That's it for another week of Prime Minister's Questions, which saw Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch spar over the economy.

• We've summarised all the key moments here

It was Lib Dem leader Ed Davey that cracked open the matter of Trump's tariffs on steel and aluminium. The PM told the Commons he was negotiating an economic deal with the US and he would keep "all options on the table".

• We're covering all the latest on this story in a separate live page

Otherwise, that's it from us. Catch you next week - same time, same place.

This page was edited by Emily Atkinson and Sam Hancock. The writers were Ben Hatton, Asya Robins, Andre Rhoden-Paul and Rachel Flynn, with Joshua Nevett in the Commons.

Have 19,000 people been ‘removed’ under Labour?published at 13:54 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

13:54 GMT 12 March

By Lucy Gilder

In PMQs, Keir Starmer compared the Conservatives’ record on immigration returns with that of the current Labour government.

He said: “we’ve got the flights off - 19,000 people [have been] removed who shouldn’t be here”.

It’s true that the Home Office did record 18,987 returns between July 2024 and January 2025 but it is misleading to imply that all of them were actively removed as the figures show a significant number left voluntarily.

Only a quarter of the nearly 19,000 were what the Home Office classifies as “enforced returns”, when an individual is forcibly removed from the country by enforcement agents.

The majority were classified as “voluntary returns” - meaning people who choose to leave of their own accord.

Another set of returns figures (from July to December) show that around a third of voluntary returns were given some sort of financial assistance by the government to help them leave.

Did Labour promise to freeze council tax?published at 13:32 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

13:32 GMT 12 March

By Anthony Reuben

Kemi Badenoch criticised the prime minister on the basis that council tax is going up in April “after he promised to freeze it”.

The promise to freeze council tax was part of Labour’s campaign for the 2023 local elections in England.

Keir Starmer said in March 2023 that he would have frozen council tax the following year if he had been in government.

But Rachel Reeves was asked on the same day whether that meant council tax would be frozen if Labour won the general election and she said: "We'll have to see what the public finances look like going into a general election."

The pledge to freeze council tax was not in the Labour manifesto for last year’s general election and we have not been able to find any pledges from the prime minister to do so during that campaign.

Earlier on, Lib Dem leader Ed Davey said many in Parliament believe the PM ought to be "more robust" with US President Donald Trump.

His comments came after US-imposed tariffs on steel and aluminium came into effect overnight.

Starmer responded by saying that the UK would take a "pragmatic" approach and "keep all options on the table".

You can watch their exchange back below:

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the House of Commons

The row over sentencing guidelines came up and caused a ruckus at PMQs.

So what’s it’s all about?

It was triggered after the Sentencing Council, which advises judges on prison terms and community punishments, issued new guidance, external for England and Wales.

The new guidelines told judges to order a pre-sentence report if the offender is from a minority background, facing the possibility of jail for the first time, a woman or pregnant.

Opposition politicians had claimed the changes amounted to a "two-tier justice" system.

And last week, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood wrote to the council urging it to rethink guidance.

Now the Conservatives are trying to put Starmer under more political pressure to go further.

Unease over welfare cuts among Labour MPspublished at 13:00 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

13:00 GMT 12 March

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the House of Commons

The government is planning to make some cuts to welfare and there was some unease over this among Labour MPs sat on the backbenches at PMQs.

The Labour MP for Leeds East, Richard Burgon, called for a wealth tax, rather than cuts to benefits.

Watching on from the gallery above the chamber was Labour MP Rachel Maskell, who nodded her head, seemingly in agreement.

Maskell recently told the BBC she had picked up "deep, deep concern" among Labour MPs.

She said: "I look in the past at what Labour has achieved in this space and believe that we can hold on to our values, ensure that we're helping people and not harming people."

The BBC understands MPs have been going into Downing Street for briefings about the welfare changes.

Starmer clearly has some work to do to convince sceptical MPs of the merits of his plans.

Prime Minister's Questions is over for another week. Here's what happened:

• Prime Minister Keir Starmer opened the session by welcoming the progress on peace talks to end the war in Ukraine
• Then came questions from Tory leader Kemi Badenoch. She focused on the economy, saying inflation was up and large numbers of job losses were expected, blaming Labour's tax rises
• In response, Starmer repeatedly said the Conservatives had left a "£22bn black hole", and pointed out that Badenoch hadn't said she wanted to reverse his policies
• Badenoch also said the costs of childcare, social care, and supermarket goods were going up
• Hitting back, Starmer said his party was "picking up and fixing the mess" left by the Tories, and defended the government's record
• Next up was Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who asked if the PM would fly to Canada in a show of solidarity after it was hit by US tariffs
• Starmer said he was "disappointed" to see global tariffs on steel and aluminium imposed by the US. The UK is negotiating an economic deal with the US, but will "keep all options on the table", he added

Image source, UK Parliament

Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell raises Starmer's meeting later today with the family of David Amess, after Kemi Badenoch did the same a little earlier.

He asks the prime minister to reverse the decision to deny the family a public inquiry into the death of Amess and the failure of the Prevent programme.

Starmer responds by acknowledging how heartbroken the family are, and says it's important they meet this afternoon and "discuss all the questions they want to raise with me".

And that's the end of PMQs. We've got further updates and analysis on the way, though - stick with us.

We're now into the section of PMQs where backbench MPs get to ask Starmer the questions on their minds. We'll bring you any key exchanges in our next few posts.

One such question comes from SNP MP Dave Doogan, who asks the prime minister if he can reassure the Commons that US President Donald Trump is listening to the UK - with regards to reaching a peace deal for Russia's war in Ukraine.

Starmer says there was a huge amount of work to make sure yesterday's talks in Saudi Arabia could go as well as possible, and he's extremely pleased about the reinstated US support to Ukraine.

"As ever, we must go further," he adds.

Starmer treads carefully on tariffspublished at 12:28 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

12:28 GMT 12 March

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the House of Commons

The PM was widely considered to have performed well at the White House last month, and even earned plaudits from Conservatives. There was talk of an economic deal, albeit a limited one, and hope that the UK would be exempt from Trump’s tariffs.

But with US tariffs on steel and aluminium coming into effect overnight, that hope has proved to be an illusion.

It’s a political vulnerability and here at PMQs, it was just targeted by Lib Dem leader Ed Davey.

Davey asked Starmer whether he’d fly to Canada to show solidarity with the country, after it was hit with US tariffs.

Starmer said the UK would take a pragmatic approach but “keep all options on the table”.

Dealing with Trump is the diplomatic version of treading on eggshells. Labour has tiptoed around the eggshells so far - but will be keen to find firmer footing if the tariffs start to bite.

Image source, PA Media/UK Parliament

A question now from Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who wants to know if Starmer understands that for many disabled people, the best way to get them into work is to support them with more equipment, training, and healthcare.

Starmer responds by saying what the current government has inherited is "shocking" - and that "one in eight young people are not in education, work or training". He adds that the Tories "did nothing for 14 years".

Davey then congratulates Starmer on helping to restore US aid and intelligence-sharing to Ukraine, but asks if the UK should be more robust against Donald Trump's metal tariffs.

Starmer says he's "disappointed" by the tariffs on steel and aluminium, but he is negotiating an economic deal with the US. He says he will keep all options on the table.

Badenoch laser-focused on economy and taxpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

12:21 GMT 12 March

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the House of Commons

Badenoch was laser-focused on the Labour’s handling of the economy, in particular the rise in the National Insurance (NIC) rate for employers, which is set to increase from 13.8% to 15% from 6 April 2025.

Badenoch repeatedly called it a “jobs tax”.

Interestingly, she also framed the chancellor’s Spring Statement as an “emergency Budget”, given it’s expected to include spending cuts.

But Starmer insisted his government was “picking up the mess” left by the Conservatives and pointed to what he called a £22bn “hole” in the public finances.

Cheers and jeers fill the Commonspublished at 12:20 Greenwich Mean Time 12 March

12:20 GMT 12 March

Chris Mason
Political editor, in the House of Commons

It's all gone a bit panto in here with the jeering and cheering.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves shook her head repeatedly when the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch described the Spring Statement in a fortnight as an “emergency Budget.”

Badenoch claimed the government had trashed the “economy with their bad choices".

The prime minister responded by pointing to what he saw as the repeated economic failures of the previous Conservative government.

Image source, UK Parliament

Badenoch suggests the government is going to bring an "emergency Budget" in two weeks, saying Labour will try and make out it's because of global events - but she claims the truth is "they trashed the economy with their bad choices".

This is a high-tax, low-growth, job-killing government, she says.

Starmer responds, saying inflation was 11% under the Conservatives and repeats that they left a £22bn "black hole".

"And they want to give lectures on the economy", he says, "no thank you."

Badenoch next says everyday businesses tell her they're going bust and that supermarket prices are due to go up 4% because of Labour's job tax.

She continues, saying the budget is also "killing farming in this country".

Responding, Starmer says his government's Budget provided more money for farmers and thousands of farms have benefitted from farming schemes.

• For context: One of the policies announced in the autumn Budget was a change to inheritance tax for farms, prompting an outcry from farmers across the country. From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will have to pay inheritance tax at 20% - half the usual rate. BBC Verify has looked at the policy and how many farms will actually be affected.

Image source, UK Parliament

Badenoch says rubbish in Birmingham and Liverpool is piling up, and people are getting "trash" - just like "what he's saying at the dispatch box".

People all over the country are suffering, she says, adding that care home fees are set to go up by £3,000 because of the government's jobs tax.

How does he expect pensioners to make ends meet, she asks.

Starmer responds by saying the current government is "picking up and fixing the mess" that the Conservatives left.

Back to Badenoch, who says the average council tax bill is going up by more than £100 - on average - in April after he promised to freeze it.

"Why should these families pay more for less?", she asks the PM - again focusing her questions on Labour's economic policies.

Starmer says the Tories put up council tax every year for 12 of the 14 years they were in power.

• For context: Council tax - a compulsory charge on properties in England, Scotland and Wales, set by local authorities to raise money for providing services - are set to rise for millions of households in April. This explainer looks at how much it's going up by and in which areas.

Badenoch,in turn, says the PM "needs to get out more" - and that inflation is up and "estimates of job losses are between 130,000 and 300,000".

His tax rises are hurting every sector of the economy, the Tory leader says, adding that nurseries are telling parents that fees are going up. How is more expensive childcare good for the economy or families, she asks.

Starmer says the government is "putting in childcare", and talks about bringing in more breakfast clubs.

She's forgetting the £22bn "black hole" left by the Conservatives, he says, claiming Badenoch is attacking Labour measures without saying she would reverse them "because she wants all the benefits" but "doesn't want to pay for it".

Keir Starmer responds by paying tribute to David Amess himself, outlining his plans to meet the family later on and "get answers to questions" they have.

Onto the Budget end of Badenoch's question, the PM says Labour has secured thousands of new jobs into the economy, that wages are up, that there is more investment and that there has been a boost to the cost of living.

There are cheers from his bench at this point.

Kemi Badenoch kicks off her questioning by highlighting Starmer's upcoming meeting with the family of Davis Amess, a Tory MP who was murdered in 2021.

She asks if Starmer agrees that getting a response to his murder - and how it was allowed to happen - is vital for the UK's democracy.

She then asks the prime minister if he has been given an estimate of how many people will lose their jobs because of his government's Budget.

• For context (on David Amess): The Conservative MP for Southend West was stabbed to death by Ali, a fanatic of so-called Islamic State, at a constituency surgery on 15 October 2021. Ali had been referred to Prevent - the government's scheme to prevent terrorism - seven years before he fatally stabbed Amess. On Monday this week, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper rejected calls from the Amess family for a public inquiry into his murder.