Chris Mason
Political editor

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch picked up this lunchtime where she left off last night.

The gender debate and last week’s ruling from the Supreme Court the backdrop; the sense from Badenoch that the court proved she had been on the right side of the argument all along.

And the Tory leader had the same zip and vim in her delivery as she did in the chamber yesterday.

“The truth is the prime minister doesn’t have the balls” was quite a line.

We looked down from the reporters gallery, curious as to whether the Speaker would rule that that was language not deemed to be suitable for Parliament.

No intervention from Lindsay Hoyle, so the answer is it was.

That's it from our live coverage of PMQs today - thanks for joining us.

And that wraps up this week's Prime Minister's Questions.

Dominating questioning from the opposition was the Supreme Court's ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law - more on that here.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch asked: "Does the prime minister now accept that when he said that it was the law that trans women were women, he was wrong?", referencing the Labour leader's previous comments.

Starmer didn't directly answer the question, but said he welcomes the Supreme Court's ruling.

He added that it is now time to "lower the temperature, to move forwards, and to conduct this debate with the care and compassion it deserves".

But today's PMQs got personal, according to our reporter in the Commons, who says the debate featured "the most mud slinging I have seen between these two".

And that wasn't all - the prime minister was also questioned on hospital construction, the benefits system, and net zero.

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the House of Commons

David Davis seems to think the prime minister has answered a different question to the one he posed, after Starmer lists moves to help the UK’s car industry.

“The car industry?”, the veteran Tory said to a colleague, with a rueful chuckle.

That's it from PMQs - stick with us and we'll recap the key lines and bring you some analysis.

Veteran Tory MP David Davis centred his question on company's net zero targets, saying British industry has cut its carbon footprint by moving production to Asia.

He said this is "bad for the global environment and also disastrous for the British economy".

Starmer replied: "We are doing everything available to use to protect car building in this country."

"We will do whatever it takes to support our car industry."

On to the topic of China, Starmer is asked by Conservative MP Neil Shastri-Hurst why his government has chosen to treat Beijing as a "business partner" rather than as a "hostile state"?

The prime minister said his approach is not different to previous governments.

"We've taken sensible decisions in the national interest and will continue to do so," he said.

Plaid Cymru MP Liz Saville Roberts focused on the government's passing of an emergency law to take control of British Steel in Scunthorpe.

The MP said workers at the steelworks in Port Talbot feel their livelihoods are worth less than those in Scunthorpe, and asked Starmer why they shouldn't feel Labour has "abandoned" them.

• For context: Some Welsh politicians have accused the government of double standards, after the steelworks in Port Talbot stopped operating last year, with the loss of some 2,800 jobs

Starmer said it is an important issue, and that the government has negotiated a new deal with Tata, the owners of Port Talbot, getting new investment to protect jobs.

He added that the government is supporting those who lose their jobs with a new fund to help train people in new skills.

Next up was Labour MP Andy McDonald who said too many of his constituents "live on low incomes or in real poverty".

He asked the prime minister about changes due to be made to personal independence payments, and whether he can reassure the Commons that they will not result in increased poverty.

Starmer said the government is reforming and "fixing a broken system".

The current system can trap people out of worker, he said, and they are trying to change this so people who cannot work will get new support.

Turning the focus to farming, Davey asked the prime minister if he will guarantee a vote on any trade deal agreed with the US.

Starmer said the government will negotiate in the national interest, and "uphold the highest animal welfare standards".

The government is "making progress" and Starmer said there will be a process if a deal is reached.

Moving on to Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who asked Starmer whether he will reconsider his decision to "further delay" the construction of hospitals.

The prime minister said the previous program was undeliverable and unaffordable, with the government's new alternative putting it on a "sustainable footing".

He claimed there's now record investment in the NHS, and urged Davey to "get more serious about the funding of these measures".

MPs have begun filing out of the Commons, as Prime Minister's Questions is now over.

There's lots to mull over, but in the meantime we'll finish bringing you the key lines.

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the House of Commons

This is all getting very personal - the most mud slinging I have seen between these two at PMQs.

Starmer grins and shakes his head as Badenoch says “he doesn’t have any balls”.

The prime minister tries to twist the knife over Robert Jenrick’s alleged leadership ambitions.

Reform leader Nigel Farage seems to be enjoying this more than anybody.

Badenoch says this is a question about moral courage and doing the right thing even when it is difficult.

"He doesn't have the balls," she says. "He cheered an ideology that denied safe spaces to women and girls, because he thought it was cool to do so."

"He hounded a brave female MP out of his party," she adds, referring again to Rosie Duffield, and says he is now hiding behind the Supreme Court's judgement.

Starmer again returns to his regular talking point today, saying that no one thinks Badenoch will be leading her party into the next election.

Continuing her focus on the Supreme Court's ruling, Badenoch says Baroness Falkner - who chairs the Equality and Human Rights Commission - is critical in enforcing the judgement.

She says that Falkner has had to put up with "relentless abuse" from activists and people in his party, and asks the prime minister if he will commit to reappointing her when her term finishes this year.

Starmer does not answer directly, but says the debate "should be conducted properly".

He then goes on to cite stats claiming Tory failures on violence against women and girls, and attacks the Tories over their alleged links with Reform UK.

Badenoch is "losing control of her party", he says.

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the House of Commons

Incredulous looks and exaggerated shaking of heads on the Tory benches as they react to Keir Starmer’s claims about Robert Jenrick campaigning for Badenoch’s job.

The shadow justice secretary is not in the chamber today.

Image source, UK Parliament

In response, Badenoch cites her record while serving as equalities minister in the previous government, before asking Starmer how his government can be taken seriously on the issue as "Labour MP after Labour MP stood up yesterday and challenged" the Supreme Court's ruling.

Badenoch also refers to WhatsApp groups where she alleges some ministers were allegedly "plotting to overturn the Supreme Court decision".

In response, Starmer says the WhatsApp group she should be worried about is the one of her shadow justice secretary - Robert Jenrick.

He says the "mask has slipped", and that Jenrick is not present in the Commons today as he is trying to replace her as Tory leader.

The PM also accuses the Conservatives of wanting to work with Reform, adding: "They're not Conservatives, they're a con".

Back to Kemi Badenoch, who says there is "no taking of responsibility" over what happened.

"He talks about political football, he practically kicked her out of his party," she continues.

"What about the abuse I faced from his MPs calling me a transphobe for supporting what the Supreme Court has now clarified".

Starmer responds by saying: "The only fiction here is the idea she delivered anything in office. She held the post of minister for women and equalities for two years and she did precisely nothing."

Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the House of Commons

Tory MPs pointing at former Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who now sits on the opposition benches as an independent.

She quit the Labour Party last year.

Badenoch says the prime minister is unable to admit "he was wrong" in his past comments.

Referring to the former Labour MP Rosie Duffield, Badenoch asks will he apologise for "hounding her out of the Labour party for simply telling the truth".

For context, Duffield left the Labour Party last year.

Starmer replies that everyone should be treated with dignity and respect.

Starmer responds by saying he welcomes the Supreme Court's ruling, as "it brings clarity and it will give confidence to women and of course service providers".

He adds that the Equality and Human Rights Commission "will now issue updated guidance and it is important that happens and that all service providers act accordingly".

"This government's approach and my approach has been as follows: to support and implement the Supreme Court ruling - and we will.

"To continue to protect single sex spaces based on biological sex, and we will.

"But also to ensure that trans people are treated with respect, and we will. And to ensure everybody is given dignity in their everyday lives.

"I do think this is the time to lower the temperature to move forward, to move forward with the care and to conduct this debate with the care and compassion it deserves and I think that should unite the whole house."

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch focuses her questioning on last week's Supreme Court ruling that a woman is defined by biological sex under equalities law.

Badenoch asks: "Does the prime minister now accept, that when he said it was the law that trans women were women, that he was wrong?"

• For context: In March 2022, when Starmer was leader of the opposition, he told the Times, external that "a woman is a female adult, and in addition to that trans women are women, and that is not just my view - that is actually the law".