Summary

  • Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch have gone head-to-head at Prime Minister's Questions

  • The Conservative leader says the government briefed that income tax would increase in next week's Budget, before backtracking - saying their plans "unraveled"

  • Starmer says the plans will be announced by the chancellor next week - but that it will be a "Labour Budget with Labour values"

  • Badenoch goes on to ask whether income tax thresholds will be frozen, meaning more people pay higher rates as their pay increases

  • In his reply, Starmer focuses on the Conservatives' record - saying Labour won't inflict austerity on the country, nor go on a "borrowing spree"

  • Badenoch claims "it is quite clear that they are going to freeze thresholds"

  • Rachel Reeves previously suggested that freezing thresholds would breach Labour's manifesto, writes Leila Nathoo - although it was a policy that began under the Conservatives

PMQs: Tory leader pushes PM over tax measures in next week's Budget

Live Reporting

Edited by Emily McGarvey and Nathan Williams, with Brian Wheeler in the House of Commons

  1. Starmer congratulates Scotland on reaching first World Cup in nearly 30 years

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer is on his feet, and begins this week's PMQs by congratulating Scotland on their "magnificent victory" in qualifying for the World Cup.

    After a huge roar in the Commons, speaker Lindsay Hoyle jokes: "I didn't realise you were all Scottish MPs."

    The PM then says his thoughts are with those affected by severe flooding this week, particularly in Monmouth, after Storm Claudia caused the river Monnow to burst its banks.

    He then reflects on the overhaul to the asylum system announced on Monday.

  2. Prime Minister's Questions begins

    It's just turned midday and the House of Commons is full of MPs, ready to grill the prime minister.

    We'll be covering all the major lines here, and you can watch along live at the top of this page.

    Starmer

  3. Badenoch likely to focus on next week's Budget

    Brian Wheeler
    Reporting from the House of Commons

    To pick up on this morning’s military theme, Kemi Badenoch has a target rich environment for PMQs.

    My guess would be that she will focus her fire on next week’s Budget - maybe reports today that Rachel Reeves is planning some kind of "mansion tax"?

    Whatever she decides to use her six questions on, Keir Starmer’s recent leadership woes are sure to feature.

  4. Government response to Chinese spying claims in the spotlight

    One of the main stories in Westminster this week has been the warning from MI5 to MPs of the risk from Chinese spies.

    The security service says it identified two LinkedIn profiles which it says are used on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of State Security (MSS) which it says are acting as "civilian recruitment headhunters".

    In response, Security Minister Dan Jarvis has said the government will not tolerate "covert and calculated" attempts to interfere with the UK's sovereign affairs.

    A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the UK said accusations of espionage were "pure fabrication".

  5. Defence secretary announces plans for 'new era of defence'

    John Healey speaking at a podium which says: Strong foundations, secure futureReuters

    Meanwhile this morning, Defence Secretary John Healey announced plans to combat a "new era of threat" and warned of a Russian spy ship currently sitting on the edge of UK waters which has pointed lasers to distract pilots of surveillance aircraft monitoring its activities.

    "As I speak, A Russian spy ship, the Yantar, is on the edge of UK waters north of Scotland, having entered the UK's wider waters over the last few weeks," Healey said from Downing Street.

    "This is a vessel designed for gathering intelligence and mapping our undersea cables."

    He says it's the second time this year that the ship has deployed to UK waters, and he sent a warning to Russia: "We see you, we know what you're doing, and if the Yantar travels south this week, we are ready."

    He also announced the construction of "13 potential sites" for munitions and energetic factories will begin at the start of next year, which he says will create 1,000 new jobs.

    "We are in a new era of threat. Our world is changing. It is less predictable, and more dangerous". The new era "demands a new era of defence", Healey adds.

  6. What's in the newspapers today?

    A composite image of two newspaper front pages, The Times and The Daily Telegraph.

    Several of Wednesday's papers are leading on Chinese espionage in the UK, after MI5 issued an alert to MPs.

    The Times reports on an alert to MPs issued by MI5 identifying two LinkedIn profiles which it says have been used on behalf of the Chinese state to recruit. A spokesperson for the Chinese embassy in the UK said accusations of espionage were "pure fabrication" and accused the UK of a "self-staged charade".

    Both the Mirror and Guardian carry claims by former schoolmates of Nigel Farage who say the Reform UK leader held "racist and antisemitic" views while a teenager. The party says the allegations are "entirely without foundation" and a "smear".

    A report which says the UK is under-prepared for an armed attack is highlighted on the front page of the Daily Telegraph.

  7. Reeves backs away from income tax rise

    Chancellor Rachel Reeves wears a maroon jacket over a white blouse as she speaks at a media conference with the British flag draped behind her.Reuters

    With one week to go until the Budget, there's a good chance Starmer could face questions on the chancellor's plans.

    In recent weeks, Rachel Reeves gave strong indications she would increase income tax rates - a move that would have broken part of Labour's election manifesto.

    But on Friday, government sources said she has decided against an income tax rate rise after receiving better-than-expected economic forecasts.

    Instead of raising rates, Reeves could opt to freeze or lower income tax thresholds, the salary levels at which the rates kick in.

    Other taxes could also be raised, and government sources maintain Reeves is still having to make "tough choices".

    They also insisted that the move not to raise income tax rates is not related to speculation last week around Starmer's future as PM.

  8. Parties react to the government's planned asylum changes

    Kemi Badenoch wears a suit and white shirt sat in front of a union jack flag and a bookcasePA Media

    Political opponents were quick to have their say on Shabana Mahmood's proposed asylum changes this week. Before taking you to the chamber, let's revisit some key reactions:

    • Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch said her party would do “everything we can" to support the planned changes but added they were only “a small step in the right direction”
    • Zack Polanski, the Green Party leader of England and Wales, told BBC Newsnight "every single Labour MP needs to look to their conscience"
    • Reform UK leader Nigel Farage praised Mahmood's "strong language" and suggested she was auditioning to join his party
    • Liberal Democrat home affairs spokesperson Max Wilkinson welcomed the introduction of new safe and legal routes - but accused Mahmood of "stoking division by using immoderate language"

  9. At a glance: Labour's planned asylum changes

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday announced a major overhaul of the asylum system. Here's a brief look at some of the measures:

    Refugee status will become temporary and reviewed every 30 months, meaning refugees could be returned to their home country if it is judged safe. They would need to be resident in the UK for 20 years to apply for permanent status - up from the current five years.

    Human rights law changes will change how the right to family life under Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) is applied in migration court cases. Only those with immediate relatives, like children or parents, will be able to remain in the UK in future.

    Housing and financial support changes mean the legal duty to provide asylum seekers with guaranteed housing and weekly pay would be removed, with support still available for "those who are destitute" but withheld from those with permission to work or who break the law or defy removal directions.

    New legal routes to the UK, with an annual cap on numbers, would be created. Volunteers and community groups will be able to sponsor individual refugees, echoing the Homes for Ukraine scheme.

  10. 'Broken' immigration overhaul sparks Labour backlash

    A smiling Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood wears a blue jacket and black top.Getty Images

    The prime minister could likely face questions in the Commons after Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood on Monday pledged to overhaul what she called the UK's "broken" asylum system.

    Under the plans, refugees will have to wait 20 years for permanent residency and deporting more families who have been rejected for asylum - we'll have more of the detail in our next post.

    Several Labour MPs expressed concerns, with Nottingham East MP Nadia Whittome calling the plans "dystopian" and "shameful".

    Deporting children is controversial for a number of Labour figures, including MP Stella Creasy, who said it is "not the British way", and peer Lord Dubs, who criticised "using children as a weapon".

    Despite the backlash, Communities Secretary Steve Reed has said the government is "absolutely committed" to pushing through major asylum reforms.

  11. Asylum reform, defence plans and a week to go until the Budget

    Starmer standing up in the Commons wearing a blue suitPA Media

    It comes around so quickly, doesn't it?

    As Keir Starmer prepares to face off against Tory leader Kemi Badenoch in the Commons at midday, a couple of topics are likely to come his way at this week's Prime Minister's Questions.

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood unveiled proposed immigration reforms on Monday, making refugee status temporary, narrowing the appeal process and threatening visa bans on countries that block returns.

    The chancellor's Budget is coming up on 26 November, and government sources say Rachel Reeves has backed away from raising income tax rates, after giving strong indications she would increase them.

    The PM could also be asked about MI5 warning MPs of the risk from Chinese spies, and a report by MPs which found the UK lacks a plan to defend itself and overseas territories from a military attack.

    Let's dive into the detail before taking you to the Commons.