House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The Labour leader uses his last question to ask about care homes.

He says there is "an increasing concern" about the emotional wellbeing of those in care homes and their families if visits are stopped.

"It must be possible to find a way for families to safely visit relatives," he says.

Boris Johnson says new guidance on care homes and visiting relatives will be announced today.

He then accuses Sir Keir of using the crisis as "an opportunity to make political capital".

He says he should emulate former Labour leader Tony Blair, who he says is supportive of the government's approach.

"He also would not have spent four years working with Jeremy Corbyn," the prime minister adds.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

The Labour leader says it would be madness to come out of lockdown on 2 December and return to the regionalised tier system unless there are massive changes to the testing and trace.

Sir Keir Starmer quotes data suggesting thousands of cases are not be traced and only 20% of people contacted are self-isolating.

The PM says he accepts any "failings" in the system are his responsibility.

But he says boosting the daily testing capacity from 3,000 to 500,000 tests a day is a "quite remarkable feat".

He urges Sir Keir to put aside "party politically wrangling and point-scoring" and support the lockdown measures in the national interest.

Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor

We’ve heard a lot of optimistic claims about testing from Boris Johnson before but ministers are privately confident that rapid testing is going to make a real difference in the months ahead.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Sir Keir Starmer asks if England will still come out of lockdown on 2 December if the R rate is still rising.

"That doesn't seem sensible," he adds.

"The R rate is only just above one now," the prime minister replies.

He repeats his assertion that lockdown restrictions will expire on 2 December.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Pressing again on the timing of the lockdown, the Labour leader says he does not believe that the facts "changed" last weekend, saying the "direction of travel" in terms of infections, hospitalisations and deaths had been clear for a long time.

Sir Keir says "we all have a duty to pull together and make this lockdown work" but presses for details on key points.

In response, the PM repeats his promise that the restrictions will expire on 2 December.

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Sir Keir Starmer says the prime minister's decision not to introduce a circuit break a few weeks ago means businesses will now have to close for longer in the critical run up to Christmas

"Does the prime minister understand the economic costs of his delay in acting," he asks.

Boris Johnson says it is precisely "because we understand economic costs" that he chose to go for the regional solution".

He adds that the new lockdown restrictions will expire on 2 December and "by then we will be rolling out across this country new types of testing".

Vicki Young
Deputy Political Editor

Boris Johnson was keen to avoid getting dragged into commenting on US election but he won’t be able to avoid it forever.

House of Commons
Parliament

Moving onto the substance of his first question, the Labour leader asks why the PM ignored the opposition's call for a coronavirus circuit break last month.

Quoting the number of deaths now compared to several weeks ago, he says the PM's delay has led to a big "human cost".

In response, the PM says it was right to pursue a localised and regionalised approach but the surge in cases means stringent national measures are now required.

House of Commons
Parliament

Sir Keir Starmer is speaking now.

He starts by referring to the US election, saying whoever is elected must be the "free and fair choice" of the people.

Referring to Donald Trump's comments earlier, he says it is not up to a candidate to decide who has won the election.

Mr Johnson says he does not comment on the internal affairs of UK allies.

Image source, HoC

House of Commons
Parliament

Image source, HoC

Boris Johnson begins Prime Minister's Questions by congratulating Sir Lindsay Hoyle on his one year anniversary of being Commons Speaker.

In a nod to the US election he says Sir Lindsay has made the speakership "great again".

House of Commons
Parliament

Prime Minister Boris Johnson rises to take his first question.

Here we go...

Image source, PA Media

In a familiar rhythm to Wednesday mornings here in Westminster, the prime minister has just been snapped as he left No 10 Downing Street to head to the Commons for PMQs.

We're poised to bring you all the developments.

Do stay with us.

Image source, Reuters

Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab this morning said he had “full faith” in the US political system adding that the UK government was not going to get involved in “election commentary”.

His Conservative colleague Jeremy Hunt (also a former foreign secretary) was a bit more forthright.

He said arguments over stolen elections "are only gonna put a smile on the face of people like President Putin, President Xi, who will look at their own people and say: 'Aren't you pleased you haven't got any of this mess,' and that would be an absolute disaster.

"So, I think we must remember that the reputation of democracy across the world is at stake here."

Speaking to Sky News, Labour's shadow foreign secretary Lisa Nandy said Americans had "every right to free and fair election" and said it was "deeply shocking that the foreign secretary was unable to stand up for that principle".

Meanwhile ex-PM Theresa May had this to say: "We will soon know who will be the next US President. But, sadly, today also marks the US leaving the Paris accord — the world’s foremost attempt to build consensus on climate change. Whoever is elected has an immense responsibility to help tackle our planet’s greatest challenge."

Image source, CBI

If MPs approve the planned 28-day lockdown in England later, it is going to have huge repercussions for business.

What Boris Johnson says at PMQs about the impact on shops and other firms forced to close will be closely watched by Tory MPs.

Before that, the PM has been speaking to business leaders at the CBI's annual conference, which is being held online this year.

He recorded a "special address" for the employer's group.

The PM said he wanted to apologise for "the frustrations and the nightmare of the covid world.

"I know how tough it has been for you", he said.

He thanked business leaders for their "heroic efforts" looking after employees, making premises covid secure, and for "complying with the kind of diktats I never believed we would have to impose, which go against every free market instinct I possess."

Laura Kuenssberg
Political editor

Lots of Boris Johnson's own MPs are hacked off, seriously hacked off.

That's not just the significant Tory contingent who believed that he lacked some of the characteristics required for the most challenging political job in the land to start with.

But also many of the MPs who have been on the prime minister's side have felt despair about his sudden switch to backing another lockdown across England.

As Boris Johnson stood at the despatch box on Monday however, defending the policy he had himself mocked on exactly the same spot less than a fortnight ago, only a sprinkling of Tory MPs were angry enough, or indeed brave enough, to vent their anger.

Read Laura's blog in full here.

Image source, PA Media

Back to the day job.

(To be honest, it doesn't take much to turn our heads back to the Commons).

People in England are preparing for a four-week national lockdown with new restrictions poised to come into force just after midnight on Thursday.

As we said earlier, MPs are expected to approve the measures when they vote later, despite criticism from some Conservatives.

Pubs, restaurants, gyms and non-essential shops will have to close and the government has published a full list of businesses able to remain open, external.

No household mixing will be allowed indoors or in private gardens, but outdoor exercise with one other person is encouraged.

Unlike the first lockdown schools and universities will remain open.

If they are approved, the restrictions will continue until 2 December.

BBC Politics

Image source, Reuters

Elections are our bread and butter here at BBC Politics so if, like us, you’ve been glued to events in the US overnight, you may be on the strong coffee too this morning.

Our colleagues on the BBC News live page will continue to bring you all the developments from the US.

BBC Politics

Image source, Jessica Taylor/ UK Parliament

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

It’s another big day in Westminster as MPs will vote later to approve the new coronavirus lockdown restrictions in England.

The government is expected to win the vote, with Labour already saying they will support it.

But what is the mood among Conservative backbenchers?

Some are expected to vote against the measures when they pass through the division lobbies later this afternoon.

And no doubt the lockdown restrictions will come up at PMQs.

Do stay with us.