In a shocking turn of events, James Cleverly has been eliminated of the Tory leadership race, leaving Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch to face a vote of the party membership.
The ex-home secretary was in a leading position to make it through the latest stage after leapfrogging former frontrunner Mr Jenrick to first place on Tuesday.
But Tory MPs decided to knock him out after Tom Tugendhat, a former security minister and favourite of the One Nation caucus of Tory MPs, also lost the race on Tuesday.
Ms Badenoch emerged as the frontrunner in the final vote, securing 42 votes from MPs and positioning herself as strong contender to succeed Rishi Sunak.
Mr Jenrick closely trailed behind with 41 votes, while Mr Cleverly’s campaign took a dramatic downturn result with just 37 votes.
The final two MPs will now face an online ballot of Tory members from 10 to 31 October, with the winner of the contest announced on 2 November.
It comes as Sir Keir Starmer faced a grilling from Rishi Sunak in his first PMQs since reshuffling his Downing Street leadership team, after Sue Gray’s shock exit as his chief of staff.
Key Points
- James Cleverly knocked out of Tory leadership race
- Labour hit out at final two Tory leadership candidates
- Rishi Sunak opens with Sue Gray ‘fire and rehire’ jibe
- PM says Falklands are British and will remain British
- Labour ‘pushed’ police for royal-style escort for Taylor Swift concert
Chicken manure has turned river into ‘sewage dump’, Parliament told
22:34
Athena Stavrou
A British waterway has been turned into a sewage dump by “chicken shit”, Parliament has been told.
The stark assessment of pollution in the River Wye and its main cause was highlighted at Westminster by long-time resident Lord Lipsey. The Labour peer said he had lived with his wife in the Wye Valley in Wales for nearly 30 years and went wild swimming in the river, but told how it was a “deteriorating experience”.
The Wye, which runs for 130 miles from central Wales to the Severn Estuary in south-west England, was downgraded by Natural England to “unfavourable” for wildlife in 2023 after years of exposure to agricultural pollution and phosphates.
Lord Lipsey raised his concerns as peers debated reforms aimed at cracking down on the discharge of sewage into Britain’s rivers and coastal waters.
He said: “Why has this happened? There are various causes, but overwhelmingly the most important is – I use the word, whatever the risk of offending – chicken shit.
“Something like 80% of the pollution in the Wye is caused by chicken shit that is not moved off the farms, lies on the fields and is driven by water into the stream, where it does untold harm.”
Watch: Starmer says Falklands are British and will remain British
22:00
Athena Stavrou
Landlords selling up could force renters into temporary accommodation, MP warns
21:31
Athena Stavrou
Unfit homes could be “the least of the problems” if landlords sell up, a Conservative MP has warned during a Renters’ Rights Bill debate.
Rebecca Smith told MPs she had heard from a constituent with 89 properties who planned to sell his homes, which she feared could land renters in the temporary accommodation system.
The Government-backed Bill proposes an end to no-fault evictions and a ban on bidding wars, along with new requirements for landlords to address hazards such as damp and mould.
Ms Smith, the MP for South West Devon, told the Commons on Wednesday: “The fact that the homes are not necessarily always fit to live in is almost the least of the problems because … if there are are no homes to live in, the people do not have anywhere to be.”
MPs suggest rental reform tweak to offer security for tenants with pets
20:58
Athena Stavrou
Rental reforms should be strengthened to remove the risk of pets being forced out midway through a tenancy agreement, MPs have heard.
The Renters’ Rights Bill’s second reading, Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner told the Commons: “Pets aren’t just animals, but family too and that is why this Bill will also make it easier for tenants to request to have a pet in their home.
“It will also allow landlords to require insurance covering pet damage, so that everyone is covered and no-one is left unfairly out of pocket.”
Ms Rayner said “there is a balance”, joking: “I think there is a reasonableness, as long as it’s not a parrot that speaks all night and has antisocial behaviour, I think everyone will agree that that will be a good thing.”
Labour MP Chris Vince (Harlow), who owns a dog, later told the debate: “I would really emphasise how important a pet is to a family and the emotional bond that they create.
“Being pushed to choose between a roof over your head and your family is not a choice anyone should have to make.”
How will tribunals assess market rate rents? Asks Labour backbencher
20:24
Athena Stavrou
A Labour backbencher has urged ministers to say how tribunals set up to assess if rent rises are fair will calculate what the “market rate” is.
Antonia Bance, who previously worked as head of campaigns for housing and homelessness charity Shelter, said she welcomed the Bill and was “proud” to support it, but wanted more information from the Government.
The Bill was getting its second reading in the Commons, with a vote due to take place on Wednesday evening.
The MP for Tipton and Wednesbury said: “I say to renters today, ‘we’ve got your backs, you will be able to stay in your homes, this will be law inside the year. Take heart’.
“If the landlord tries to raise the rent so high as to amount to a de facto eviction, renters will finally have recourse. They can go to a tribunal and stop a rent rise above market rates.
“I will gently say to the minister that it will be good to understand how the tribunal will find out what market rates are, because we all know that looking at Rightmove won’t help. That’s only new lets, not all lets in an area.”
Carla Denyer says councils beed more money to enforce new renting laws
19:56
Athena Stavrou
Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer has said that councils need to be given money to enforce new measures that will be introduced in the Renters’ Rights Bill.
According to the Bill, which is getting its second reading in parliament on Wednesday, local authorities will be able to fine landlords if they break the proposed laws.
This includes landlords reletting or marketing their property within three months of a no-fault eviction or encouraging a bidding war between tenants for properties that would drive rents up.
Ms Denyer said: “We must properly fund our local councils who are the ones who will enforce these new rights, because councils on the brink of bankruptcy after 14 years of swingeing cuts are obviously going to struggle to deliver this part of the policy.”
Rayner pledges ‘justice and fairness for all’ as part of reforms for renters
19:31
Athena Stavrou
Angela Rayner has promised to do everything she can to fix the “scandalous” issue of renters living in unsafe homes and provide “social justice and fairness for all”, as she set out the Government’s plans to improve protections for tenants.
The Deputy Prime Minister said every renter should have a secure home and promised to end no-fault evictions as part of the Renters’ Rights Bill.
The Bill also aims to put tenants in a stronger position to challenge unreasonable rent increases and place restrictions on landlords to ensure they can only raise rent once a year at the market rate.
Opening the second reading debate, Ms Rayner told the Commons: “I hope the entire House will agree that everyone should live in a decent, safe and affordable home. Everyone should, but not everyone can.
“This is why I have put decency at the heart of my plans for housing and taken the steps to ensure that all homes are warm and safe, and nowhere is that more needed than in the private rented sector.”
Focusing on ECHR ‘shuts down conversations’, says Badenoch
19:08
Athena Stavrou
Focusing on the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) “shuts down the conversation we need to have with the entire country”, Kemi Badenoch has said.
The Tory leadership hopeful told broadcasters: “What I talked about in my conference speech and when I launched my campaign is we need to talk about everything.
“We need to talk about the system, which I think is broken. I think Labour are having problems because they are working with a broken system.”
She added: “It can’t just be about one little part of immigration policy.
“We need to lower immigration, that’s part of the story, but just talking about the ECHR is going to shut down the conversation that we need to have with the entire country.”
Watch: Starmer refuses to rule out national insurance rise twice
18:37
Athena Stavrou
Badenoch will lead party in ‘endless rabbit holes’, says Jenrick campaign source
18:14
Athena Stavrou
Tory members voting for Kemi Badenoch will risk the party being drawn into “endless rabbit holes” and Twitter spats, a Robert Jenrick campaign source suggested in a broadside at the rival camp.
They said: “He (Mr Jenrick) is the one with the momentum going into the final two, at which point the members will face a choice between voting for a candidate with a serious plan, detailed policies to fix the three biggest issues concerning all categories of voters – Reform, Labour, Lib Dem, Conservative voters – which are the NHS, the economy and migration.
“Or risking being drawn into endless rabbit holes, Twitter spats and distractions.”
Badenoch says it’s time to ‘go bold'
17:50
Athena Stavrou
The Conservative Party should “go bold”, Kemi Badenoch said after topping the final MPs’ leadership ballot.
Asked how she could unite the party after 78 Tory MPs voted for other candidates in the final round, she told broadcasters: “It is time to go bold.
“Just because you’re not a first preference doesn’t mean that people don’t want you and I think that that is what has happened throughout the contest.
“You could say that about any candidate. People have relationships, people have friends, they have constituency neighbours, these things feed into the MP stage of the contest.
“What matters now is what our members think.”
Jenrick willing to debate ‘any time, any place, anywhere'
17:36
Athena Stavrou
Tory leadership contender Robert Jenrick is willing to debate his rival Kemi Badenoch “any time, any place, anywhere” ahead of the final round of voting, his campaign has said.
A campaign source added: “We are laying down the gauntlet that says a maximum amount of screen time and debate is what party members deserve as they make an incredibly serious decision about who the next leader of the opposition is and, hopefully, prime minister of this country.”
The Jenrick team said there was no attempt at vote-sharing by them in the latest round of the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak, but that such efforts may have been made by other campaigns.
“I think you had 120 different MPs voting in 120 different ways, for 120 different reasons,” the campaign source said.
Some MPs may have lent their vote to Tom Tugendhat in Tuesday’s ballot, they said, before they “came home” to Mr Jenrick on Wednesday.
Mr Jenrick rang “dozens” of MPs overnight to drum up support, according to the campaign, after a “moment of real nerves” about how he performed in the previous round.
Tory MP’s getting questioned by local members
17:21
Athena Stavrou
One Tory MP said they were now getting messages from local members saying “what the hell are you doing?” after two candidates from the right got onto the final ballot.
The MP said: “One of two things has happened. Either a number of people lent James Cleverly their votes yesterday and rolled them back.
“Or James Cleverly’s lent votes to Robert Jenrick and over-egged it.”
But there was also the possibility of individuals backing their second favourite candidate, assuming their preferred choice was already safe.
The MP said supporters of both Mr Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch had been asking MPs suspected of backing Mr Cleverly to lend support to one of them to get them on the ballot.
The Tory source said they did not “fall for that” but “it’s possible some people may have been dumb enough”.
Conservative leadership election: fourth ballot
17:04
Athena Stavrou
Liberal Democrats react to Tory leadership latest with meme
16:51
Athena Stavrou
The Lib Dem’s have taken a light-hearted approach in their response to James Cleverly being knocked out of the Tory leadership post.
Responding to the news on Twitter/X, the party posted a gif of a tractor with a “Liberal Democrats winning here” sign plowing through a blue wall of hay-bales.
https://t.co/WuqC7M5yz5 pic.twitter.com/zzpz6MTNd4
— Lib Dem Media Team (@LibDemPress) October 9, 2024
Labour respond to latest Tory leadership vote
16:43
Athena Stavrou
Labour Party chairwoman Ellie Reeves MP said: “After months of gaffes, wild unfunded policies and infighting, Tory members now have the unenviable task of choosing between two of the architects of Tory failure.
“Both Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are central figures in 14 years of hapless leadership and decline, and have already proven they’ve learned nothing from the mistakes that took the Conservative Party to its worst defeat in modern history.
“While the endless bickering continues, Labour is fixing the foundations and sorting out the mess that these two deeply unimpressive figures left behind.”
Analysis: Nigel Farage has scared the Tories into abandoning the centre for the hard right
16:24
Athena Stavrou
One man has shaped the result of this leadership election - and he was not even running to replace Rishi Sunak.
The decision to choose Kemi Badenoch versus Robert Jenrick for the final two is proof, if any was needed, that Nigel Farage has scared the Tory party.
The Reform UK leader, and how to deal with him, became the main question for all the candidates in this lengthy four-month election to the point of irritation.
It has often been claimed there is no more duplicitous electorate than Tory MPs in a leadership contest, and once again they have gone to type.
Last night the final remaining centrist James Cleverly was eight votes ahead of his nearest rival, and now he is out with fewer votes than he had before.
The Independent’s Political Editor David Maddox writes:
Iain Duncan Smith hails Kemi Badenoch victory
16:01
Salma Ouaguira
Former Tory leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith has welcomed the victory of Kemi Badenoch in the final round of MPs voting.
Sir Iain, who publicly endorsed the shadow business secretary, said: “This is the result that I wanted. We will now have a proper debate and the members will now get to discuss a way back for our party which will offer an alternative to Reform.
“The coming debate will forge a narrative to give those who departed the Conservative Party a reason to come back.”
Labour: Badenoch and Jenrick ‘architects of Tory failure'
15:53
Salma Ouaguira
Labour Party chairwoman Ellie Reeves has not hold back in her criticism of the Conservative leadership contest, which has now narrowed to Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick.
She said: “After months of gaffes, wild unfunded policies and infighting, Tory members now have the unenviable task of choosing between two of the architects of Tory failure.
“Both Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are central figures in 14 years of hapless leadership and decline, and have already proven they’ve learned nothing from the mistakes that took the Conservative Party to its worst defeat in modern history.
“While the endless bickering continues, Labour is fixing the foundations and sorting out the mess that these two deeply unimpressive figures left behind.”
James Cleverly ‘grateful’ to support from members
15:51
Salma Ouaguira
I’m grateful for the support I’ve received on this campaign from colleagues, party members and the public.
— James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) October 9, 2024
Sadly it wasn’t to be. We are all Conservatives, and it’s important the Conservative Party unites to take on this catastrophic Labour government.
Tory leadership race: Badenoch and Jenrick locked in close race
15:47
Salma Ouaguira
The final two candidates for the Conservative Party Leadership contest have been confirmed as @KemiBadenoch and @RobertJenrick pic.twitter.com/GfaSLE9TBC
— Conservatives (@Conservatives) October 9, 2024
Lib Dems: If this were an interview process they would've put the job advert up again
15:46
Archie Mitchell in Westminster
The Liberal Democrats have reacted to this dramatic Tory leadership result.
Against the polls, Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick have made it to the final round of the Conservative leadership election.
Cabinet office spokesperson Sarah Olney MP said: “If this were an interview process they would’ve put the job advert up again.
“The best the Conservatives can come up with is a failed former Minister who’d vote for Donald Trump and failed former Minister who thinks maternity pay is excessive
“Whoever wins this election will be tainted by the Conservatives legacy in government for years to come.”
ANALYSIS | Tories played tactically to choose candidates on the right
15:41
David Maddox
Tory MPs have made a profound decision by ditching the last centrist candidate James Cleverly and picking two candidates on the right of the party.
The result shows that the usual games playing has been taking place with MPs tactically switching votes.
But the choice of Kemi Badenoch versus Robert Jenrick is the MPs saying that the party needs to go hard right to take on Nigel Farage and reform UK.
Breaking: Cleverly knocked out of Tory leadership race
15:33
Salma Ouaguira
James Cleverly has been knocked out of the Tory leadership race.
Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are now to face a vote of the party membership.
Here’s the full result:
- Kemi Badenoch: 42
- Robert Jenrick: 41
- James Cleverly: 37
Tory MPs ready to hear the result
15:30
Salma Ouaguira
Tory MPs have entered the committee room ahead of the final results announcement.
Tensions are high as the decision on which of the remaining three rivals is knocked out is the closest ballot yet.
COMMENT | Labour’s poll ratings are dreadful – here’s how they can bounce back
15:25
Salma Ouaguira
Keir Starmer’s first 100 days in office have been marred by unforced errors – but his new chief of staff has kickstarted a radical overhaul of the Downing Street operation, says John Rentoul:
Lunchtime bulletin
15:16
Salma Ouaguira
It’s a bustling day in Westminste, with the return of PMQs this afternoon and the Tory leadership race set to narrow down to two contenders in a matter of minutes.
- At PMQs Sir Keir Starmer did not rule out the possibility of a national insurance tax increase for business or changes to debt rules in the upcoming budget.
- Tory leader Rishi Sunak reiterated his commitment not to raise national insurance, VAT, or income tax for “working people”.
- The prime minister also kept the door open for a youth mobility scheme with the EU.
- As for the Conservative leadership race, the party is currently counting MPs votes to determine who will advance to the final round.
- James Cleverly is currently leading the pack and is widely anticipated to secure his place, while Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch are vying for the second position.
Tory leadership voting now closed
15:09
Salma Ouaguira
Voting has now closed in the final round of Conservative MPs casting their ballots in the Tory leadership contest.
The result will be announced at 3.30pm.
WATCH | Starmer refuses to rule out national insurance rise twice in PMQs grilling
15:00
Salma Ouaguira
‘Decency’ at the core of government housing strategy, Rayner tells MPs
14:57
Salma Ouaguira
Addressing the House of Commons, Angela Rayner said Labour was prioritising its Renters Rights Bill as it criticised the previous Conservative government for delaying their own planned reforms.
The housing secretary said: “I hope the entire house will agree that everyone should live in a decent, safe and affordable home. Everyone should, but not everyone can.
“This is why I have put decency at heart of my plans for housing and taken the steps to ensure that all homes are warm and safe, and nowhere is that more needed than in the private rented sector.”
Ms Rayner added: “The Conservatives promised to pass a renters’ reform Bill in the 2019 manifesto. Yet in a desperate attempt to placate their backbenchers, they caved into vested interests, leaving tenants at the continued mercy of unfair section 21 eviction notices.
“They dithered, delayed and made excuse after excuse for their inaction.”
She said since 2019 more than 100,000 households have been subject to a no-fault eviction, with 26,000 being in the last year alone.
“That is the inheritance that we need to fix,” she added.
COMMENT | Why James ‘normal’ Cleverly is the Tory leader Labour fears the most
14:45
Salma Ouaguira
The Conservative succession race has been turned on its head, and look who is smiling now, says John Rentoul:
Angela Rayner presents Rights Bill in the Commons
14:45
Salma Ouaguira
Following the fiery PMQs grilling, deputy prime minister and housing secretary Angela Rayner has taken the floor to introduce the highly anticipated Renters’ Rights Bill.
A significant component of the legislation is the ban on Section 21 “no fault” evictions, a move aimed at bolstering tenant security in a challenging housing market.
However, as the bill makes its way through the Commons, charities are raising alarms about potential loopholes.
Despite Labour’s pledge to cap the upfront costs landlords can impose on renters, concerns remain that tenants may still face hefty financial demands.
Jeremy Cleverly vows to ‘get people voting Conservative again’
14:35
Salma Ouaguira
I will take the fight to Labour and get people voting Conservative again with a positive and optimistic vision for Britain pic.twitter.com/htfSpYPI7n
— James Cleverly (@JamesCleverly) October 9, 2024
Keir Starmer focused on ‘delivering change' in first 100 days
14:25
Millie Cooke
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said the government has spent its first 100 days focused on “delivery of the mandate for change”.
Asked whether Sir Keir Starmer is pleased with the government’s record as we approach 100 days in office, his official spokesperson said: “From day one we came in we took action to get growth into the economy.
“This is a government that in 100 days has ended strikes in the NHS, unlocked tens of billions of pounds in investment, powered homes with GB energy that will bring down energy bills.
“But we’ve always been clear that with the inheritance we received it was not going to be overnight fix.”
“The entire government is focussed on the delivery of the mandate for change that we received, so that work is continuing”, the spokesperson added.
Tory MPs start voting to whittle leadership hopefuls down to final two
14:24
Salma Ouaguira
Tory MPs have begun voting in their last ballot of the Conservative leadership race as Robert Jenrick and Kemi Badenoch brace for a close contest to make it into the final two.
Ex-home secretary James Cleverly is in pole position to make it through the latest stage after leapfrogging former frontrunner Mr Jenrick to first place on Tuesday.
Mr Cleverly picked up 39 votes but just one ballot separates Mr Jenrick and Ms Badenoch, who received 31 and 30 respectively in the last round.
Today’s vote could hinge on how the 20 MPs who backed eliminated candidate Tom Tugendhat decide to vote.
The final result is expected to be announced at about 3.30pm.
Conservative Party members will then have the final say between the remaining two candidates, and the new party leader will be announced on 2 November.
PM's spokesperson refuses to rule out national insurance rise for businesses
14:22
Millie Cooke
The government has repeatedly refused to rule out increasing national insurance on businesses, saying it would never comment on pre-budget speculation.
Questioned by journalists after PMQ’s, the prime minister’s official spokesperson was repeatedly asked to rule out an increase to national insurance on employers.
They refused to do so, instead pointing to the manifesto which promises not to increase taxes on working people.
“The budget priority is about fixing foundations of the economy, economic stability and boosting investment”, the spokesperson said.
This came after Sir Keir Starmer declined to say whether his pre-election promise not to raise National Insurance applied to both employee and employer National Insurance payments at PMQs on Wednesday.
ICYMI: Starmer says Falklands are British and will remain British after Chagos Islands row
14:10
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer declared the Falkland Islands are British and will remain British after a row about his decision to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The prime minister last week refused to rule out ending British control of Gibraltar and the Falklands as he faced a backlash over a deal with Mauritius to cede control of the remote archipelago.
You can read the full story below:
Jeremy Hunt accuses Starmer and Reeves of lying over tax plans
13:50
Salma Ouaguira
The Prime Minister has today left the door open to the Labour Party breaking their promises to the British people by raising taxes and increasing borrowing, leaving future generations to pick up the bill and risking higher interest rates.
— Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) October 9, 2024
Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves should…
WATCH | Sunak takes Sue Gray swipe at PM as he claims Starmer is ‘a convert to fire and rehire’
13:30
Salma Ouaguira
Who will be the next Conservative leader?
13:15
Salma Ouaguira
The Conservative leadership contest continues to ramp up after the four remaining contenders made their pitches to voters and delegates at the party’s 2024 conference.
Kemi Badenoch, James Cleverly, Robert Jenrick and Tom Tugendhat are the final candidates for the Tory top spot. Although the race was announced on 5 July, the leader will not be revealed until early November – although two candidates have called for the timeframe to be cut down.
Until then, former prime minister Rishi Sunak retains the position and has refused to be drawn into the ongoing contest so far.
Here’s your guide to the four candidates to be the next Conservative Party leader:
What time is the final vote of the Tory leadership contest?
13:04
Salma Ouaguira
The Conservative Party is gearing up for the decisive final round of MP voting in its leadership contest.
The ballot is scheduled to kick off at 1.30pm today, with around 90 minutes on the clock for votes to be cast.
The results will be revealed at 3.30pm, determining which candidate will be eliminated from the race.
The remaining two contenders will then advance to face a vote from the wider Tory membership.
Here are yesterday’s results:
- James Cleverly: 39 votes (leading the race)
- Robert Jenrick: 31 votes
- Kemi Badenoch: 30 votes
- Tom Tugendhat: 20 votes (eliminated)
ANALYSIS | Rishi Sunak jibe reflects inner conflict in No 10
13:01
Salma Ouaguira
At today’s prime minister’s questions, Rishi Sunak waisted no time in delivering a sharp dig at Sir Keir Starmer, using the recent ousting of Sue Gray as fodder for his opening remarks.
The PM seized the opportunity to mock Sir Keir’s reshuffle, questioning the Labour leader’s handling of his own staff.
Mr Sunak’s “fire and rehire” jab referenced the departure of Sue Gray and return of Morgan McSweeney to the post.
Her exit followed reported tensions and a power struggle within the Labour leader’s team, an issue Mr Sunak sought to exploit as the PM approaches his 100th day in office.
While the remark sparked laughter across the Tory benches, Sir Keir’s leadership is facing early challenges and the Conservatives weren’t about to let them go unnoticed.
ICYMI: Reeves’s potential borrowing plan ‘risks another Truss-style meltdown’
12:55
Salma Ouaguira
The government has been warned that a potential change to borrowing rules could spook the markets and trigger a Liz Truss-style meltdown.
While No 10 has insisted it will “absolutely deliver” on its pledge to restore economic stability, financial experts warned the plans could trigger investor backlash.
You can read the full story below:
Starmer jokes during Black History Month question
12:39
Salma Ouaguira
Labour MP Dawn Butler raised Black History Month during PMQs.
She mentioned her attendance at an event called “Temptations” organised but the Speaker to mark the occasion.
The MP asked if the Commons would hold a dedicated debate.
In response, Sir Keir made a heart-lighted remark, suggesting he “probably should not be going to an event called Temptations at the moment”.
However, he welcomed MS Butler’s participation at a Black History Monthreception at No 10 that evening, which he is hosting.
And that was the last question of today’s PMQs.
PM opens door for assisted dying debate but no time guarantee
12:35
Salma Ouaguira
Conservative MP David Davis pressed Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs on whether the government would allocate sufficient time for the Commons to properly debate the assisted dying bill.
Sir Keir agreed with the Tory MP and confirmed that if the bill clears its second reading, it would proceed for further scrutiny.
“We do need the discussion more broadly on this important issue,” he added.
But he avoided commmitting to giving the bill all the parliamentary time it would need to pass.
Keir Starmer promises road safety review
12:32
Salma Ouaguira
Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan raised concerns about road safety during PMQs.
She questioned the criteria used to determine when road improvement schemes are approved.
In response, Sir Keir Starmer admitted the importance of road safety and revealed the government is currently planning a new road investment strategy.
ANALYSIS | Ed Davey finally dares mention the B-word
12:24
Salma Ouaguira
The Lib Dems have been avoiding much mention of Brexit after being so ardent in their support of a second referendum and reversing the 2016 vote until Britain finally left in 2020.
But with the questions over Keir Starmer’s EU reset and growing anger at the way he refuses to agree a Youth Mobility Scheme for under-30s, Ed Davey has finally gone for it and put some pressure on the prime minister.
It also marked a break in style where he had been using his two questions more to attack the Tory opposition than the Labour government.
However, many will be more interested in the fact that he pinned Starmer down on the future of the Falklands and Gibraltar after the Chagos Islands debacle.
A good day for the Lib Dem leader.
Report into child poverty taskforce to be published next year
12:24
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer has announced a report from the government’s child poverty taskforce will be published in spring next year.
Labour MP Meg Hillier asked when the child poverty taskforce will report.
In response, Sir Keir said that it is appalling that “child poverty went up by 700,000 after 2010”.
“The taskforce report will be published in spring next year,” he said.
Starmer says Falklands are British and will remain British after Chagos Islands row
12:26
Archie Mitchell
Sir Keir Starmer has declared the Falkland Islands are British and will remain British after a row about his decision to hand the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.
The prime minister last week refused to rule out ending British control of Gibraltar and the Falklands as he faced a backlash over a deal with Mauritius to cede control of the remote archipelago.
Asked on Friday to guarantee no other British overseas territory would be signed away by the government, the PM dodged the question, pointing to a deal to secure the long-term future of a joint US-UK military base on Diego Garcia, the largest of the islands.
But, asked during PMQs about measures to make it easier for British citizens fishing off the Falklands to sell fish into Europe, Sir Keir said: “My uncle nearly lost his life when his ship was torpedoed defending the Falklands.
“They are British, and they will remain British. The sovereignty of Gibraltar is equally not going to be negotiated.”
Will you reconsider youth mobility scheme with the EU?
12:21
Salma Ouaguira
During prime minister’s questions, Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey challenged Sir Keir Starmer on two key issues: youth mobility with the EU and the fishing tariffs by Falkland Islanders.
The party leader asked why the prime minister has ruled out a youth mobility scheme with the EU, which could offer young Britons and Europeans more opportunities post-Brexit.
He responded by reiterating the UK is in need of a “better deal” with the union, citing his recent discussions with the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Ed Davey then shifted focus to the difficulties faced by Falkland Islands fishermen, who are hit with heavy tariffs when exporting to the EU.
Sir Keir Sidestepped the fishing question.
He said: “The Falklands are British and will stay British.”
Starmer not ruling out changing fiscal rules to increase spending
12:46
Salma Ouaguira
Sir Keir Starmer has said the government was stabilising the economy, as he did not say whether he still agreed with Rachel Reeves over whether changing debt rules would be “fiddling the books” ahead of the Budget on 30 October.
Leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak said: “Before the election his chancellor said changing the debt target in the fiscal rules would be tantamount to fiddling the figures.
“Does he still agree with the chancellor?”
The prime minister said: “This is literally the man who was in charge of the economy, 14 years they’ve crashed the economy. What did they leave? A £22 billion black hole in the economy.
“Unlike them we won’t walk past it. We will fix it. And it’s only because we are stabilising the economy that we are getting the investment into this country. But I still notice he has hasn’t talked about that investment.
“We are powering ahead with clean British energy, we are changing the rules to build 1.5 million homes and returning railways to public ownership, and they’ve got nothing to say about any of this.”
Starmer vows to toughen law after MI5 warnings
12:15
Salma Ouaguira
Rishi Sunak has now moved on from future taxes by asking about national security.
He cited the speech from the head of MI5 yesterday about the threats facing the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer said the government will “of course toughen the law if it has to”.
ANALYSIS | Rishi Sunak back to his rapier best in PMQs
12:11
David Maddox
It was a regular feature of PMQs before the election that Rishi Sunak would em
