Sunday shows round-up: Trial by newspaper

Amber Rudd: Government is not verging on ‘complete collapse’

Home Secretary Amber Rudd has had a busy media schedule today, appearing on three different political programmes within three hours. First of all, she was on Andrew Marr’s sofa. In a week where the so-called ‘Pestminster’ scandal continues to unravel, the Home Secretary addressed concerns over First Secretary of State Damian Green, who is facing allegations that he sexually harassed the journalist Kate Maltby, and that the police found pornography on his computer in 2008, both of which Green denies. Rudd confirmed that Green would be investigated for his conduct in both cases:

AM: Let’s look at the Damian Green ‘tittle tattle’ in the papers today. Here we have a former very senior policeman alleging something about effectively the Deputy Prime Minister. Is this a proper way for the police to behave?

AR: I think that is a very reasonable question. I know that the Cabinet Office is going to be looking at this tomorrow along with the wider enquiry about Damian, and I do think that we shouldn’t rush to allege anything until that enquiry has taken place.