Carrying on with the subject of cost of living, presenter Rachel Burden puts to Sunak that prices are still rising and putting a strain on people's finances.

She tells him about young working mother Rebecca - who we heard from earlier in the programme - who has had to take out a credit card to pay for very basic travel expenses. What would your advice be to her, she asks.

Sunak replies that it is very difficult to comment on individual circumstances, but "the most important thing is for me to get support in place for everyone who needs it".

He adds that of course people can go and get advice from a Citizens Advice Bureau or Jobcentre, depending on their particular circumstances.

But he also details the "range of support" he has put in place for different people, including for those in work "who benefit from a significant tax cut" worth £450.

Image source, PA Media

Sunak says he is "sad" to hear about parents being so low on money they have been watering down baby formula for their infants.

The PM points out that under his premiership, inflation has come down from 11% to 4% which "eases the burden" on families.

Because economic conditions have improved, the government has been able to start cutting taxes, he says.

"So someone on an average salary of £35,000 - just in January started to benefit from a tax cut worth £450."

And alongside that, he says, the government has provided "considerable support for the most vulnerable in society... totaling about £100bn - so thousands of pounds of support".

"Taken in the round, there's lots of support for the people who need it", he argues.

"And because the plan we are on is starting to work you can see those pressures starting to ease."

On the cost of living, Sunak says his first priority upon becoming PM was to halve inflation as he understood rising prices to be the most pressing issue facing people.

He says the UK is starting to see mortgage rates coming down, with the government giving billions in cost of living payments and "considerable support for the most vulnerable" people.

The next question is on a recent £1,000 bet Sunak made with broadcaster Piers Morgan over whether his Rwanda policy would be up and running before the next general election.

Sunak says he is "not a betting person" and was taken totally by surprise by Morgan's suggestion of a bet.

He adds the point he was trying to make was over the importance of the Rwanda policy, with the handshake bet "underlying my absolutely commitment" to the plan to send some asylum seekers to Rwanda.

On the policy, Sunak says there needs to be a deterrent for people crossing the Channel on small boats if you are to stop "illegal migration" flows.

He adds the government made progress last year on reducing small boats crossing, but more needs to be done.

Pushed on whether it was appropriate - given the bet is more than three cost of living payments - Sunak is asked whether he understands the struggles people are going through.

Sunak doesn't answer directly, but says the Rwanda policy is about "fairness" and "most people understand that".

The PM is now asked about the government not meeting its own cancer targets.

He acknowledges that getting a cancer diagnosis is an anxious time for anyone.

"The most important thing we can do is to catch cancer as early as possible," which is why he says his priority is rolling out cancer diagnostic centres, which are places outside of hospital you can get your checks done.

He says there are well over 100 of those across the country - and they are doing a record number of checks.

Asked about the 62-day cancer target for confirmed diagnosis and start of treatment not being met, Sunak says "we are making progress" and survival rates for the four most common cancers are much higher now.

The prime minister has just told the BBC the King’s cancer was "caught early".

Rishi Sunak is talking to Radio 5 live’s Rachel Burden live from Downing Street right now.

Listen live at the top of this page.

Rachel Burden's first question to the prime minister is on the King's recent cancer diagnosis.

Rishi Sunak says he is "shocked and sad" after hearing the news and all his thoughts are with the Royal family.

He adds "we are all hoping and praying" for the King's full recovery.

Asked what the effect would be on the day-to-day running of government, Sunak says he is "regular contact with the King and will continue to be so".

"He'll be in our thoughts and our prayers".

The BBC's Rachel Burden is interviewing the prime minister in Downing Street now on 5 Live. Listen live at the top of this page, and we will bring you updates here in this page.

The start with some comments on football and "his other great love", English cricket.

Rebecca is a working single parent claiming universal credit in Norfolk. She tells BBC Radio 5 Live life is "pretty tricky" and "povery has been really bad for a long time".

She says she works several part-time jobs around school hours, as "childcare is astronomical", and can only put her heating on for three hours a day.

"I'm still struggling with food and struggling with bills. I've just got a credit card so I can put my travel expenses on that to tide me over. Universal credit gets paid at the end of the month. I'm trying to do as much as possible to keep my head afloat but it's very diffitcult."

Discussing cost of living payments, she says "nobody would sneeze at £300" but it's "not doing anything at all to solve the problem" of poverty.

She adds that what would be beneficial for her and many others is if benefits were raised in line with inflation or with average wages - because then every single month "I'd be getting a dignified amount of money to live on that I could budget with".

She asks the presenters to ask Rishi Sunak whether he can say he is standing up for poverty when record number of people are going to food banks and are struggling.

It is available to households who receive these benefits, external:

• universal credit
• income-based jobseeker's allowance
• income-related employment and support allowance
• income support
• working tax credit
• child tax credit
• pension credit

To qualify, people need to have claimed a benefits payment between 13 November 2023 and 12 December 2023.

Those who received a payment for an assessment period ending between these dates are also eligible.

Read more here.

No pause in politics despite King's diagnosispublished at 07:18 Greenwich Mean Time 6 February

07:18 GMT 6 February

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

The announcement about the King yesterday saw political leaders in Westminster and across Britain pause to express their good wishes for his health.

But politics will not go on pause today.

The cabinet is meeting in Downing Street this morning; MPs on the right of the Conservative Party, including Liz Truss, will launch a new group called the Popular Conservatives later; and in Parliament, Labour are holding a debate on violent crime.

And before all that, the prime minister will be interviewed shortly by 5 Live Breakfast’s Rachel Burden.

Expect him to face questions about the government’s actions to ease the cost of living, about children’s health and about social media.

The cost of many things still going up in the UK, with the annual rate of price rises – known as inflation – running at 4%, according to the most recent figures from the Office of National Statistics.

This is still twice the Bank of England’s target inflation rate of 2%. But it is also significantly down on recent years, with a peak of over 11% in October 2022.

Sustained high inflation has led to the Bank raising the cost of borrowing, in the form of interest rates, to 5.25%, which it says is needed to bring down the rate of rising prices.

Higher interest rates make borrowing more expensive, and means some people with mortgages see their monthly payments go up. Some saving rates also increase.

The theory is that when people have less money to spend, they buy fewer things, reducing the demand for goods and slowing price rises.

Economists expect the Bank to decrease interest rates later this year if the downward trend in inflation continues.

If you’d like to see how much inflation is affecting what you buy we’ve created this helpful tool, or you can track the price rises in recent years on the graph below:

Image source, .

Around eight million people on means-tested benefits start receiving the final instalment of cost of living payments from today.

Those on relevant benefits - such as universal credit - will be paid directly, without the need to make a claim, between 6 February and 22 February.

The final instalment of £299 follows two others last year, of £301 and £300.

But an influential committee of MPs has said these payments have been insufficient to tackle the extent of the financial problem many people face.

Read more about the payments here.

Image source, Getty Images

Last night at 18:00 GMT Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles, 75, has been diagnosed with cancer and has begun treatment.

The Palace has not said what type of cancer he has been diagnosed with.

The Palace says the cancer was identified during the King's recent hospital treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.

King Charles has been advised to postpone public duties, but will "undertake state duties" and continue to meet the prime minister weekly.

Sunak has said he has no doubt the King will be back to full strength in no time, external.

You can follow the latest on the King's treatment and messages from well-wishers here.

Image source, PA Media

Hello and welcome to our live coverage, as Rishi Sunak prepares to be interviewed on BBC Radio 5 Live Breakfast.

The prime minister is answering questions as around eight million people in the UK begin getting their third and final of cost of living payment.

The wider cost of living issue is bound to come up - just last week Sunak and Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer clashed on the topic at PMQs, with the Labour leader highlighting the cost of mortgages.

But he may well cover other topics in his discussion with presenter Rachel Burden. Sunak has wished King Charles a "full and speedy recovery" as he begins treatment for cancer.

So stay with us as we take you through the interview, which begins at around 07:30 GMT. You’ll be able to listen to the show live by pressing play above.