Summary

Media caption,

Watch: Starmer's different answers to the same tax question

  1. What questions will Badenoch ask today? Let's seepublished at 12:02 GMT 29 October

    Chris Mason
    Political editor

    Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, has been on a run of Wednesday outings where she’s put the prime minister under real pressure.

    Let’s see where she goes with her scrutiny today.

  2. Cheers - from Labour - for Starmer and Reevespublished at 12:01 GMT 29 October

    Brian Wheeler
    Reporting from the House of Commons

    Cheers from the Labour benches as Starmer and Rachel Reeves enter the chamber together.

  3. Here in the chamber, Labour's new deputy leader speaks to her predecessorpublished at 11:58 GMT 29 October

    Brian Wheeler
    Reporting from the House of Commons

    Labour’s new deputy leader Lucy Powell is having a friendly chat with Angela Rayner, the woman she replaced in the role, as they wait for PMQs to get under way.

    The pair are sat together two rows behind the front bench, where both used to sit not that long ago.

    I think this is the first time Rayner has attended PMQs since she was forced to resign.

  4. Starmer heads to PMQs - alongside deputy PM and justice secretary Lammypublished at 11:55 GMT 29 October

    A little earlier, we saw PM Keir Starmer leave 10 Downing Street, headed for the House of Commons for PMQs.

    He was accompanied by his Deputy PM David Lammy, who's also the justice secretary.

    Justice Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir StarmerImage source, Reuters
    Image caption,

    Justice Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer

  5. Doctors in England opt for more strikes after talks with government break downpublished at 11:38 GMT 29 October

    doctors protesting outside Downing Street in JuneImage source, PA Media

    Doctors in England announced last week that they'll go on strike for five consecutive days next month in an ongoing row over jobs and pay.

    The British Medical Association (BMA) said the government had left it with "little option" - while Downing Street argued it cannot go further on pay this year.

    Health Secretary Wes Streeting told the BBC's Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg programme that the government will "not be held to ransom" by striking doctors.

    Unless future talks lead to any deals, resident doctors will walk out between 14-19 November.

    Strike action - the 13th in the pay dispute since March 2023 - is expected to cause significant disruption including in hospitals.

  6. Elsewhere, China spy case controversy continuespublished at 11:24 GMT 29 October

    Christopher Berry (left) and former parliamentary researcher Christopher CashImage source, PA Media

    Another issue continuing to cause problems for the PM is the collapse of a case against two men - Christopher Cash and Christopher Berry - accused of spying for China. They both deny wrongdoing.

    Stephen Parkinson, the director of public prosecutions (DPP), has said the case could not progress because the government's Deputy National Security Adviser Matt Collins was unwilling to classify China as an active threat to national security.

    This morning, a committee of MPs and peers grilled Collins, Parkinson and Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald about why the charges against Cash and Berry (pictured above) were dropped in September, weeks before the trial was due to start.

    The case has triggered a political blame game, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch accusing the government of deliberately collapsing the trial because "the prime minister wants to suck up to Beijing" - something the government denies.

    This morning, Attorney General Richard Hermer told the Joint Committee on the National Security Strategy that allegations politicians had interfered in the case are "disgraceful" and "baseless".

  7. Home secretary: Last week's blunder shouldn't have happened, I share your angerpublished at 11:13 GMT 29 October

    Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood appears on the BBC One current affairs programmeImage source, Reuters

    Let's hear what the Home Office has said on Hadush Kebatu's deportation - after he was put on a flight to Ethiopia last night.

    Speaking after the flight landed this morning, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood reflected on his accidental release from HMP Chelmsford.

    "Last week's blunder should never have happened - and I share the public's anger that it did," Mahmood said.

    "I have pulled every lever to deport Mr Kebatu and remove him off British soil. I am pleased to confirm this vile child sex offender has been deported. Our streets are safer because of it.

  8. Buckle in for this week's PMQspublished at 11:02 GMT 29 October

    Thomas Mackintosh
    Live reporter

    You know the drill by this point. Keir Starmer will be grilled at midday by Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, plus backbench MPs - and we'll bring you live updates as the back and forth unravels.

    What could come up today? Well, headlines have been dominated by a migrant sex offender who was mistakenly set free from prison in Chelmsford, Essex, on Friday. Hadush Kebatu's release triggered a two-day search - involving three police forces - before he was eventually found and detained early on Sunday in a north London park.

    Despite the home secretary saying Kebatu has now been deported, Badenoch could well decide to push Starmer on how the error was allowed to happen.

    Elsewhere, resident doctors have in the last few days announced a fresh round of strikes in England after talks broke down with the government - again. So there's plenty for Badenoch to choose from.

    While we wait for the session to begin at midday, let's bring you up to speed with the latest political news and happenings. Stay with us.