Summary

  • Tory leader Kemi Badenoch presses Prime Minister Keir Starmer on possible future tax rises and rising inflation in the last PMQs before the summer break

  • Badenoch says inflation is "up again and is the worst in the G7" - Starmer says she is "talking the country down"

  • There were end of term vibes in today's exchanges, the BBC's political editor writes, with both leaders giving their own side something to cheer about

  • Starmer says former Tory ministers have "serious questions to answer" over the leak of data on Afghans who supported British forces - more on that here

  • Before the session began, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle told MPs that a super-injuction issued over the leak raises "significant constitutional issues"

Watch: Starmer asked what he considers a 'modest income' by Badenoch

Live Reporting

Edited by Sam Hancock and Alex Smith

  1. Red binder in hand, Starmer makes his way to Parliament

    Starmer smiling as he makes his way out of Number 10 holding a red folderReuters

    Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been seen leaving 10 Downing Street, and we all know where he's headed: the House of Commons.

  2. The Afghan data breach: What you need to know

    Here's a bit more on the data breach we mentioned in our last post, after it was discovered that thousands of Afghans have quietly been relocated to the UK since the Taliban seized power of their country.

    The leak: The scheme was prompted by a security leak in 2022, where a British official inadvertently leaked the data of almost 19,000 people who had applied to move to the UK after the Taliban seized power in Afghanistan.

    The injunction: The reason we're only hearing about this now is because the government first heard about the leak in 2023, when some details were posted on Facebook, and subsequently obtained a super-injunction stopping it from becoming public. On Tuesday, the order was lifted.

    The scheme: So far, 4,500 Afghans have arrived in the UK, with more expected. It's being closed down, has cost £400m, and is expected to cost a further £400-450m. The Ministry of Defence believes 600 Afghan soldiers included in the leak, plus 1,800 of their family members, are still in Afghanistan.

    The response: Defence Secretary John Healey has offered a "sincere apology" to those whose details had been included in the leak. Former defence secretary Ben Wallace has said he makes "no apology" for stopping the reporting of the leak.

    Soldiers on the ground lift up a child to soldiers raised on a mental container as an evacuation at Hamid Karzai International Airport, Kabul, Afghanistan, takes place (file photo from August 2021)Reuters

    This file photo from August 2021 shows UK and Turkish coalition forces, and the US Marines, assisting a child during the withdrawal of Nato troops from Afghanistan

  3. Macron, Trump, immigration and inflation - a visual guide to the past seven days in politics

    Starmer and Macron standing at two podiums with microphones on them that read UK France Summit on the front. Behind them are EU, British and French flags. They smile facing forwards while putting their arms on each other in an embrace. Rows of people sit in front of them with the back of their heads in focus.Reuters

    The King hosted French President Emmanuel Macron on a state visit last week. Macron then joined PM Keir Starmer for a UK-France summit on the relationship between the two countries - they spoke about Ukraine, migrants and trade

    An RNLI boat in the sea moving at speed with white waves originating from the bow. The boat is full to the brim with people, some wearing orange lifejackets.PA Media

    At the summit, Macron and Starmer revealed a new deal to stop small boats. The UK will return migrants to France in a "one in, one out" deal which will see the UK accept an equal number of asylum seekers after security checks

    A woman staring at produce in a supermarket. She's in the fruit and veg section, wearing headphones and a puffer coat, reaching up to grab somethingEPA

    Just this morning, new figures revealed that inflation unexpectedly jumped to 3.6% in June (up from 3.4% in May), marking the steepest rise in inflation since January 2024

    Headshot of Rachel Reeves speaking in front of two microphones on stands.Shutterstock

    In other news for Chancellor Rachel Reeves, the MPs' watchdog has concluded she inadvertently breached parliamentary rules by missing the deadline for declaring a gift of two National Theatre tickets - Reeves had referred herself to the commissioner

    Headshot of Ben Wallace looking concerned with his mouth shut tight as he stands in front of a small microphone and two British flags behind himPA Media

    Meanwhile, it's been revealed that around 4,500 Afghans have been resettled in the UK as part of a secret scheme set up after a British official inadvertently leaked their data. Until this week, the existence of the leak and relocations were kept secret after the government obtained a super-injunction stopping it from becoming public. Former defence secretary Ben Wallace says he makes "no apology" for stopping the reporting

    Trump pointing at the camera with his hand while speaking. He appears to be outside but not much background is visible, just a blurred tree to one side.Reuters

    And it's been announced that US President Donald Trump will meet First Minister John Swinney and Prime Minister Keir Starmer when he visits Scotland - on a "private" trip later this month

  4. The last PMQs of the season - welcome along

    Imogen James
    Live reporter

    We're gearing up for the last Prime Minister's Questions for more than a month, as MPs prepare to enjoy Parliament's summer recess - starting next week (they'll return on 1 September).

    As ever, we don't know exactly what line of questioning Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch will pursue when she's up against the PM, but there are many topics to choose from after a busy week:

    • Inflation - The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show prices of goods and services across the UK unexpectedly jumped to 3.6% in the year to June
    • Immigration - Starmer last week signed a deal with France to pilot a “one in, one out” scheme for migrants, which the government hopes will “break the model” of people smugglers
    • Trump in the UK - It's been announced that Starmer will meet the US president in Scotland later this month. Donald Trump's also formally accepted an invitation from the King and Queen Camilla to stay at Windsor on a second state visit

    When the time comes, you'll be able to watch Badenoch's questions and the PM's responses live at the top of the page. We'll also bring you live updates, analysis and reaction on all the key moments, so stick with us.