House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Joining quesiton time by video link, Tory MP Edward Timpson says Covid has "disproportionately" affected women's participation in sport.

The PM says he backs a Cheshire FA initiative to encourage more women and girls into football.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Sir Keir accuses Boris Johnson of treating Greater Manchester in a "miserly way".

He says a "take it or leave it" approach to local support packages, pitting "region against region," has been "corrosive of public trust".

He says "endless local battles" should be replaced with national criteria on economic support.

In reply, the prime minister says "no other country in Europe" has provided "so much help and support" to its populations to help them weather the impact of restrictions.

He accuses the Labour leader of wanting to "turn the lights out" across England with his policy of a two to three week "circuit break" lockdown.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Labour's leader says the PM has "crossed a rubicon" in the "grubby" way he has treated Greater Manchester. He calls for "proper support for jobs".

But the PM says he is "proud" of the "one-nation support" the government has given. No other country in Europe has given so much help, he adds.

Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor

While we’ve all been concentrating on areas entering tighter restrictions Keir Starmer is trying to pin the PM down on the criteria for escaping.

It's a good line to pursue because many Conservative MPs want to know this too.

The PM is defending his approach by listing the financial help available, including the £60m for Greater Manchester.

But that’s a very strong attack from Starmer accusing him of “bargaining with people’s lives.”

House of Commons
Parliament

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Sir Keir Starmer says he is "confused" by the prime minister's description of how tier 3 areas can get out of the new restrictions.

He says a "clear exit" is required for local areas, to avoid "months and months" of disruption.

Boris Johnson says tier 2 restrictions are reviewed every 28 days, and regions in these restrictions are "already making progress" towards suppressing the virus.

He accuses the Labour leader of being "incoherent" by criticising regional rules, whilst also wanting to put all of England into a "damaging lockdown", with "no clue" how it would end.

House of Commons
Parliament

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Sir Keir Starmer asks if the infection - "R" - rate in a tier 3 area has not come below 1, would it be possible for the area to end those restrictions.

The PM says "lots" of data, including hospital admissions figures, will be taken into account. When areas "make progress" they will "of course be able to come out of tier 3", he adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

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For his first question, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer asks how an area that goes into tier 3 restrictions can come out of them.

Boris Johnson replies "simplest and most effective" way is to get the R infection number down to 1 or below.

You can read our guide how the R rate is calculated.

Image source, HoC

Labour's Catherine West says her constituents Hornsey and Wood Green, north London, are "reeling" from the 9.1% contraction in the economy since before the Covid crisis. She urges more money for Transport for London (TfL) and no increase to the congestion charge.

Boris Johnson says London Mayor has left a "black hole" in the organisation's finances, calling him "bankrupt".

London Mayor Sadiq Khan has said a new government funding proposals for TfL are "ill advised and draconian"

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle has called the PM to the despatch box for this week's PMQs.

Here we go...

Image source, Reuters

Boris Johnson has just left Downing Street for Parliament.

We'll take that as our cue to crack our knuckles for the start of this week's PMQs.

Image source, PA Media

In the fallout of negotiations with Greater Manchester yesterday, there has been much discussion over whether deals to support shut-down businesses in English tier-3 regions are fair.

Later today, Labour will seek to keep up pressure on the government on this issue by calling for a "one nation" approach to how support is worked out.

They have tabled a non-binding motion calling on ministers to publish "clear and fair" criteria to set out how economic packages are calculated.

Ministers say a "consistent and fair" formula for future talks with other regions will be outlined on Thursday.

Read more.

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

It’s worth remembering some of thinking behind the local tier system.

It was supposed to allow rapid interventions in areas where the virus was spreading - and to get the backing of local leaders, sharing expertise but also responsibility for decisions.

Neither has proved easy.

Negotiations have taken a long time – around ten days in some areas.

The row with Greater Manchester shows getting local backing for restrictions is far from guaranteed.

The announcement of a deal in South Yorkshire will allow ministers to say some Labour politicians – like Sheffield’s Dan Jarvis – are being more pragmatic and realistic when it comes to deals.

But the new strategy has not always gone according to plan.

BBC Politics

Image source, PA Media

It's already been a busy morning in Westminster ahead of PMQs - here are the main developments:

• South Yorkshire will move to tier 3, the toughest Covid restrictions, from Saturday, after local leaders agreed a total £41m funding package with ministers
• But a standoff over support for businesses in Greater Manchester, which is also due to enter tier 3 this weekend, continues between government and local leaders
• Labour Mayor of London Sadiq Khan has criticised "draconian" conditions attached to a proposed government bailout of struggling Transport for London
• Mark Sedwill, the ex-head of the civil service, has said the PM's adviser Dominic Cummings's lockdown trip to County Durham was a "mistake"

BBC Politics

Image source, Jessica Taylor/ UK Parliament

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of this week's PMQs.

Boris Johnson will be at the despatch box at 12:00 BST.

We'll bring you all the details of his exchanges with Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer and other MPs, with analysis from our deputy political editor Vicki Young, and our colleagues at BBC Reality Check.

Do stay with us.