Did Badenoch miss the PM's U-turn? That won't help soothe Tory nervespublished at 12:50 British Summer Time

12:50 BST

Chris Mason
Political editor

All the talk in the Commons press gallery is about the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch seemingly not hearing the prime minister’s winter fuel payment U-turn.

Within moments of Sir Keir Starmer announcing the change, she asked if there was going to be a change.

MPs and journalists looked around trying to work out why she was asking the prime minister to announce something he had just announced.

Her team insists she was asking him to admit it plainly and spell out specifically that the government would be looking again at thresholds — which he did later say explicitly.

But Badenoch’s apparent lack of fleet of foot will not settle the nerves of Tory MPs who stare at opinion polls which are in oblivion territory.

That's it for PMQs for another week. Here's a look back at the key exchanges:

• Before Kemi Badenoch asked her first question, Starmer announced a U-turn - of sorts - saying he wanted to "make more pensioners eligible for winter fuel payment"
• The government cut the universal payment last year - restricting it to people on pension credit and other income-related benefits. Starmer stressed the government would "only make decisions we can afford"
• Badenoch - perhaps surprised by the announcement - focused on inflation in her first question, saying: "Inflation was 2% when Conservatives left office, 2%, it's now nearly double that. When will he recognise that it's Labour's budget driving up inflation?"
• Starmer said: "I think what she forgot to say was over 11% on their watch... I am confident those numbers will come down, the Bank of England is confident those numbers will come down"
• Badenoch then accused deputy PM Angela Rayner of being "on manoeuvres", with the Telegraph reporting today that she recently proposed tax rises earlier this year - Starmer defended Rayner's record
• Badenoch then turned to winter fuel payments, asking if cuts will be reversed - Starmer confirmed they are looking at changes
• Badenoch then accused Starmer of a U-turn - Starmer said: "As the economy improves, we want to take measures that will impact on people's lives and therefore we will look at the threshold, but that will have to be part of a fiscal event"

Liberal Democrat MP Wera Hobhouse is up now. She recounts how she was denied entry to Hong Kong on a private visit.

She says the lack of explanation hints at a "hidden blacklist" aimed to silence any MP who speaks up against human rights abuses by the Chinese government.

She asks if Starmer will seek assurances from the Hong Kong authorities that no British MP is denied entry again.

Starmer expresses his sympathy for Hobhouse, and says he finds her experience "deeply concerning".

He adds that ministers have raised the issue with authorities in China and Hong Kong, to which Foreign Secretary David Lammy nods from the front bench.

Such incidents, he says, "will only undermine Hong Kong's international reputation and the relationship we have with them".

The SNP's Kirsty Blackman asks Starmer why the UK is continuing to sell to Israel the equipment for fighter jets "to drop bombs on these starving children".

"What we contribute into a pot is parts for fighter jets, if we were to stop that they couldn't be used by other countries in the other conflicts including those in which we are involved," he explains.

"[The parts are] not sold directly, they go into a pot, if we were to stop that they wouldn't then be available to others around the world who desperately need them in the conflicts they're engaged in.

"That's why we won't do it."

• For context: Last September, the UK suspended some arms exports to Israel - the F35 fighters were not included in the ban as the planes are manufactured as part of a global programme

Lee Anderson, the Reform MP for Ashfield, accuses Starmer of not being transparent about what kinds of migrants his government has deported since coming to power.

He asks Starmer to spell out many of them are "failed asylum seekers" who came "on small boats or on the backs of lorries".

Starmer says the government has "removed" more than 24,000 people - the highest number for nearly a decade - and given law enforcement greater powers.

He hits out at Reform for voting against Labour's immigration measures, adding: "They don't want to fix this problem because it benefits them not to fix it. Party before country."

Alistair Carmichael, the Liberal Democrat MP for Orkney and Shetland, asks about changes to inheritance tax on farms.

He says some "family farms" will "simply not be able to pay the bill".

Starmer says the impact will "very limited" and only applies at a "very, very high level".

He also says the new trade deal with the EU will "massively help" farmers.

Jim Allister, the Traditional Unionist Voice MP for North Antrim, asks why British steel can now be sold to the US "tariff-free", but if it is sold to Northern Ireland it will be subject to EU tariff laws.

The prime minister says it is important to reduce tariffs on steel going both into the US and EU markets.

He says the government does want to get to a place where trade within the UK can take place "without barriers".

Anneliese Midgley, the Labour MP for Knowsley, now asks about Olivia's Law.

Olivia Pratt-Korbel was murdered by Thomas Cashman in the Dovecot area of Liverpool on 22 August 2022.

Cashman refused to attend court for his sentencing hearing in April 2023, prompting calls for a change in the law.

Midlgley asks when it will become law, having progressed part-way through Parliament.

Starmer says he knows how "viscersal" the pain is for Cheryl Korbel, Olivia's mother.

He says "cowards" who commit "heinous" crimes should face the impact of their offending, and he will make criminals face their sentencing.

He thanks Cheryl Korbel for her "incredible courage".

Winter fuel re-think could quell Labour MPs' anguishpublished at 12:23 British Summer Time

12:23 BST

Chris Mason
Political editor

The cancellation of the winter fuel payment for millions of pensioners announced last summer has caused this government a disproportionate amount of grief.

For months Labour MPs have been in anguish about it — and even more so since the local elections and the Runcorn by-election.

Sir Keir Starmer has now said explicitly that some pensioners will get the payment back.

"We will look at the threshold," he added.

In other words, the government needs to find a new mechanism for working out who gets it and who doesn’t.

They have given themselves until the Budget in the autumn to work out how it’ll work.

Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey is up.

Now he's moving on to trade deals recently signed by the UK, asking if struggling parents and families will see any benefit of the government's touted growth plan.

He also asks if the government will commit to reversing cuts to the winter fuel payment in full.

He says the deal with the EU, signed this week, is "important" because of the impact of prices it will have.

He adds the economy is beginning to improve, and that's why he wants more pensioners to be eligible for the winter fuel payment.

Image source, UK Parliament

One last go for Badenoch, who says the "jobs tax" is killing jobs, business confidence is down and bills are rising because of his policies.

She says he promised not to raise taxes on working people, but people are losing their jobs and companies are shedding jobs, adding that his winter fuels cuts have driven thousands into hardship.

"His MPs hate this," she says, to a rumble of jeers and boos, prompting the Speaker to interject.

Starmer replies by says the MPs "they look in pretty good form".

Leila Nathoo
Political correspondent, in the Commons

There's confusion among reporters in the press gallery as Kemi Badenoch continues to question the PM about whether he’s going to change his mind on winter fuel - despite him announcing that he’s U-turning to make more pensioners eligible at the next fiscal event.

Badenoch questions Starmer again about winter fuel payment cuts, accusing Starmer of not being able to give a "straight answer" to a "simple question".

She says a U-turn will be "inevitable".

The PM says the economy is improving because of the decisions this government has taken.

He adds that the Tories have "learned absolutely nothing" and are going "absolutely nowhere".

Badenoch describes what she says is "open warfare" within the government, with the Deputy PM "calling the shots".

She ends with a pointed question: Will the prime minister be reversing winter fuel cuts?

Starmer responds by saying the government will look at making changes to the winter fuel allowance policy, including the threshold for payments.

He then turns on Badenoch, accusing the opposition of losing control of borders, the NHS, "you name it".

Image source, PA Media

Badenoch says Starmer needs to "stop whining".

She says deputy PM Angela Rayner is "on manoeuvres", and asks Starmer to rule out further tax rises.

• In case you missed it, a memo from Rayner’s department – seen by the Daily Telegraph - appeared to urge Rachel Reeves to raise taxes by £3bn to £4bn a year through various measures, which the chancellor did not implement

Starmer says Badenoch hasn't learned - and says the Conservatives lost the last election because of their "appalling record".

He says the deputy PM is working hard on housing and other policies.

Image source, PA Media

Badenoch says "this is laughable" from the prime minister.

She says the former Tory government was reacting to a war in Ukraine, which is what brought inflation up across all of Europe, adding that he said he would tackle the cost of living crisis, but has failed

Starmer answers by noting Liz Truss' mini-budget, which he calls "disastrous".

He says the new deal between the European Union and the UK will "bring prices down", adding that supermarkets have welcomed it.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer responds saying Badenoch "forgot" that inflation went up 11% on their watch.

He says he's confident the numbers will come down, as is the Bank of England.

• A reminder: the Bank of England has previously said it expects inflation to peak at 3.7% between July and September 2025 before dropping back to its 2% target

He adds that the leader of the opposition didn't mention other areas including growth figures, interest rate figures and the trade deals they have secured.

Image source, UK Parliament

Now to questions from the leader of the opposition.

Kemi Badenoch stands up, and begins by saying that inflation was 2% when her party left office after the last election.

She accuses the government of doubling that figure.

"When will he recognise that it's Labour's budget driving up inflation?" she says.

• For context: The rate of inflation rose to 3.5% in the year to April to its highest level since February 2024

Image source, UK Parliament

Chris Mason
Political editor

The prime minister has announced a U-turn on the winter fuel payment for pensioners - saying more older people will be eligible than currently are.

The new plan is expected in the Budget in the autumn.

Before the first question from Kemi Badenoch, Keir Starmer says "we want to ensure more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments".

He says the government will only make decisions it can afford, and will look at it as part of a "fiscal event".

We'll have more analysis on this later.