Keir Starmer declines to repeat Labour's manifesto pledge not to increase income tax, VAT, or National Insurance, when pressed at Prime Minister's Questions
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch asked Starmer whether taxes would go up in November's Budget
Starmer didn't rule out tax rises, instead saying "we will build a stronger economy"
As Badenoch highlighted, she asked the same question in July - you can watch Starmer's answers from then and now at the top of the page
The prime minister also blamed gloomy productivity data on the previous government - here's a reminder of why the data is important
Badenoch said that, instead of raising taxes, the government should cut welfare spending
The PM ducked Badenoch's question on tax rises in the Budget - but the government isn't categorically shutting down the possibility, writes Chris Mason
Watch: Starmer's different answers to the same tax question
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.
Brian Wheeler
Reporting from the House of Commons
Cheers from the Labour benches as Starmer and Rachel Reeves enter the chamber together.
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.
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.
Image source, ReutersJustice Secretary David Lammy and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer
Image source, PA MediaDoctors 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.
Image source, PA MediaAnother 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".
Image source, ReutersLet'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.
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.
