Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

We've moved to BBC Radio Norfolk now and presenter Kayleigh Poacher asks the PM what he will do to help leaseholders who feel trapped "right now".

Starmer says there is "no snap answer" but promises he is committed to "overhauling" the leasehold system by the end of this Parliament.

He explains this requires complicated changes to the law but he's "determined" to see it through.

• For context: A BBC News investigation has found that leaseholders have had to pay hundreds of pounds for services such as key-cutting and the cleaning of doormats and council bins

Tony Grew
BBC News, political reporter

Keir Starmer has said his decision to cut winter fuel allowance for most pensioners is one he would have preferred not to have to make.

Asked on BBC Radio WM if this “could be the policy you come to regret”, the prime minister paused for a moment, then replied: “There lots of decisions we had to make in the Budget which to be perfectly honest I’d had preferred not to have had to make.

"But when you inherit a broken economy and you then find out there is £22bn which does not appear on the books and you need to balance the books, very, very difficult decisions have to be made.”

He says pension credit payments for the poorest pensioners would help but with NHS wating lists “through the roof”, difficult but fair decisions had to be made.

Tanya Gupta
BBC News, Birmingham

Starmer is asked if the government has failed the residents of Birmingham who are facing council tax hikes after the council effectively declared itself bankrupt in September last year.

The authority is now in the process of making cuts to services totalling £300m.

Starmer says a number of councils have "really struggled" with their finances in recent years, adding: "We are making changes."

The PM says the government is making longer funding arrangements so money can be better used and is addressing no-fault evictions and homelessness, which many authorities are struggling with.

He says the government is already beginning to make those changes.

Asked whether Birmingham council could cover the debt over a longer period of time, he says: "The way to do that is to go to longer-term settlements."

Tanya Gupta
BBC News, Birmingham

We're with Radio WM now where the Birmingham pub bombings and calls for an inquiry are raised.

A recording of Justice for the 21 campaigner Julie Hambleton is played to Sir Keir, in which she lists inquiries into other national tragedies and scandals. Her question for him: "Where's ours?"

The prime minister says it was an "absolutely awful" case.

"We are engaging with the community and campaigners," he says, adding the government will listen to those affected by the 1974 atrocity.

Asked how much longer families would have to wait, he says: "We'll keep talking to them and engage and come to a decision as quickly as we can."

Starmer says it was a "very long time to wait for answers to really important questions", but adds: "I don't want to commit to a date until it's sure in my own mind."

He says as a lawyer, he has fought for justice all his life and represented victims in many cases of injustice.

"We must always get to the bottom of what happened," he says.

David McKenna
BBC News, Lincolnshire

The prime minister is then asked about plans to transport green energy generated in Scotland to the south-east of England via a network of pylons through the Lincolnshire countryside.

Image source, REUTERS/Neil Hall/File Photo

National Grid wants a new line of pylons to transport electricity 87 miles (140km) between Grimsby and Walpole in Norfolk.

Opponents say the cables should run underground but National Grid said pylons were significantly cheaper.

Campaigners have described the plans as "disheartening", saying that the county will not even benefit from the scheme.

In response, Sir Keir told BBC Radio Lincolnshire action was needed to help bring energy prices down and so Putin "can't put his boot on our throat" and prices go through the roof.

Katie Wray
BBC News, political reporter

The prime minister speaks to BBC Radio Lincolnshire next, where presenter Sean Dunderdale asks if has a “problem” with the county, as he’s upset a lot of people from rural Lincolnshire recently.

From April 2026, inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m, which were previously exempt, will be liable to the tax at 20% - half the usual rate.

Sir Keir Starmer says he “understands farmers’ concerns, and the government has allocated £5bn to farming, plus money to deal with flooding and the outbreak of disease”.

Lincolnshire farmer, Martha Hayes, asks if the government will commit to an independent review of how many farms will be affected by the changes.

The prime minister says the review happened before the Autumn Budget, but he’ll look into Martha’s case.

Gemma Sherlock
Journalist

Next up is the issue of prison overcrowding and how the government is responding.

The prime minister says he does not want to have to release prisoners early.

It comes after Thomas Waring, convicted of assisting an offender and possession of a firearm, in relation to Elle Edward's muder in Wallasey, Wirral, two years ago, had his release date brought forward due to prison overcrowding.

Starmer told BBC Radio Merseyside presenter Tony: "I don't want to release any of these people" and added "it is another mess we are clearing up."

Gemma Sherlock
Journalist

Tony has just asked the prime minister about Zoe's Place, the baby hospice here in Liverpool which was recently saved thanks to a huge fundraising effort by the community.

He asks if it was right that ordinary scousers had to put their hands in their pockets to raise more than £6m to save the hospice - should hospices like this be funded by government, not by bake sales and fundraisers?

Starmer says: "Let me pay tribute to all those who took part in raising that amount of money.

"Hospices do come under the secretary of state for health and funding arrangements are going to be set out shortly, provisions will be made."

He says he's very grateful for their efforts and he'd love to visit Zoe's Place.

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

Tony asks what the PM is going to do to help people with rocketing energy bills.

Starmer tries to move on to another, more positive, announcement for the government - Respect orders - but is swiftly yanked back on course.

He asks when was the last time the PM needed to worry about paying his bills.

Starmer says he accepts he is in a privileged position and there are difficult choices to be made in government.

Tony kicks off by asking why the PM has allowed millions of pensioners to lose their winter fuel allowance.

Starmer responds by saying it "makes sense" to remove payments from "relatively wealthy" pensioners, although he stresses those in need can get winter fuel payments by applying for pension credit.

He says the money saved will be used to fund hospitals and schools.

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

The prime minister Sir Keir Starmer is on the line with BBC Radio Merseyside now.

Our presenter Tony Snell will have eight minutes to get as much information as he can from him, about the issues that matter most to local people.

BBC Sounds

Image source, Reuters

The prime minister will be speaking to BBC local radio stations around England, starting the round in Merseyside and ending in Bristol.

But if you want to hear everything he has to say, you can follow all the interviews from 11:15 in one place - here on BBC Sounds.

And if you've got a smart speaker, just say "Ask the BBC to play live news".

There's no shortage of topics for our presenters to be quizzing the prime minister on today, from the big national talking points to the issues that really matter to local audiences.

Here's today's running order:

• 11:15 - BBC Radio Merseyside
• 11:22 - BBC Radio Lincolnshire
• 11:30 - BBC Radio WM
• 11:38 - BBC Radio Norfolk
• 11:45 - BBC Radio Kent
• 11:52 - BBC Radio Bristol

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

We're joining Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer inside number 10 Downing Street for this morning's interview round.

The famous building is historically the official residence of the prime minister, but Starmer actually lives next door.

Number 11 Downing Street is usually the home of the Chancellor, but because it is bigger, some PMs have chosen to switch, including Tony Blair, Boris Johnson and David Cameron.

Image source, EPA

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

Starmer is also under pressure to deliver for leaseholders struggling with charges.

Millions of leaseholders only have temporary rights to use their property in a system described by Labour as "feudal".

Some have been telling the BBC how they have been overcharged by thousands of pounds.

Only yesterday, the government announced the leasehold system in England and Wales would be overhauled by the end of the current Parliament.

How many farms will be affected by tax changes?published at 10:44 Greenwich Mean Time 22 November

10:44 GMT 22 November

By Tamara Kovacevic, Anthony Reuben and Gerry Georgieva

There has been an outcry from many farmers following the changes to inheritance tax for farms announced in the Budget.

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.

We've seen a range of claims about how many farms will be affected.

The largest estimate - 70,000 - relates to the total number that could ever be affected. But the number of farms likely to be impacted each year is likely to be around 500.

The rural influx to the streets of London earlier this week that involved more than 10,000 farmers is all about changes to inheritance tax announced in the budget.

Since it was introduced in 1984, agricultural property relief (APR) has allowed small family farms - including land used for crops or rearing animals, as well as farm buildings, cottages and houses - to be exempt from the tax.

But, from April 2026, that exemption will no longer stand for inherited agricultural assets worth more than £1m.

Instead, family members will be liable to the tax at 20%, half the usual rate. But they will have 10 years to pay the balance owed, which is longer than others do.

There has been lots of disagreement about precisely how many people might be affected.

Jennifer McKiernan
Political reporter

The PM takes to the airwaves on the day it's confirmed the energy price cap will rise again from January.

With temperatures plummeting as Storm Bert sweeps in, and bills still far higher than they were before the Russian invasion of Ukraine, this remains a hot topic.

During the election, Labour promised the creation of GB Energy would "cut bills for good" - but those plans are still going through parliament.

Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has acknowledged this morning that the bills increase "will cause concern for families struggling with the cost of living" - will Starmer do the same?

Sir Keir Starmer is taking part in a round of interviews with BBC Local radio later this morning and you can follow live text coverage here, or listen live over on BBC Sounds.

He's likely to face questions on local issues, big national stories such as the inheritance tax row with farmers - and, of course, the escalating tensions with Russia.

The prime minister will be talking in turn to BBC Radio Merseyside, BBC Radio Lincolnshire, BBC Radio WM, BBC Radio Norfolk, BBC Radio Kent and BBC Radio Bristol from 11:15 GMT.