked about the government’s decision to abandon a proposed ban on smoking in pub gardens.

He said: “I understand that they are not going to ban smoking outside pubs, which has caused a lot of concern among my constituents and colleagues in my party.

“I’m glad that was removed because it’s about balance.”

Huddleston says the bill will likely be put to a free vote, adding: “We’ll probably have people voting in different ways.”

The conversation then turns to Labor plans to increase university tuition fees in line with inflation, to £9,535 in England.

“This is yet another example of what we see as a trend here,” he says. “Labour in opposition says one thing and in government does another.

“Usually at someone’s expense – in this case, students.”

He adds: “We saw it 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 the debt’.”

“They did just the opposite, and they did it again – a week later – on fees.”

Shadow minister accuses Labor of “not being honest” with the British public.