6 days ago
Starmer to face grilling from Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions
Update:
Date: 11:44 BST
Title: Minister apologises for grooming gangs report delay
Content: Another story that's made political headlines in the UK this week, and which is likely to come up at PMQs today, is Home Office Minister Jess Phillips apology to MPs for a delay in the publication of a report on grooming gangs.
In January, the government asked Baroness Louise Casey to lead a "rapid" three-month audit into the data and evidence on the nature and scale of group-based child sexual abuse.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, Conservative frontbencher Katie Lam said Baroness Casey's review, along with a framework for local grooming gang inquiries, had been due for publication in May and asked for an updated timeline.
Phillips told MPs she was sorry for the "month's wait" but added "I've waited 14 years", a reference to the length of time the Conservatives were in government.
The minister said Baroness Casey had requested a "short extension" to her work and that it was expected "very shortly".
On the same day that the delay was announced, five women from across England who were groomed and abused as children or young adults told BBC Newsnight about the ongoing impact it has had on their lives.
Update:
Date: 11:39 BST
Title: Tariffs, tariffs, tariffs - latest on how Trump's taxes affect the UK
Content: As always, we can't be totally sure what Tory leader Kemi Badenoch will ask Keir Starmer this morning - but on the off chance it comes up, it's worth remembering the other big political and economic story of the day.
It was announced earlier that the UK's been temporarily spared from US President Donald Trump's plans to double steel and aluminium tariffs from 25% to 50%.
Trump's latest executive order raises import taxes for US-based firms buying from other countries as of today - but the levy remains at 25% for the UK. It follows a deal that was signed last month by the US and UK, removing levies on some of the UK's exports, including cars, steel and aluminium.
A government spokesperson says the UK plans to continue working "with the US to implement our agreement", but shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith has accused Labour of leaving "businesses in limbo" via "botched negotiations".
Update:
Date: 11:36 BST
Title: Starmer pictured leaving No 10
Content: The prime minister is officially on the move.
With various documents and ring binders in hand, Keir Starmer is on his way to the House of Commons for this week's Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs).
We'll soon have a view of the chamber at the top of the page, where you'll be able to watch the back and forth live from midday.
Update:
Date: 11:23 BST
Title: A look at what's included in the new defence strategy
Content: Prime Minister Keir Starmer set out the government's defence strategy for the next decade on Monday.
This follows an external review of the UK's defence capabilities - and the government now plans to implement all of the review's 62 findings.
Here's a quick look at the government's response:
There was even more included in the announcement - you can take a read through the full plans.
Update:
Date: 11:14 BST
Title: Starmer's defence strategy could be in the spotlight
Content: On Monday, the prime minister set out the government's defence strategy for the next decade.
The government plans to increase military spending from 2.3% to 2.5% of national income by 2027, and has set an ambition to then increase it to 3% by 2034.
The defence review recommended the armed forces move to 'warfighting readiness' to deter growing threats faced by the UK.
Among the measures included in the review, Starmer announced that the UK will build up to 12 new attack submarines.
It's been a big political talking point in the UK this week - and Starmer's plans could be scrutinised by MPs in the House of Commons later.
Update:
Date: 11:08 BST
Title: Chancellor is preparing defence against tough spending questions
Content: Damian GrammaticasPolitical correspondent
Rachel Reeves knows that when, next week, she unveils the numbers for government spending in the coming years some departments will be facing tough times.
So today she's been keen to get her defence for those hard decisions in early.
Explaining her "fiscal rules", which determine how much she can tax and spend, she says 'let's be clear: It is not me imposing borrowing limits on Government, those limits are the product of economic reality.'
If the government doesn't stick to careful, predictable plans, she says, then the result will be a loss of confidence in the government's ability to control spending, resulting in higher borrowing costs, rising interest rates, economic turmoil.
Her defence came with a hard political edge to it. The Conservatives and Reform UK, were they to form a government, would, she claims, simply repeat the 'reckless borrowing' seen under Liz Truss.
And addressing worries among some Labour MPs and voters, who believe a Labour government should spend more, she says: 'I know that economic responsibility and social justice go hand-in-hand.'
That's because, she says, running a tight ship is what will 'make a difference to the lives of working people' and 'protect them from economic irresponsibility that they will ultimately pay the price for'.
Update:
Date: 11:01 BST
Title: It's nearly time for PMQs - here's what might come up this week
Content: It's Wednesday, which means another Prime Minister's Questions is right around the corner.
It's already been a busy week for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who on Monday set out what the government's defence strategy will be for the next decade.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch may well press the prime minister on the details of that, as well as the increasing numbers of small boat crossings after Saturday saw the highest number of migrants arriving in the UK by small boat so far this year.
Also on the agenda could be a trade deal with the US - the government is currently working to iron out an agreement to bring Donald Trump's steel tariffs down to zero.
You can follow all the key updates from today's session here - or watch for yourself by clicking watch live at the top of the page from 12:00 BST.
The prime minister set out the government's updated strategy for defence on Monday - could that be a source of contention in today's PMQs?
