Neha Gohil
Live reporter

Image source, PA Media

It was a fiery exchange at this week's PMQs between UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and leader of the opposition Kemi Badenoch.

Their exchange mostly centred around one man - Peter Mandelson, the UK's ambassador to the US.

It comes after Mandelson told the YouTube channel, Harry Cole Saves the West, that he believes further "embarrassing" correspondence between himself and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein will be published.

Mandelson says he felt a "tremendous sense of regret" over their friendship.

Badenoch repeatedly quizzed the prime minister on his confidence in Mandelson, in exchanges that were excruciating for the ambassador and very awkward for the prime minister, writes our political editor Chris Mason.

Starmer unequivocally defended the ambassador, and said the victims of Epstein are at the "forefront of our minds" and Mandelson has "repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association" with Epstein.

Liberal Democrat leader also asked Starmer about what "comprising material" the Trump administration might have on Mandelson. Starmer responded that "full due process was gone through" when he was appointed.

The prime minister was also challenged on the UK's response to the war in Gaza, ahead of a visit by Israeli President Isaac Herzog today.

We're ending our live coverage now - but we'll be back in two weeks for another session of PMQs.

Image source, EPA

The SNP's leader in Westminster Stephen Flynn used his question to criticise the prime minister for meeting with Israel's President Isaac Herzog later today.

Herzog does not have executive powers in Israel. His office has said he is visiting the UK "to show solidarity with the Jewish community, which is under severe attack and facing a wave of antisemitism."

However, 60 MPs and peers had urged the government to deny Herzog entry to the UK over Israel's actions in Gaza.

No 10 has said the Starmer will raise the "intolerable situation in Gaza" at the meeting.

On Monday evening, Starmer met Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas in Downing Street.

Yesterday, Israel carried out a strike on Hamas political leaders in Doha, a move that Starmer condemned during PMQs.

We're covering Israel's strike in Qatar in a separate live page - you can follow the latest here.

Image source, United States District Court Southern District of New York

Mandelson was brought up a lot in the House of Commons today - here's a quick explainer about the US ambassador's past relationship with disgraced financier and convicted paedophile Jeffery Epstein.

On Tuesday, US lawmakers released a trove of documents related to Epstein, who died in prison in 2019.

Among the documents was a letter from Mandelson, in which he referred to Epstein as his "best pal".

The message continues that Epstein was known for "taking you by surprise... in one of his glorious homes he likes to share with his friends (yum yum)", and features the label from a single malt whiskey, alongside a picture of a tropical island.

Since the letter emerged, Mandelson has called it "embarrassing" and said it was written more than "20 years ago".

He added that he regrets "very deeply" carrying on his association with Epstein "longer than I should have done" because he "fell for his lies".

More "embarrassing" correspondence could come out, Mandelson says.

As details emerge, Starmer is facing questions about what he knew of the relationship, and whether Mandelson is fit for his role.

• Read more about the relationship between the two in our article

Image source, UK Parliament

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch focused most of her questions this week on the UK's ambassador to Washington, Peter Mandelson.

It follows the release of a trove of documents about disgraced financier and convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein by US lawmakers this week.

A letter from Mandelson describing Epstein as his "best pal" was included in the documents.

Here's a quick recap of what we heard:

• Badenoch asked Prime Minister Keir Starmer several times if he had confidence in Mandelson and if he was aware of the ambassadors intimate relationship with Epstein
• The Tory leader pointed to a Daily Telegraph article about a deal Mandelson brokered with Epstein while he was business secretary - she asked Starmer if he would publish documents about Mandelson's appointment, including those about his interests
• Starmer repeatedly said that he has "confidence" in the ambassador and that "due process" was followed during his appointment, that Mandelson has expressed regret for his association with Epstein

• The BBC's political editor, Chris Mason, describes the exchange as "excruciating for the ambassador and very awkward for the prime minister"
• Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey also took up this line of questioning, asking Starmer what other material the Trump administration might have on Mandelson

Just before PMQs ended for the week, Labour's Rupa Huq asked the PM about Ukraine.

She says that the Ukrainian community in her Acton constituency fondly remembers Starmer's visit shortly after Putin's invasion of Ukraine.

She says the community wanted her to ask him to use Trump's state visit to the UK next week as an opportunity to redouble efforts to end the war.

Starmer replies that the Russia's act of sending drones into Poland last night shows that Putin thinks "he can somehow act with impunity".

He says the UK's work with the coalition of the willing had made real process in recent weeks.

"We must continue to ramp up the pressure on Putin," he adds.

We're following the Russian drones that entered Poland's airspace in another live page - you can keep up with the latest here.

Green MP Carla Denyer says 51 Israeli arms companies are exhibiting at a London arms fair this week.

Some boast their products are "battle tested", she says.

"We all know what that means: used to kill men, women and children," she adds.

Denyer asks: will the PM stop Israeli arms dealers from "parading" their weapons on UK soil?

Starmer says they have clear and strict rules on this and "have taken action in relation to arms sales".

Prime Minister's Questions has ended for the week - but we're still digesting what we've heard. Stay with us here as we bring you reaction and analysis.

Image source, House of Commons

Leader of the SNP in the House of Commons, Stephen Flynn, says Gaza is a "graveyard".

He says that "rather than end arms sales, extend sanctions, and stand by international law", the prime minister is welcoming the Israeli President Isaac Herzog today.

Flynn says the Israeli president "called for the collective punishment of the Palestinian people" and charges that Herzog will "ignore every word" Starmer says at their meeting today.

The prime minister says the UK has "suspended arms used in Gaza" as well as "sanctioned extremists" and suspended trade talks.

Starmer says the point Flynn raises is "serious" and the government wants an outcome that ensures peace which releases the hostages, gets aid into Gaza and leads to a two-state solution.

"I will not give up on diplomacy," Starmer adds.

Davey is now following Badenoch's line of questioning, asking the PM about Peter Mandelson.

The Lib Dem leader says people will be surprised that the prime minister has given Mandelson "such strong support".

He asks if Starmer has asked the ambassador "what other comprising material the Trump administration might have on him as he leads Britain's negotiations with the White House".

Starmer repeats his assertion that "full due process was gone through" when Mandelson was appointed.

Image source, House of Commons

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey has risen to ask the PM about benefits for children with disabilities.

He says the biggest complaint he hears from parents of disabled children is about "all the hoops they must jump through".

The PM is asked if he will overhaul the systems for family carers so the government works better for them.

Starmer says he agrees that there are too many hoops and hurdles, and they are simplifying the system.

Badenoch says Starmer has displayed "total weakness" and describes his words as "a load of waffle".

She says that the government is only interested in a "pointless" deputy leadership election, while the country is "suffering from an economic crisis".

She says the prime minister has an ambassador "mired in scandal", "lost his deputy prime minister" as well as a new home secretary and foreign secretary "just learning the ropes".

Starmer responds: "Our deputy leader contest started this week and ends on 25 October. Their leadership contest has been going on for months."

He argues that the government has reduced interest rates and waiting lists, stepped up defence spending and driven up NHS standards.

Image source, House of Commons

Badenoch continues to press Starmer on Mandelson, and says the PM "cannot answer any questions" - adding "that is not the behaviour of someone who has full confidence" in the UK's ambassador to the US.

The Tory leader says Mandelson should be in the White House talking about Russia's "incursion" into Nato airspace in Poland. Instead Mandelson is giving "interviews" with a newspaper, she says.

"This is about judgement," Badenoch says, before addressing the resignation of Angela Rayner.

Badenoch then asks again whether Starmer will publish the documents as well as instruct Mandelson to publish correspondence with convicted paedophile Epstein.

Starmer says Mandelson is discussing events in Poland with the White House and says the leader of the opposition is "finally catching up with the questions she should've asked last week" about Rayner.

Chris Mason
Political editor

Labour MPs are sitting quietly and defensively as Kemi Badenoch asks question after question about Lord Mandelson.

On the Labour benches, no smiles, arms crossed, looking uncomfortable.

The prime minister insists "due process" was followed in appointing Lord Mandelson.

But make no mistake, this is excruciating for the ambassador and very awkward for the prime minister.

Incidentally, you can hear the relief in Conservative MPs’ cheers that their leader this week prosecuted a consistent line of questioning and put the PM under real pressure.

Image source, House of Commons

Badenoch says it is "embarrassing" that the prime minister has confidence in a man who "brokered a deal with Jeffrey Epstein while he was business secretary".

"That is a disgrace," she adds.

For context: Mandelson was asked in a recent interview if he had ever done business deals with Epstein, to which he said: "He operated in a financial and business way, way above my level."

Badenoch continues there would have been extensive vetting completed when Mandelson was given the job of ambassador.

"This government has repeatedly - repeatedly - refused to declare Lord Mandelson's full interests, and as part of the appointment, there will have been extensive government vetting, including details and timings of Peter Mandelson's dealings with Jeffrey Epstein," she says.

She asks if the prime minister will publish all documents, including those about Mandelson's interests.

Starmer repeats that full due process was followed when appointing Mandelson. He says publication of any documents would be subject to the usual procedure.

Badenoch charges that Starmer "probably did know" of Mandelson's relationship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein.

She cites an article from the Daily Telegraph which says "while Lord Mandelson was business secretary, he brokered a deal with Jeffrey Epstein".

Badenoch asks: "Given this new information, does the prime minister really think it is tenable for our ambassador to remain in post?"

Keir Starmer replies: "The relationship between the US and the UK is one of our foremost relationships, and I have confidence in the ambassador in the role that he is doing."

Badenoch continues to press the PM on Mandelson, putting it to Starmer that Jeffrey Epstein's victims have called for Mandelson to be sacked.

"Just so the House is aware, in 2019 Jeffrey Epstein was convicted of child prostitution and sex trafficking that took place between 2002 and 2005 - that is the precise period which Lord Mandelson called Jeffrey Epstein his best pal," she says.

She asks if the prime minister was aware of Mandelson and Epstein's "intimate relationship" when he appointed the ambassador.

Starmer replies: "As she and the House would expect, full due process was followed during this appointment, as it is with all ambassadors. The ambassador has repeatedly expressed his deep regret, he is right to do so, he's now playing an important part in the US-UK relationship."

Image source, House of Commons

Starmer says the victims of Epstein are at the "forefront of our minds".

He says Mandelson has "repeatedly expressed his deep regret for his association" with Epstein and that he is "right to do so".

"I have confidence in him," Starmer says.

Image source, House of Commons

Badenoch says she agrees with the PM when he says the UK and all Nato allies should stand shoulder to shoulder against Putin's aggression

Her first question to the prime minister is whether he has full confidence in Peter Mandelson - the UK's ambassador in Washington.

It comes after US lawmakers released a number of documents yesterday, including a letter from Mandelson in which he called convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein his "best pal".

Mandelson says he feels "a tremendous sense of regret" over his friendship with Epstein, and a "tremendous sense of sympathy" for his victims.

Starmer begins by expressing condolences to the King and Royal Family on the death of the Duchess of Kent, who died last week.

He then says that he condemns Israel's strike in Doha, Qatar, yesterday.

He spoke to the Emir of Qatar last night, he adds, and says the UK will continue work on diplomatic solutions.

Starmer also rebukes Moscow, after Russian drones passed through Polish airspace overnight in what he calls an "unprecedented attack".

He has spoken to his Polish counterpart and pledged his support to Ukraine, the PM adds.

Chris Mason
Political editor

As we wait for PMQs to start, both the prime minister and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch were simultaneously waiting for their moment to take their seats - each being cheered by their own sides simultaneously as they did so.

The PM had a quick word with the speaker on his way in.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Tory leader Kemi Badenoch are both in their seats, which means PMQs is about to begin.

We'll be bringing you the key lines from their exchange, as well as insight from our correspondents.

You can also follow along by clicking watch live at the top of this page.