Summary

  • Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer clash over the government's response to coronavirus

  • PM said he won't meet families bereaved by coronavirus due to legal proceedings

  • The families say it is "simply not true" that they are in litigation with the government

  • Labour leader accused the PM of "serial incompetence" over coronavirus

  • Boris Johnson told MPs "we have succeeded in turning the tide of this pandemic"

  • Millions of pupils in England are back at school with new social distancing measures in classrooms

  • Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has criticised easing of lockdown measures in the region

  1. PM: I'll meet Covid victim families when case overpublished at 12:18 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Boris JohnsonImage source, HoC

    Asked about the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice who said they have been denied a meeting with the PM, he replies that this is not currently possible, as the group concerned is "in litigation" against the government. He adds that he will do so when this is over.

    Read more on the families campaign here.

  2. Johnson: 'I take full responsibility'published at 12:17 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Boris JohnsonImage source, HoC

    Sir Keir says the PM can "lecture him" when he has worked in prosecutions - as the Labour leader used to.

    He then goes on the attack, saying: "Doing the decent thing and this prime minister don't go together.

    "It has been a wasted summer, lurching from crisis to crisis."

    Pointing to the u-turns, Sir Keir asks: "Can this prime minister take responsibility and finally get a grip?"

    Johnson says he does take full responsibility, but adds: "Actually what has happened is we have succeeded in turning the tide of this pandemic.

    "And in spite of the negativity and constant sniping from opposition, we now have people going back to school and going back to work."

  3. Leaders clash on IRApublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Keir StarmerImage source, HoC

    Sir Keir Starmer urges the PM to "take back" his comments suggesting that he supported a Labour leader - Jeremy Corbyn - who backed the IRA.

    Sir Keir adds that, as a lawyer, he worked in prosecuting the organisation's members and asks Mr Johnson to "have the decency" to withdraw his remarks.

    He also urges the PM to extend the furlough period.

    Mr Johnson says he wants to get people back into work, rather than keep them in "suspended animation".

    Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle suggests the PM withdraw his comments on the IRA. But Mr Johnson repeats that, "for long years", Sir Keir supported a Labour leader - Jeremy Corbyn - who had been supportive of the IRA.

  4. Starmer: PM is 'fooling nobody'published at 12:13 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Keir StarmerImage source, HoC

    Sir Keir calls the PM "tin-eared" and says he is "making it up as he goes along".

    The Labour leader says Mr Johnson was "fooling nobody, and even his own MPs have run out of patience".

    After listing a number of criticisms from Tory MPs, he asks "his own MPs, are right aren't they?"

    Mr Johnson begins to attack Sir Keir, but the Speaker of the House steps in, telling him to "try and answer the question".

    After another brief exchange, Mr Johnson says Labour "did absolutely nothing to oppose the method" chosen for exams, and again calls him "Captain hindsight".

  5. PM: Starmer trying to undermine confidencepublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Boris JohnsonImage source, HoC

    The Labour leader pushes the PM on when he first knew about problems with the exams algorithm.

    Boris Johnson says that, all summer long, Sir Keir Starmer has been trying to "undermine confidence" in the system and that teachers are now "proving the doubters wrong" by returning to schools in England.

  6. Starmer: Problems with exam results algorithmpublished at 12:09 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Sir Keir StarmerImage source, HoC

    Sir Keir Starmer starts his line of questioning on the "exams fiasco".

    The Labour leader quotes the PM, who called the grades at the time "robust, good and dependable".

    He asks when the Mr Johnson knew there was a problem with the algorithm.

    After wishing Sir Keir a happy birthday, Boris Johnson says that he understands how difficult it had been for students and their families.

    "As a result of what we learned about the results... we did institute a change, we did act and students now do they have grades."

  7. Stonehaven rail crash: We must learn lessons - PMpublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Boris Johnson says, in answer to a question from Conservative MP Andrew Bowie, that it is important to "learn lessons" from the Stonehaven rail derailment in August, which three people were killed.

    He pays tribute to the work of the emergency services.

  8. PMQs beginspublished at 12:01 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    House of Commons
    Parliament

    Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle begins prime minister's questions by wishing the Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer "a very happy birthday".

    Now, Boris Johnson has taken to the dispatch box to begin the first PMQs since the summer break.

    Follow all the updates here.

  9. PM heads to the Housepublished at 11:51 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Boris Johnson leaving No 10Image source, PA Media
    Image caption,

    PM leaving No 10 a few minutes ago

    Boris Johnson left No 10 Downing Street a little earlier for the House of Commons.

  10. The remote return of PMQspublished at 11:48 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Iain Watson
    Political correspondent

    This will be the first clash between the two leaders since July, but it will still take place under so-called "hybrid Parliament" conditions.

    There had been some rumours the government might try to bring them to an end, but they have stepped back from insisting every MP has to be back in the Commons - allowing those who are shielding or whose relatives are shielding to take part remotely.

    The mixture of video calls and MPs in the chamber will likely go on until November, with the government hoping there isn't a second wave so Parliament can resume - albeit still with limited numbers.

    But, for now, we will still see people asking questions remotely.

    The substance of this clash is likely to involve the Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group, and it will be the first time the leaders have crossed paths since the exam crisis.

    I imagine imagine what Sir Keir Starmer will try to do is portray his party as not just more competent than his predecessor, but as more competent than the current government.

  11. Controversy over department mergerpublished at 11:44 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Media caption,

    Boris Johnson merging Foreign Office and aid department

    Another issue that could come up in the first PMQs of the new term is the launch of the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.

    The new department is a combination of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office with the Department for International Development (DfID).

    Boris Johnson says the change is "long overdue" and will allow the country to be "a force for good".

    But critics, including Sir Keir, say it will lessen the UK's position across the globe.

    You can read more about the merger here.

  12. Summer of u-turns?published at 11:41 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    StudentsImage source, EPA
    Image caption,

    The exams fiasco dominated the headlines over the Westminster break

    No doubt there will a lot to discuss from over the summer when the two party leaders face each other again in the Commons.

    From the exams fiasco to the exit of senior civil servants, the extension of the eviction ban, and the return of schools - plenty for MPs to dig into.

    Read our correspondent Nick Eardley's analysis of the u-turns that have befallen the government over the past few weeks.

  13. Johnson refuses meeting with Covid-19 bereaved familiespublished at 11:38 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Media caption,

    Covid families: The PM will not look us in the eye

    One of the stories likely to come up at today's PMQs is Boris Johnson turning down a meeting with campaigners whose loved ones died from coronavirus.

    The Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice group has written to the PM five times asking for a face-to-face meeting, and thought last week they had secured it.

    But days later he wrote to the group to say he was "unable" to meet them.

    We wouldn't be surprised if Sir Keir Starmer - who has met the group - brings it up at the dispatch box.

  14. Good morningpublished at 11:30 British Summer Time 2 September 2020

    Aerial shot of the Houses of ParliamentImage source, Reuters

    Hello.

    It's good to be back here with you.

    MPs returned to Westminster yesterday after parliament's summer break.

    And so does our regular weekly live coverage of PMQs.

    We'll bring you all the events in the Commons, from 1200 BST.

    Do follow along with us.