Deputy prime minister David Lammy is facing tough questioning from the Tories on the North Sea drilling ban and rising energy costs, as it becomes a contentious topic in the lead up to the Makerfield by-election.
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho asked why the government was “happy to buy oil from Russia and Qatar but not Aberdeen”, to which he replied: “Don’t believe everything you read in the paper.”
Mr Lammy referred to Ms Coutihno's own record as energy secretary again, saying he can remember when she "championed net zero".
"The Tories used to believe this three years ago, now she's forgotten because they're desperately chasing Reform," he continued.
Sir Keir Starmer has said he wants Andy Burnham to “play a big part” in the Labour government in what appeared to be a signal he could invite him to join his Cabinet.
The prime minister, who is also facing a looming threat from his former health secretary Wes Streeting, said he wanted the Greater Manchester mayor to win the Makerfield by-election.
Mr Burnham is hoping to secure a return to Westminster as an MP on Thursday, and has made no secret of his intention to challenge Sir Keir for the Labour leadership.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir told reporters at the G7 summit that he would prove his rivals wrong and “carry on with what I was elected to do” as he fights for his political future.
Read More‘Degrading’ comments and conspiracies: The unearthed posts from Reform’s Makerfield candidate
From a ‘plucky plumber’ to the ‘King in the North’: Who are the Makerfield by-election candidates?
Could this woman determine who will be Britain’s next prime minister?
Key Points
- Lammy hits back at Labour’s North Sea drilling ban
- Streeting prepared to trigger leadership contest as early as next week
- Starmer 'not listening to Cabinet or voters', Streeting says
- PM tries to woo Burnham with top cabinet job if he wins Makerfield by-election
- Analysis: Starmer’s rivals know voters seldom reward those who wield the knife
Reform’s Makerfield candidate accused of ‘disgraceful’ comments
12:33 , Holly EvansSarah Owen, the Labour MP who chairs the Commons Women and Equalities committee, has hit out at Robert Kenyon, the Reform candidate in Thursday’s Makerfield by-election.
She told MPs that he had “disgracefully” said that women have abortions for vanity purposes and “failed to apologise to national treasure Carol Vorderman for endorsing sexually explicit comments about her”.
Deputy prime minister David Lammy said he had been “utterly appalled” by the comments, which have been unearthed during the election campaign.
Defence spending is 'number one priority' for government, Lammy says
12:31 , Holly EvansDavid Lammy has insisted that defence spending is the government’s “number one priority” after a tumultous week which was former defence secretary John Healey resign.
Tory shadow minister Claire Coutinho asked why "half the defence team" quit last week "if everything is hunky dory".
She also asked why energy secretary Ed Miliband has not been sacked after reportedly refusing to meet the prime minister on matters of national security.
Mr Lammy said she should stop reading the newspapers and the defence investment plan will set out how the energy department has contributed to its costs.
Lib Dems ask if Labour will ‘rip up red lines’ on EU
12:27 , Athena StavrouDavid Lammy has insisted Labour’s EU red lines will remain when asked by the Liberal Democrats if he thought the government should “rip up" the rules.
The party promised to rule out rejoining the customs union and single market or allowing free movement of labour as part of their negotiations to move closer to the EU.
Liberal Democrat deputy leader Daisy Cooper said it had been “more than five years since the prime minister set his red lines”, and asked the deputy prime minister if he agreed that the government “should rip up those red lines now or is that another job to be left to the next prime minister?”
Mr Lammy replied: “Our red lines remain but we’re focused on SPS steel to cut prices on the shelves, a youth experience scheme and cutting red tape for exporters.”
Tories accuse Labour of 'destroying well paid jobs' in Aberdeen
12:23 , Holly EvansShadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho said the Tories had brought down bills by £500 under her, whereas they had risen £300 under Labour.
She said: “This is nonsense. His party are banning new oil and gas licences in the North Sea and … this is the same policy that the SNP championed for years.
“This is pointless virtue signalling and is destroying well paid jobs.”
Mr Lammy replied that 700 jobs had been lost in the industry over the last decade, and production has fallen by 75% since the Millennium.
He said the Government had attracted over £900 billion of investment in renewables, and 100,000 jobs in Scotland were linked to clean power.
Analysis: Tories spying victory in a different by-election
12:19 , Holly EvansOur political editor David Maddox writes:
Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho is standing in for Kemi Badenoch today at PMQs as deputy prime minister David Lammy takes questions for the absent Keir Starmer.
This is not a random pick by the Tories, because it is all about a by-election where voters are set to decide who will be their next MP tomorrow.
It is not the Makerfield by-election, where Labour’s Andy Burnham is standing, but the vote in Aberdeen South – where the SNP’s Stephen Flynn stepped down to go into the Scottish Parliament.
Thousands of oil and gas industry jobs based in Aberdeen are being lost to energy secretary Ed Miliband’s net zero policies and the Tories are seen as having a chance of pulling off a shock victory in the by-election.
Ms Couthino is doing her bit to try to press the case of the North Sea sector in a bid to win last minute votes.
Lammy and Coutinho exchange barbs at the start of PMQs
12:16 , Holly EvansOur Whitehall editor Kate Devlin writes:
The gloves are off at the start of this first PMQs outing for shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho against David Lammy.
She told him that it was a “great privilege to be standing here with one of the few survivors of Labour's original cabinet who hasn't resigned on principle”.
Not to be outdone, the deputy prime minister replied it was “always good to hear from someone who was the heart of the Treasury during the biggest fall in living standards”, a reference to Ms Coutinho’s job in the last Tory government.
He also accused her of being the “energy secretary who left our country exposed to global fossil fuel markets”, while she claimed bills fell by £500 under her watch and have since increased by £300.
Lammy hits back at Labour’s North Sea drilling ban
12:11 , Athena StavrouDavid Lammy hit back at Clare Coutinho’s question on the government’s policy on drilling in the North Sea as he’s grilled in the Commons.
The deputy prime minister was asked why the government “was happy to buy oil from Russia and Qatar but not Aberdeen,” to which he replied: “Don’t believe everything you read in the paper.”
He insisted the government was not “turning off the taps” and accused Ms Coutinho’s of “getting her facts wrong”.
David Lammy begins PMQs with tribute to Jo Cox and World Cup message
12:06 , Athena StavrouDavid Lammy paid tribute to late MP Jo Cox and wished the England team luck as he faces questions in the Commons.
The deputy prime minister is standing in for Sir Keir Starmer today, as the prime minister continues to meet international partners at the G7 summit.
“We remember our beloved colleague Jo Cox and honour her memory for working to bring our communities together,” he said.
Standing in the chamber, Mr Lammy congratulated Scotland on their first World Cup win in over 30 years.
He added: “Can I wish England the best of luck for their first match this evening.”
Deputy Prime Minister's Questions begins
12:03 , Holly EvansDavid Lammy has stepped to the dispatch box with PMQs now underway.
David Lammy to face Claire Coutinho at PMQs
11:56 , Holly EvansDeputy prime minister David Lammy is set to face shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho at today’s PMQs.
Sir Keir Starmer is currently at the G7 summit in France.
As usual when the prime minister is absent, the leader of the opposition also makes way for another member of the shadow cabinet.
This will be the final PMQs before Andy Burnham’s crucial by-election in Makerfield, which could see Sir Keir facing a leadership challenge.
Defence plan should be judged upon release, minister says
11:35 , Holly EvansThe Defence Investment Plan should be judged when it is released, a senior minister has said.
Asked about comments by the chief of the defence staff that the military could “dial back” its activity without more money, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky News discussions about the plan were “ongoing”.
He said: “We’ve already exceeded our manifesto target of 2.5% on defence, and we did that with difficult decisions, shifting money from the overseas development budget to defence.
“We are now engaged in the process to secure, to finalise the Defence Investment Plan.
“My simple point is this: that will be published in its final form for the Nato summit that’s going to take place in Turkey.
“My point is simply it should be judged at that point.”
From a ‘plucky plumber’ to the ‘King in the North’: Who are the Makerfield by-election candidates?
11:21 , Holly EvansOn Thursday, the people of Makerfield will head to the polls in what could be the most important by-election in recent history.
The outcome of the contest – triggered by the resignation of Labour MP and former minister Josh Simons – will likely determine who will be Britain’s prime minister in the years to come.
Polls suggest it will be a tight race between Labour candidate Andy Burnham and Reform UK’s Robert Kenyon.
If the mayor of Greater Manchester claims victory, it is widely believed he’ll return to parliament to launch an official challenge for Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.
Read our analysis here:
Who are the Makerfield by-election candidates?
Attorney General to say Brexit damaged UK’s world standing in attack on opponents
11:12 , Holly EvansA senior minister will argue that Brexit has done “damage” to Britain’s standing in the world in an attack on political rivals including Nigel Farage and the Conservatives.
In a speech on Wednesday, Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer will say key figures in the Leave campaign appear to be distancing themselves from “the promises they made”.
A debate over the future of the UK-EU relationship has reignited after Sir Keir Starmer made closer ties with Brussels a key pillar of his “reset” in the wake of Labour’s seismic May election losses.
Leadership hopeful Wes Streeting has since said leaving the bloc was a “catastrophic mistake”, while potential challenger Andy Burnham has sought to play down the prospect of reversing the 2016 referendum as he contests the Leave-voting seat of Makerfield in a parliamentary by-election.
The Attorney General, who is widely seen as one of the Prime Minister’s key allies in Government, will say the politicians who brought the country Brexit have left his Labour administration “cleaning up their mess”.
He is also expected to warn those seeking to make the case for Europe should not repeat mistakes of the 2016 referendum and be seen as defenders of the status quo.
Miliband allies deny minister ‘ghosted’ Starmer over budget cuts for defence
10:50 , Holly EvansEd Milliband’s allies have insisted the energy secretary’s relationship with Sir Keir Starmer has not broken down amid reports he has “ghosted” the prime minister in recent weeks.
Sources close to Mr Miliband have denied the cabinet minister refused to take Sir Keir’s calls amid a row over departmental cuts to fund defence spending.
No 10 were said to be “blindsided” by John Healey’s resignation as defence secretary last week as they were instead concerned that Mr Miliband would quit over spending cuts.
Read the full article from Athena Stavrou here:
Miliband allies deny minister ‘ghosted’ Starmer over budget cuts for defence
Inflation holds steady at 2.8 per cent as food price rises ease
10:40 , Holly EvansUK inflation unexpectedly flatlined last month as a slowdown in food price rises offset pressure from airfares, according to official figures.
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation was recorded at 2.8 per cent in May, the same rate as in April.
It was lower than expected by economists, who had predicted an uptick in inflation to 3 per cent.
It means the price of goods and services is still increasing, but at the same speed as in April.
Household energy prices have remained depressed after a lower Ofgem energy price cap came into force in April.
However, the fresh data showed further upward pressure on fuel costs.
The average price of petrol rose by 0.6 pence per litre between April and May, rising to 157.4p per litre for the month.
This marked the highest price November 2022, when fuel prices were pushed sharply higher following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Starmer's offer of a cabinet job to Burnham likely to be too little too late
10:24 , Holly EvansAnalysis by Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor
Less than 24 hours before polls open in the Makerfield by-election, Keir Starmer’s attempts to keep his job have shifted up a gear.
He has now suggested he will offer Andy Burnham a seat in his cabinet if the Greater Manchester mayor wins on Thursday and returns to Parliament.
But the move is likely to be too little, too late.
Depending on the size of his victory, Burnham’s supporters are pushing for a coronation of their man.
Failing that, they want a Labour leadership contest - to replace Sir Keir.
If he leaves No 10 this summer, the PM might be forgiven for wondering what would have happened if he had made the same offer to Mr Burnham at the start of this year, instead of, at that stage, blocking his return to Westminster.
That would have left Mr Burnham fighting a more difficult by-election. He would have faced opposition from both Reform and the Greens, instead of just Reform as he does now.
And he could potentially have lost. After all, it was the Greens that ultimately won Gorton and Denton.
Either way it would have cut his chances of arriving back in London a conquering hero. Which is exactly how some of his backers think he could be seen come Friday morning.
Welfare reform legislation could come by end of the year, McFadden says
10:15 , Athena StavrouPat McFadden has said legislation to reform the welfare system could come by the end of the year.
The work and pensions secretary said legislative change could be brought forward after the Milburn and Timms reviews publish their findings, which he said he expected before the end of the year.“In terms of future legislation, we have two important reviews underway,” he told the work and pensions committee on Wednesday."
Depending on conclusions, if there’s legislative change needed it will come after that.”
As his grip on No10 fades, Starmer looks increasingly isolated at the G7 summit
09:57 , Holly EvansAs day two of the G7 Summit draws to a close, one thing is clear: the atmosphere this week has seen a significant shift compared to last year.
When Sir Keir Starmer arrived in Ottawa for the G7 in 2025, he was widely seen as the man who could salvage Nato’s relationship with the volatile Donald Trump, and was leading the way with Macron when it came to Ukraine.
While the prime minister’s track record domestically was still bumpy, his international presence was strong enough to earn him significant points in his favour.
Read the full analysis from our political correspondent Millie Cooke here:
As his grip on No10 fades, Starmer looks isolated and awkward on the world stage
Analysis: Starmer’s rivals know voters seldom reward those who wield the knife
09:36 , Holly EvansAnalysis from our Whitehall editor Kate Devlin:
As a man who loves football, Keir Starmer might have hoped to spend this weekend watching the World Cup.
Instead, he is facing calls to use the 48 hours after the Makerfield by-election result to consider his future - and announce the date he will quit.
That, publicly, is the message from his rival Wes Streeting.
Behind the scenes others are urging the PM to do the same.
Mr Streeting has also put Sir Keir on notice that, if he refuses to stand down, he could face a leadership challenge as early as next week.
But many in a Labour are hoping it does not come to that. And the reason?
Voters - who often do not reward politicians seen to wield the knife.
Ex-PM Rishi Sunak found that out at the last election, when he faced criticism on the doorsteps of his treatment of his predecessor Boris Johnson.
And Labour itself is still scarred from what happened to ex-leader Ed Miliband.
Years after he took office he was still being accused of knifing his brother, David, who also stood to be leader, in the back.
'I intend to fight' leadership contest, PM insists
09:31 , Holly EvansAsked what preparations he was making for a potential Labour leadership contest, Sir Keir Starmer told reporters: “First and foremost, I want Andy Burnham to win, and that’s why I’ve encouraged activists and members to go up there during the course of the campaign, and they’ll be up there tomorrow helping to get the vote out.
“Then what happens is we’re immediately tipped into a Manchester mayoral contest by-election, one of the biggest by-elections that we’ve ever fought, because of the scale of it.
“And it’s really important to my mind that the whole of the Labour Party and Labour movement focuses on that, which is the next most immediate task.
“I don’t think there should be a challenge. I think history, particularly the last government, shows that that isn’t a successful way for a government to behave.
“But if there is a challenge, then I intend to fight.
“I’m not going to walk away from that, and I’ve been clear and consistent about that.”
'I'm not Nostradamus', minister says in response to Streeting leadership challenge
09:25 , Holly EvansCabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds would not be drawn on whether a Labour leadership challenge would begin next week.
Asked whether he expected former health secretary Wes Streeting to launch a challenge next week, he told Sky News: “I’m not Nostradamus.”
He added: “All I would say is, if you look at this week, on Monday the Government announced a social media ban for under-16s.
“At the G7, the Prime Minister has just secured £1.3 billion of investment into the UK, creating over 1,400 jobs.
“I’m pleased to say as well, in my brief we’ve secured the date for the 2026 UK-EU summit on July 22, when again I’ll be looking to finalise deals on things like food and drink and reducing trade barriers, (and) deals on energy to be bearing down on household bills.
“So I see a Government this week that is delivering.”
Starmer tries to woo Burnham with top cabinet job if he wins Makerfield by-election
09:20 , Holly EvansSir Keir Starmer has indicated he would give Andy Burnham a cabinet job if he wins the Makerfield by-election, saying he wants the leadership rival to “play a big part in the Labour government”.
Speaking on the fringes of the G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains, the prime minister said he would talk to Mr Burnham “after the weekend” once the results from Makerfield are in, as well as saying there are no circumstances under which he would walk away from his job.
If the Greater Manchester mayor wins tomorrow’s vote, it is expected he will return to Westminster to challenge the prime minister for his job.
But amid growing threats to his grip on power, Sir Keir insisted he doesn’t feel “angry” or “bitter” over the leadership crisis he is facing.
Read the full article here from our political correspondent Millie Cooke:
Starmer tries to woo Burnham with top cabinet job if he wins Makerfield by-election
Starmer 'not listening to Cabinet or voters', Streeting says
09:10 , Holly EvansCriticising the prime minister, Wes Streeting told The Cathy Newman Show on Sky News: “I don’t think he’s listening to his former defence secretary, I don’t think he’s listening to military chiefs, I don’t think he’s listening to our Nato allies.
“In terms of the Labour Party, I don’t think he’s listening to his cabinet, I don’t think he’s listening to the parliamentary party and I don’t think he’s listening to voters, who only in May sent the Labour Party that extremely humbling message at the ballot box.”
Speaking to reporters earlier at a press conference in central London where he outlined his economic vision, the senior Labour figure said: “There is a huge amount of talent on the front bench and the back bench of the parliamentary Labour Party.
“It isn’t used nearly well enough, and the divides between Labour’s different tribes are often overstated.
“I think we all have a shared sense of what’s wrong. I think we have different views about how to put it right, but at the end of it, we need to come together.”
Mr Streeting’s diagnosis is that Labour is suffering from three problems at the moment: with leadership, with policy, and with culture.
Streeting prepared to trigger leadership contest as early as next week
09:00 , Holly EvansWes Streeting indicated he is prepared to trigger a Labour leadership contest as early as next week as he urged Sir Keir Starmer to set out a timetable for his departure if Andy Burnham wins this week’s Makerfield by-election.
The former health secretary insisted he has the backing of the 80 MPs required to stand in a contest as he accused Sir Keir of not listening to the party or his cabinet in a series of public appearances on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, the prime minister said he would prove his rivals wrong and “carry on with what I was elected to do” and “bring back the change that people desperately need” as he fights for his political future.
Mr Streeting said he wanted Sir Keir to reflect over the weekend and make a decision to leave “on his own terms” after the vote on Thursday which could see Mr Burnham return to Westminster to challenge the prime minister.
But pressed on whether he would trigger a contest if Sir Keir stayed put, as the prime minister has made clear he wants to, the ex-cabinet minister told BBC Newsnight: “We can’t carry on with this uncertainty and paralysis, and there will need to be a contest, and I’d be prepared to do that.”
On how soon he would be willing to mount a challenge, Mr Streeting said he did not want to “get into, ‘is it Monday, is it Tuesday'”, but that Sir Keir should be given “space over the weekend” to consider his position.
Asked if he would challenge Sir Keir if the Greater Manchester mayor does not win the Makerfield by-election, he told LBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “Yes, I believe we need a change of leadership and if Andy Burnham isn’t back, I still believe we need that change of leadership.”
