Summary

  • Rishi Sunak has been facing his second Prime Minister's Questions

  • As overcrowding continues at Manston migrant processing centre in Kent, Labour's Keir Starmer presses the PM on why the asylum system is "broken"

  • Sunak counters by saying Labour has voted against laws that would solve immigration problems

  • But Starmer says the Rwanda policy has cost £140m and hasn't led to any deportations - why can't Sunak get a "proper home secretary" instead of Suella Braverman, he asks

  • Sunak responds that Labour aren't coming up with any solutions and says he wants to remind Starmer that he supported Jeremy Corbyn

  • In response to a question from a Labour MP about why he hasn't sacked Braverman, Sunak repeated she had admitted mistakes and was getting on with her job

  • There is severe overcrowding at Manston with a recent resident telling the BBC people were treated like "animals"

  • The number of migrants who have crossed the channel this year is nearing 40,000

  • Earlier this morning Sunak U-turned on a decision not to attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt after facing criticism

  1. Starmer: Caving in to criticism is not leadershippublished at 11:52 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Keir StarmerImage source, Reuters

    Ahead of PMQs, opposition parties have been reacting to Rishi Sunak's announcement that he will now attend the COP27 climate summit in Egypt - reversing his previous position.

    Labour leader Keir Starmer attacked his opponent for the U-turn, saying: "Caving in to criticism is not leadership. Real leadership is seizing your seat at the table."

    The SNP's Deidre Brock said it was a "monumental error" to initially say the PM would not attend, while Lib Dem climate change spokeswoman Wera Hobhouse claimed he was only going after being "embarrassed" by his predecessor Boris Johnson's announcement yesterday that he would attend.

    Green Party MP Caroline Lucas said it was "an embarrassing misstep on the world stage" and called on the prime minister to urgently increase the UK's ambitions on reducing emissions.

    Meanwhile, the current president of COP26, Conservative MP Alok Sharma, said he was "delighted" by the change of position.

  2. What might come up in PMQs?published at 11:51 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Immigration

    This has been a big topic in recent days and Rishi Sunak is likely to face questions over how the government is dealing with overcrowding at the Manston processing centre in Kent. There will be pressure on the prime minister to defend his Home Secretary Suella Braverman, after claims - which she denies - that she blocked the use of hotels to ease overcrowding.

    Braverman appointment

    Braverman has also been criticised after admitting to sending government documents to her personal email address, so Labour could also use this to question to PM's judgement on reappointing her.

    COP27 U-turn

    This morning Sunak confirmed he would be attending the COP27 climate summit in Egypt, reversing an earlier position that he would not go in order to focus on domestic issues. Opposition parties claim the PM has been embarrassed into going following widespread criticism, and particularly after his predecessor Boris Johnson said he would go, so this could be one attack line.

    Hancock on I'm A Celeb

    Expect some jokes about kangaroo private parts after former Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced he would be appearing on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! But there's also a serious point here - critics including his own local Conservative Association have argued the MP should be focusing on serving his constituents rather than appearing on a reality TV show.

  3. Migrants relocated from overcrowded Manston processing centrepublished at 11:47 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Migrants inside Manston processing centre

    The government remains under pressure over overcrowding and general conditions at the Manston immigration processing centre in Kent - and Suella Braverman's handling of this.

    More than 4,000 migrants have reportedly been held at the camp in recent days - more than double its 1,600 capacity.

    One recent resident told the BBC that conditions there were akin to living in a zoo or a prison.

    The Home Office insists it is providing "all the basic needs" for migrants, but the British Red Cross fears the "serious problems" at Manston are "indicitive of wider issues facing the asylum system".

    Several hundred asylum seekers were relocated from the Manston centre on Tuesday, according to one of the MPs in Kent, Conservative Sir Roger Gale.

    More will leave throughout the week he said, tweeting: "This must never be allowed to happen again."

    This morning, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick said the number of migrants at the Manston immigration centre in Kent had "fallen substantially".

    A huge number of migrants have arrived in the UK this year. So far this year, there have been almost 40,000 arrivals in Kent - with nearly 1,000 crossing the Channel on Saturday alone.

    Channel crossing GFXImage source, .
  4. Sunak leaves No 10 as he heads to PMQspublished at 11:40 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Sunak walks out of Downing StreetImage source, PA Media

    UK PM Rishi Sunak has left Downing Street to make his way to the House of Commons for this week's PMQs.

    Stay with us as we bring you the latest from Westminster.

  5. Sunak still facing pressure over Braverman reappointmentpublished at 11:22 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Suella BravermanImage source, PA Media

    A week after reappointing her, Rishi Sunak is still facing heat over his decision to bring back Suella Braverman as home secretary.

    She was reinstated in his cabinet last week, just days after resigning over breaches of the ministerial code.She admitted sending sensitive documents via her private Gmail account.

    Braverman then admitted using private emails for official papers six times adding that the prime minister had “full confidence” in his home secretary.

    On Monday, Braverman stood at the House of Commons dispatch box saying illegal immigration was “out of control” and warning of an "invasion" on the southern coast - comments that drew condemnation from opposition parties and charities.

    Addressing critics whom she claimed wanted rid of her she said “let them try”.

    After Braverman's speech, Immigration Minister Robert Jenrick told the BBC that politicians must be careful with language. Then yesterday, Sunak insisted the UK was "compassionate" country.

  6. Attention turns to PMQs after COP27 U-turnpublished at 11:16 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    As it is approaching midday we are going to turn our attention to PMQs - Rishi Sunak's second since moving into Downing Street last week.

    The prime minister's U-turn on his decision to now attend COP27 could well come up, but there are plenty of other issues which Sunak could face questions on.

    These include the ongoing cost of living crisis, scrutiny over Suella Braverman's position as home secretary and her stance on the issues of migrants crossing the English Channel.

    Former Health Secretary Matt Hancock's controversial decision to go on reality TV show I'm A Celebrity could well also crop up.

    We'll have a closer look at potential PMQ topics closer to noon.

  7. UK's progress on climate change criticisedpublished at 11:02 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Previously, Rishi Sunak has said the UK is “an example for others to follow”.

    But, the UK Committee on Climate Change(UKCCC), which advises the government, has made some criticism about the lack of UK climate policy.

    It leaves the question - what progress is the government making?

    • In 2021, Boris Johnson set a target for all of the UK's electricity to come from clean sources by 2035. But, UKCCC says there is a clear lack of strategy in this area meaning the government risks not reaching its 2035 target
    • The UK is already a leader in offshore wind and it has made significant progress in scaling up its production. But better energy storage is needed for times when the wind doesn’t blow, the UKCCC warns
    • Environmental groups have questioned how the government will meet its 600,000 heat pumps target. These transfer heat from the ground, air or water around a property into its heating system, and use electricity rather than gas. But in 2021 only 55,000 pumps were installed - a figure dwarfed by the 1.7 milliion gas boilers sold in the UK each year
    • The UKCCC does praise the UK for electric car sales. The UK government wants 52% of car sales to be electric by 2028, and according to UKCCC the market is “currently growing well”
  8. What key issues will COP27 focus on?published at 10:58 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    EmissionsImage source, Reuters

    Ahead of the meeting, countries were asked to submit ambitious national climate plans.Only 25 have - so far.

    We know COP27 will focus on three main areas:

    • Reducing emissions
    • Helping countries to prepare and deal with climate change
    • Securing technical support and funding for developing countries for these activities
  9. King Charles not set to go to COP27published at 10:46 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    King Charles IIIImage source, PA Media

    It’s a question on the lips of many of the world's most influential politicians.

    At last year’s COP26 in Glasgow, King Charles - then the Prince of Wales - was one of the headline acts.

    He delivered a passionate call for world leaders to adopt a “war-like” footing over climate change - an issue he has campaigned on devotedly for decades.

    But during his first speech as King, he hinted that it would "not be possible for me to give as much of my time and energies to the charities and issues for which I care so deeply".

    In early October Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles III would not attend the climate change conference in Cairo on the advice of the then Prime Minister Liz Truss.

    "With mutual friendship and respect there was agreement that the King would not attend," the Palace stated.

  10. Sunak 'dragged kicking and screaming' - Labourpublished at 10:41 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Angela RaynerImage source, Reuters

    We've got some reaction to bring you from Labour now following the prime minister's change of mind and decision to attend COP27.

    Deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner says Rishi Sunak has been "dragged kicking and screaming into doing the right thing".

    She said the U-turn was "embarrassing".

    We have PMQs in just over an hour so this is one exchange to keep an eye out for.

  11. Biden, Macron and Johnson also due to attendpublished at 10:28 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Boris Johnson and Joe BidenImage source, Reuters

    Yesterday, former PM Boris Johnson confirmed he would be heading to Egypt next week.

    He says he was invited by the COP27 organisers.

    Other world leaders we know are due to be attending include US President Joe Biden and France's Emmanuel Macron.

  12. What is COP27?published at 10:20 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    COP 27Image source, Reuters

    World leaders are set to discuss action to tackle climate change at the UN climate summit in Egypt.

    The yearly summits are held for governments to agree steps to limit global temperature rises.

    COP stands for “Conference of the Parties” and this month’s meeting will be the 27th annual UN summit on climate change.

    It will take place in Sharm el-Sheik from 6 November until 18 November.

  13. Why has the PM changed his mind on going to climate summit?published at 10:18 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Rishi Sunak at COP26 in glasgowImage source, PA Media

    We don't yet know what's behind the U-turn, but in the last few days the prime minister has faced some heated criticism about his previous plan not to attend the climate summit.

    Last week UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres told the BBC that he would like to see both the PM and King Charles in attendance. Sunak's own climate chief Alok Sharma, who presided over the COP26 summit in Glasgow last year, also called for him to go.

    But Downing Street has previously insisted Sunak could not because he had "other pressing domestic commitments including preparations for the Autumn Budget".

    No 10 said in Sunak’s place he intended to send Environment Secretary Thérèse Coffey.

    On Friday Coffey defended the PM’s decision adding that the "big political moments" tended to happen at the conference every five years - such as last year's summit in Glasgow.

  14. What has Rishi Sunak saidpublished at 10:11 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    So, Prime Minsiter Rishi Sunak will be going to the COP27 climate summit next week after all.

    In the last few moments, Sunak has written on Twitter: "There is no long-term prosperity without action on climate change.

    "There is no energy security without investing in renewables.

    "That is why I will attend Cop27 next week: to deliver on Glasgow's legacy of building a secure and sustainable future."

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  15. Welcome alongpublished at 10:10 Greenwich Mean Time 2 November 2022

    Good morning and welcome to our coverage of UK politics today.

    At noon we'll have Rishi Sunak facing Prime Minister’s Questions for the second time since he took office.

    We now know Sunak has reversed a decision not to attend the upcoming COP27 climate conference in Egypt.

    Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer could also press him on the government's immigration policy, tax hike plans and the rising cost of living.

    Stay with us while we bring you the latest.