Today Programme
BBC Radio 4

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Asked about the National Living Wage on Radio 4's Today programme, Work and Pensions Secretary Therese Coffey said the government was taking an "evidence-based approach".

"We want to make sure people who get paid the least are sharing in the general prosperity happening across the country," she said

"I expect it [the National Living Wage] will continue to grow and grow as long as it is not going to have an impact on jobs."

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"Speaker elections are quite difficult to predict," says the Institute for Government's Dr Hannah White.

"This is a secret ballot, and although the party whips will have their preferences, MPs will be able to make their own decisions," she says.

She says another factor in the result could be the number of MPs who choose to be campaigning in their constituencies rather than voting for the next Speaker.

"The front runner seems to be Lindsay Hoyle, but I have to say John Bercow was not the front runner last time around," she adds.

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The Institute for Government's Dr Hannah White says the outcome of the general election will be "really crucial" for the next Speaker.

"If we have another minority government, the decisions made by the Speaker - as we've seen with John Bercow - can end up being controversial.

"It is absolutely crucial to have someone there who is using their judgement.

"The rules and procedures are not sufficient on their own - so somebody has to make the decision."

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A review commissioned by the government has concluded that minimum wages have had a negligible or zero effect on jobs, external but significantly increased the earnings of the lowest paid.

Professor Arindrajit Dube said: "My report concludes that there is room for exploring a higher National Living Wage in the UK up to two-thirds of the median wage."

In September, Chancellor Sajid Javid pledged to raise the National Living Wage to £10.50 within the next five years, arguing the policy would "help the next generation of go-getters to get ahead".

Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said it was "a derisory offer which people will have to wait years for".

The National Living Wage is the minimum wage for workers over the age 25 and over. This is different from the living wage which calculates the income needed to reach a basic standard of living.

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As a new Speaker is about to be elected, here's a quick refresher on what the role involves.

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Following Nigel Farage's decision not to stand as a candidate in next month's election, the European Parliament's Brexit co-ordinator Guy Verhofstadt says it is ironic the Brexit Party leader thinks European affairs are "more important" than British politics.

"Quite ironical that European affairs are more important to Nigel Farage than the politics of Great Britain," he tweets, external.

"A pity, his departure would have been an enormous saving of European taxpayer's money."

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Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage will introduce the party's 600 candidates at an event in London later.

Mr Farage has called on Boris Johnson to drop his Brexit deal in favour of a no-deal Brexit and unite in a "Leave alliance" or face a Brexit Party candidate in every seat in the election.

His stance has prompted criticism from some Brexit supporters including businessman Arron Banks - who warned that Mr Farage's strategy risks splitting the Leave vote in an election - and former UKIP MEP David Coburn.

Mr Farage said he would continue campaigning against the PM's deal, arguing that it was "a gigantic con".

However, he will not himself stand in the election, saying he could "serve the cause better" by supporting his party's other candidates.

Written nominations for the person to replace John Bercow as Speaker are being submitted as MPs prepare to elect his successor.

Mr Bercow's idiosyncratic turn of phrase and distinctive bellow - as he tries to silence the wall of sound emanating from MPs - has made him something of a cult figure on social media.

Check out his career in numbers here - including how chatty he is in comparison to his predecessors...

Labour's shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth this morning responded to health bosses asking MPS not to politicise the NHS.

"NHS leaders are right to hold us to account," he said.

"But by the some token, I am passionate about the NHS and I am angry. Everybody has the right to decent healthcare."

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A Conservative general election candidate has apologised for a Facebook post in which she said people on a TV show needed "putting down".

Francesca O'Brien, who is running for the Gower seat in December's election, made the comments about Channel 4's Benefits Street in January 2014.

Ms O'Brien said her comments were made "off the cuff" but admitted her "use of language was unacceptable".

She is still set to run in the general election on 12 December.

Unsurprisingly, the election remains the focus for many of this morning's front pages.

The Guardian reports Jeremy Corbyn has told his shadow cabinet "the debate is over" on leaving the EU, as he told his front-bench to fall into line after divisions over Brexit led to a row over whether the party should back an election.

The Labour leader has vowed to keep TV licences free for pensioners if Labour wins power at the general election, according to the Daily Mirror.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is looking at plans to give every employee a tax cut worth up to £460 by raising the National Insurance threshold, says the Daily Express.

The paper explains that the proposal would be at the heart of a manifesto designed to win over working-class voters, particularly in the Midlands and the North.

See the rest of today's front pages here.

NHS Providers chief Chris Hopson says politicians should not politicise the health service.

Plaid Cymru will launch their general election campaign this morning.

Party leader Adam Price is expected to tell the launch at Menai Bridge, Anglesey, that no party has a "higher ambition for Wales" and that the country is being "held back by Westminster".

Plaid wants to add to its tally of four MPs, with Ynys Mon a top target, and has not ruled out electoral pacts.

It wants another referendum on Brexit in which it would campaign for the UK to remain in the EU.

Read more here.

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Leader of the House and Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg says Nigel Farage should "retire from the field" having completed "his life's work".

He warns Mr Farage risks "snatching defeat from the jaws of victory" if he goes ahead with his threat to stand Brexit Party candidates in every constituency.

Speaking on LBC, Mr Rees-Mogg says he admired Mr Farage but he has "already achieved what he wanted to achieve".

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MPs will elect John Bercow's successor as Speaker of the House of Commons later, with candidates due to be nominated this morning.

The Speaker is responsible for keeping order in Commons debates.

Eight candidates are in the running, including ex-deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman and current deputy Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

But how will the vote unfold?

Find out here.

Britons are set to head to the polls on 12 December.

To vote in a general election you must be registered to vote and 18 or above on polling day, external.

Find out how to do that here.

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The UK's main parties are gearing up for a general election on 12 December.

These national votes, to choose a government to run the country, are supposed to be held every five years - but this would be the third since 2015.

So why have an election now, how does voting work and what were the results at the last general election?

We answer your questions here.