Image source, House of Commons/PA Media

As we've just been reporting, in PMQs today Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch focused her questions on energy prices and winter fuel payment cuts. As too did Lib Dem leader Ed Davey.

But the prime minister stood by his position, and was resolute that his government is attempting to bring energy prices down for good with renewable energy and net zero.

He also dismissed criticisms of Labour's hike to National Insurance, and voiced concern over tensions between India and Pakistan and the war in Gaza.

One thing that wasn't mentioned, however, was last week's local elections, in which Reform UK made sweeping gains - both Labour and the Conservatives suffered large losses.

We're ending our live coverage now, but you can read more here.

Will UK-India trade deal create 'two-tier taxes'?published at 13:29 British Summer Time 7 May

13:29 BST 7 May

By Tom Edgington

During PMQs, Sir Keir Starmer dismissed as “nonsense” claims that the government’s new trade deal with India would disadvantage UK workers.

Under the deal, Indian workers who transfer to the UK and their employers won't have to pay national insurance (NI) in their first three years in the UK. The same applies to UK workers posted to India.

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has said this would create “two-tier taxes” because a UK firm hiring a British worker would still have to pay NI.

Starmer pointed out that the UK already had NI exemptions as part of trade deals with other countries. This is correct and HMRC lists them on its website., external

For example, a deal with Chile, external signed by the Conservative-Lib Dem coalition government in 2012 provides a five-year social security exemption for temporary posted workers.

What we don’t know, however, is how many Indian workers the government thinks will come to the UK under the deal. We asked the Department for Business and Trade, but it was unable to provide a number.

Image source, House of Commons / PA Media

The focus of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch's questioning this week was on the cost of energy - targeting both Labour's decision to means-test pensioners' winter fuel payments, and the way it is pursuing targets to reduce carbon emissions.

Here's what was said:

• Badenoch began by asking the prime minister if he was "wrong" to remove the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners. Starmer said his goal was to put the country's finances "back in order" after the Tories left a "£22bn black hole"
• The Conservative leader hit back, saying the "only black hole" is the one the prime minister is "digging" - jumping on criticism of the move from within Labour
• In response, Starmer claimed other parties aren't prepared to say how they would balance the country's finances
• Badenoch then turned to net zero, calling Labour's approach "irrational" and "doomed to fail" - the prime minister argued that renewables are the only way forward, while insisting oil and gas will continue to be part of the mix
• Notably absent, however, were explicit mentions of last week's local elections, where both parties suffered losses

Did Labour promise to cut energy bills by £300?published at 12:54 British Summer Time 7 May

12:54 BST 7 May

By Tom Edgington

During PMQs, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch challenged Keir Starmer over the cost of energy and asked: “Why has the prime minister broken his promise to cut energy bills by £300?.”

Labour’s election manifesto pledged, external: “We will save families hundreds of pounds on their bills, not just in the short term, but for good.”

Before the election, the Labour leader said his party would “help families save up to £300 off their energy bills”, external through its push for green energy.

Labour said this would happen by 2030. So far, though, energy bills have been going up.

The energy price cap, which limits the amount households pay for a unit of energy, is £1,849 for a typical household for the current period from 1 April to 30 June.

This is 9% higher per year, or £159 more, than the price cap set for the same periodlast year, external, which was just before the election.

Read more: Why are energy bills going up, if there is more green power?

Tory MP Matt Vickers questions Starmer over pubs, saying they are "being battered" by the rise in National Insurance and the cuts to small business rates relief.

He asks the prime minister why he is "taxing them into oblivion".

Starmer says the government supports pubs, and accuses Vickers of repeating the "same old nonsense" over the government's tax polices.

"They say they don't want the National Insurance rise but they don't have the courage to say they'd reverse it," he says.

Starmer adds that he believes the Conservatives "wouldn't be able to say where the money's coming from" to pay for a reversal.

And that's the end of today's questions - stick with us and we'll recap all the key lines.

Independent MP Shockat Adam accuses the Israeli government of last week approving a plan to "officially conquer Gaza".

He asks if the prime minister will "finally acknowledge that ethnic cleansing is under way" and end all UK military co-operation with Israel, suggesting that otherwise the UK risks being "complicit in war crimes".

Starmer says "most of what he says is simply not right".

The prime minister adds that the situation in Gaza and the West Bank is "increasingly intolerable" and he is "deeply concerned".

He reiterates his long-running stance that a two-state solution is the "only viable approach" for peace.

For context: Israel's security cabinet has approved a plan to expand its military offensive against Hamas which includes the "capture" of Gaza and the holding of its territory - you can read more here

Green Party MP Sian Berry questions the prime minister on welfare cuts, and asks whether he will restore support "given the fear felt by disabled people".

Starmer avoids directly answering the question, instead saying that those who need support and protection should have it.

But, he says, those who can be helped into work should be, and those who can work should.

PMQs is now over for the week.

There's still some more questions we need to catch you up on, so stick with us.

Image source, PA Media

Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader, also focuses on energy.

He invites Starmer to visit Aberdeen and explain why he is willing to save jobs in Scunthorpe, while "destroying" jobs in Scotland.

The prime minister replies that Labour has committed £200m to the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland, and says that Flynn is attempting to distract from the SNP's "disastrous" record.

Badenoch focuses on energy prices, while Starmer accuses her of 'talking the country down'published at 12:33 British Summer Time 7 May

12:33 BST 7 May

Chris Mason
Political editor

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch tried to pull together an argument about energy prices in her set of questions, rather than – as some may have expected – scrutinising the free trade deal with India she was so outspoken about yesterday.

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey picked up on the theme – referring to the removal of the winter fuel payment from millions of pensioners.

They both know the prime minister is taking heat from his own side on the issue too, so they are punching something of a bruise.

There is a familiarity too for regular watchers of PMQs to the PM’s attempted putdowns - it’s not the first time we've seen Keir Starmer accuse Badenoch of a "carp from the sidelines".

In accusing her of "talking the country down" he is also using language that used to be used about him when he was leader of the opposition.

Davey's next question relates to US President Donald Trump. Davey says that people want the government to stand up to him over his "outrageous tariffs".

Trump is now "coming for our world-leading British film industry", the Lib Dem leader says, over reports that the US could implement tariffs on foreign-made films.

Davey asks the prime minister if he will work with the EU and other allies to "make clear to President Trump that if he picks a fight with James Bond, Bridget Jones and Paddington Bear, he will lose".

Starmer tells Davey he should "listen to the sectors he thinks he's championing", saying they want a trade deal with the US, and for the government to keep working to reduce tariffs.

Image source, PA Media

Next up is Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who begins with comments marking VE Day, and he urges restraint and de-escalation between India and Pakistan.

He then turns to last week's local elections, saying that among the messages voters sent last week one stood out: "Bring back the winter fuel payment for millions of struggling pensioners".

He notes Starmer has previously said he wants to go "further and faster", but Davey claims that on social care he is "going slower and slower", and asks him to "get on with fixing social care this year".

The prime minister says the government is already taking measures to improve social care, and accuses Davey of making demands but not saying how he would pay for it.

Badenoch claims that people are losing their jobs under Labour, in reference to oil and gas firm Harbour Energy announcing it is cutting hundreds of roles in Scotland.

She says Starmer's energy policy is a "disaster and everyone knows it", again citing former Prime Minister Tony Blair.

"His only answer is to go further and faster in the wrong direction", says Badenoch.

Starmer says no-one wants to see job losses but Badenoch should address her comments to the "tens of thousands" of people working on renewable energy, calling the Tories "anti-growth, anti-jobs, anti-people".

He adds that Badenoch should be celebrating the deal the government has done with India.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

The PM seems content with a clear dividing line with the opposition on green energy, net zero and climate change.

This is despite the vote for anti-net zero Reform UK in England's local elections, and former Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair questioning how net zero should be reached.

Badenoch continues on the theme of net zero, and calls Labour's approach "irrational" and "doomed to fail" - before observing that these are not her words, but Tony Blair's - more on those comments in our news article.

She goes on to suggest that jobs are disappearing across the country because of energy costs, citing the closure of a ceramics factory in Stoke as an example.

On his feet, the prime minister responds by saying that oil and gas will continue to be part of the mix "for many decades to come", but he stresses that net zero is an "opportunity to be seized".

"The global race is on for the jobs of the future and I think Britain can win that race", he says.

Image source, PA Media

Badenoch follows up by claiming that the UK now has the highest energy bills in Europe, despite having the second highest amount renewables on our grid.

She asks the prime minister if he can't cut energy bills because of his net zero emissions policies?

Starmer replies by telling the Tory leader that energy bills based on fossil fuel use has always fluctuated, and that renewables are the only way forward.

He says this is something Badenoch "used to believe in", and quotes previous comments she made on the benefits of renewable energy and green polices - including remarks that green trade investment would help "create a better tomorrow".

Badenoch hits back, saying her party "wouldn't balance [the economy] on the back of pensioners", claiming they are now poorer and colder because of Starmer's decisions.

The prime minister says the way to bring energy bills down for good is "to deliver cheap, green, home-grown energy".

He says Badenoch's policies wouldn't bring energy bills down, and accuses the Tories of blocking infrastructure projects.

Badenoch says the "only black hole" is the one Starmer is "digging", adding that the cutting of winter fuel payments has impacted some of the most vulnerable.

The Conservative leader adds that some of the prime minister's own MPs are saying that move was "wrong", and asks whether he will "at least listen to his own party" and change course.

Starmer says opposition parties would "take the country back" to where it was before Labour won last year's election - citing high interest rates and long NHS waiting lists.

He says others aren't prepared to say how they'd put the country's finances straight.

Starmer responds by saying that the primary job of the Labour government was to put the country's finances "back in order".

He repeats the line that the Conservative party left a "£22bn black hole", and touts some of Labour's fiscal achievements so far.

He says that countries like India want to do deals with the UK because of the work his government has done.

Iain Watson
Political correspondent

Kemi Badenoch brings up winter fuel payments at PMQs because so many of Keir Starmer’s own MPs have said it came up on the doorstep at the local elections - and not in a good way.

She hopes the prime minister's apparent intransigence will increase the discomfort on his own backbenches