A look at what's in storepublished at 12:04 British Summer Time
Chris Mason
Political editor
Here is today’s Commons Order Paper for PMQs — it doesn’t always follow this order precisely as other people can be called.
Summary
Keir Starmer says he wants more pensioners to get the winter fuel payment
Last year, the government stopped nine million people claiming the payment - turning it from a benefit for all pensioners to one that's means-tested
But Starmer told Parliament earlier: "We want to ensure that, as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments"
He stressed the government would "only make decisions we can afford", with details confirmed at a "fiscal event" - such as the Budget later this year (payments are made in November or December)
Make no mistake, this is a U-turn, writes our correspondent Henry Zeffman
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch called it a "desperate" move - asking how the British public or Labour MPs can "ever trust him again"
Starmer: We're looking at winter fuel payment
A look at what's in storepublished at 12:04 British Summer Time
PMQs is a-go - watch and follow livepublished at 12:00 British Summer Time
The PM's on his feet, MPs are in their seats, and PMQs begins.
We'll bring you blow-by-blow coverage of the key lines - follow along by hitting watch live.
What could come up this week?published at 11:56 British Summer Time
Chris Mason
Political editorHere we go with Prime Minister’s Question Time – the final one before the half term break next week.
Plenty in the mix which could crop up in the exchanges.
Could the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch be keen to prod the prime minister on tax rises, after a leaked memo appeared in today’s Daily Telegraph in which the deputy prime minister, Angela Rayner, floated various tax hikes on the better off?
This morning Work and Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall insisted “the entire cabinet backs Rachel Reeves’ strategy to grow the economy and increase living standards".
The memo, sent to the chancellor before the Spring Statement in March, wasn’t acted upon by Reeves in that statement.
The Treasury has long been of the view that the last Budget, back in the autumn, was a “once in a generation” event when it comes to tax rises and they are very aware of the historically high tax burden there is already.
And, after yesterday’s passionate and often angry exchanges in the chamber on the situation in Gaza, could some backbenchers want to raise it again with the prime minister?
Let’s see – Parliament’s set piece moment of the week is imminent.
Leaked memo reveals Rayner called for tax risespublished at 11:54 British Summer Time
Image source, PA MediaDeputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's department called for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to increase taxes prior to this year's Spring Statement.
A memo - seen by the Daily Telegraph, external - appeared to urge Reeves to raise taxes by £3bn to £4bn a year through various measures, which the chancellor did not implement. She has repeatedly pushed against raising taxes and instead announced £5bn of welfare cuts in March.
Government insiders said it was not unusual for discussion papers to be informally exchanged between departments without sign-off by ministers.
While the Spring Statement has already been delivered, arguments in the Labour Party persist ahead of departmental spending plans being set out in June.
Chagos Islands deal came under fire in the Commons this weekpublished at 11:49 British Summer Time
Image source, ReutersImage caption, Fuel tanks at the edge of a miltary airstrip on Diego Garcia
One topic that has already cropped up in the House of Commons this week is the UK's plans for a deal concerning the future of the Chagos Islands.
As a reminder, Downing Street has proposed giving sovereignty of the islands to Mauritius while continuing to operate a military base on one of the islands along with the US - at a cost to UK - initially for a period of 99 years.
The proposals have been met with criticism from the Conservatives. Kemi Badenoch previously said the deal would not be in the "national interest".
In the Commons this week, shadow defence secretary James Cartlidge referred to reports that the "nonsense" had been put on hold.
Defence Secretary John Healey responded by backing the proposal: "The Diego Garcia base is essential to our security, it's essential to our security relationship with the US."
He said the department would report to the House "when we can".
Senior government figures consider easing winter fuel payment cutspublished at 11:46 British Summer Time
Image source, PA MediaImage caption, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the current winter fuel allowance policy is necessary to "stabilise public finances".
Senior government figures are weighing up whether to reverse Labour's decision to cut payments for millions of pensioners that help with heating bills during winter, report the BBC's Henry Zeffman and Joshua Nevett.
More than nine million pensioners lost out on payments after the Chancellor Rachel Reeves tightened eligibility last year.
Discussions in government have included changing the threshold at which pensioners stop receiving the benefit, or restoring the payments to all pensioners.
No decision has been made on any changes yet, and the government may ultimately decide to stick with its existing policy.
Earlier today, the chancellor said the winter fuel allowance policy stands, and that it is "necessary to stabilise public finances".
Any announcement on planned changes could come as soon as 11 June, when the chancellor will unveil government departments' budgets for the coming years.
UK seems to be losing patience with Israelpublished at 11:41 British Summer Time
Paul Adams
Diplomatic correspondent
Image source, ReutersImage caption, Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced new measures against Israel - but Labour, Tory and Liberal Democrat backbenchers urged him to go further
After more than a year and a half of the war in Gaza, Britain appears to have finally lost patience with Israel.
Speaking to MPs, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Foreign Secretary David Lammy sounded genuinely angry.
The PM said he was "horrified" by Israel's decision to escalate its military campaign.
Israel's actions, Lammy said, were isolating Israel from friends and partners around the world and "damaging the image of the State of Israel in the eyes of the world".
Britain is not alone in expressions of outrage or threats of concrete action.
The EU says it's reviewing its association agreement with Israel, which governs its political and economic relationship.
And on Monday night, Britain joined France and Canada in signing a strongly worded joint statement, condemning Israel's military action.
Even US President Donald Trump has expressed impatience, warning that "a lot of people are starving" as he concluded his regional tour last week.
- Continue reading about how the UK has suspended talks on a trade deal with Israel, summoned the country's ambassador and imposed fresh sanctions on West Bank settlers
Starmer heads to the Commonspublished at 11:39 British Summer Time
Image source, ReutersPrime Minister Keir Starmer has just been snapped leaving No 10 and is heading towards the House of Commons, where PMQs will begin shortly.
Inflation jumps to 3.5%, the highest rate in more than a yearpublished at 11:29 British Summer Time
A little bit earlier this morning, the Office for National Statistics released its official figures for the rate of inflation in the UK.
It jumped to 3.5% in the year to April, making it the highest level since February 2024.
The increase from the 2.6% reported in the year to March was driven by sharp rises in household bills, and higher food, vehicle duty and airfare costs.
Reacting to the latest figures this morning, Chancellor Rachel Reeves said she was "disappointed", but would "go further and faster to put more money in people's pockets".
The Conservative Party said families were "paying the price" for Reeves's choices, while the Lib Dems called for "bold action to deliver relief for millions of hard-pressed households".
The Bank of England has previously said it expects inflation to peak at 3.7% between July and September this year before dropping back to its 2% target.
- Continue reading about how arise in the cost of household bills has pushed UK inflation to its highest rate in more than a year
The new UK-EU deal - in under 150 wordspublished at 11:25 British Summer Time
Tom Joyner
Live reporter
Image source, EPAImage caption, Fishing only accounts for an estimated 0.04% of UK GDP, but British control over its fishing waters was a big issue in the Brexit campaign
On Monday, a wide-ranging agreement was reached between the UK and European Union. Here's what you need to know:
- Travel: British holidaymakers will be able to use passport e-gates at European airports - it's still unclear when this would take effect
- Pets: A passport system will make it easier for British pets to travel to Europe
- Immigration: The two sides will set up a "youth experience scheme", similar to existing programs with Australia and New Zealand - details are yet to be finalised
- Fishing: The UK will give the EU access to its fishing waters until 2038 - a 12-year extension of arrangements already in place
- Food: Food products traded between the UK and EU will undergo far fewer routine border checks
- Defence: A formal defence pact has been established, with both sides co-ordinating on sanctions, information sharing and developing space-related security policy
The week in UK politics, at a glancepublished at 11:23 British Summer Time
There has been a flurry of political developments since the last PMQs, both on the domestic and international front. Here's quick look at what went down in Westminster over the week:
15 May
- Starmer reveals the UK is in talks with other countries to set up overseas "return hubs" for failed asylum seekers, in his first official visit to Albania
16 May
- Starmer held a call with with US President Donald Trump alongside other European leaders to discuss the Russia-Ukraine war
19 May
- The UK and the EU reach a new agreement setting out post-Brexit relations on areas including fishing rights, trade and defence
20 May
- The UK suspends talks on a trade deal with Israel as Foreign Secretary David Lammy calls the military escalation in Gaza "morally unjustifiable"
21 May
- The UK inflation rate jumps to 3.5% in the year to April, its highest level since February last year, the Office for National Statistics says
- A leaked memo reveals Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner's department called for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to increase taxes
Starmer due at the dispatch box for weekly PMQs grillingpublished at 11:22 British Summer Time
Seher Asaf
Live reporterPrime Minister's Questions has rolled around once again.
The weekly session comes hot on the heels of the UK and the EU reaching an agreement that sets out post-Brexit relations on areas including fishing rights, trade and defence.
In other news, the latest inflation figures have been released, with the rate jumping to 3.5% in the year to April - its highest level since February of last year.
Rachel Reeves said she was disappointed at the rise, but defended her policies - including her decision to cut winter fuel allowance, though the BBC's Henry Zeffman reports that senior government figures are discussing whether to reverse it.
On the international front, the UK has stepped up action against Israel over its military offensive in Gaza by suspending trade talks with the country.
There's a lot for Tory leader Kemi Badenoch to go at as she faces Keir Starmer from 12:00 BST.
Stay with us for live updates and analysis from the Commons.
