Summary

  • Rishi Sunak has taken Prime Minister's Questions in the Commons - the final session before local elections are held in England

  • Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has been grilling the PM on rent and mortgage costs, accusing the Tories of using people's money as "casino chips"

  • But Sunak has hit back, saying that last year there was the highest number of first time buyers in 20 years

  • More than 8,000 seats will be contested at 230 councils tomorrow - elections in NI will be held in two weeks' time

  • The vote is expected to be a tough first electoral test for Sunak, whose Conservatives trail Labour in opinion polls

  1. Sunak asked about Tesla autopilot safety concernspublished at 12:32 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    The SNP's Alan Brown asks Sunak about claims of safety issues in Tesla cars in autopilot mode.

    He tells the prime minister about the experience of a constituent's car "swerving erratically" while using a car, describing it as "software still in beta phase, but deemed suitable for cars on public roads"

    He asks the prime minister if he will meet with him to discuss "issues with Tesla's autopilot and instigate an urgent critical safety review in terms of it's suitability for operation and the licencing of it".

    Sunak says he is sorry to hear about the experience of Brown's constituent and he will make sure the SNP leader gets a meeting with Transport Secretary Mark Harper to discuss the issue.

  2. Why isn't there a refugee scheme for Sudanese people, asks Lucaspublished at 12:31 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Media caption,

    Tory refugee values a 'giant far-right foghorn' - Caroline Lucas

    Green MP for Brighton Caroline Lucas criticises Sunak's government for a "vile" refugee bill saying it "isn't even dog whistle politics".

    She quotes the Home Secretary saying people trying to come to the UK "tend to have different values" as she asks the PM what values are stopping him from creating a scheme for Sudanese people similar to one created for people fleeing Ukraine last year.

    Sunak replies by saying the ability to help vulnerable people is being hampered by people smugglers.

  3. Tory MP trumpets his party's record on crimepublished at 12:29 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Chris Loder, the Conservative MP for Dorset West, praises the Conservative police and crime commissioner in Dorset.

    He says the commissioner has delivered 174 new police officers, quadrupled the rural crime team, and made Dorset the sixth safest county.

    Crime is 34% higher under Labour police and crime commissioners, he claims.

    Does the PM agree that only the Conservatives can be trusted to make communities safe, and make sure offenders face the justice they deserve, he asks?

    Sunak replies that it's "a statement of fact" that crime is lower in areas with Conservative police and crime commissioners.

    He adds that he is "delighted" that Dorset has been selected as one of the areas to pilot the government's new justice scheme to tackle antisocial behaviour.

  4. England has better record on deprived children at uni, PM claimspublished at 12:26 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Replying to Flynn, the prime minister says people from deprived backgrounds are "far more likely" to go to university in England compared to Scotland.

  5. SNP says Westminster does not give young people hopepublished at 12:24 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Flynn adds that the Lib Dems also do not believe in abolishing tuition fees.

    Is it not the case that the main Westminster parties do not offer young people any hope at all?, he asks.

  6. Sunak takes chance to round on Labour's position on feespublished at 12:23 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Sunak thanks Flynn for the question and also goes after Starmer's position on tuition fees.

    He says it's "hard to keep track of the broken promises" from Labour's leader.

    Sunak adds he is proud of the government's record over the numbers of people going to university from disadvantaged backgrounds.

  7. SNP raises question of tuition feespublished at 12:22 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Media caption,

    Watch: SNP critical of other parties' tuition fees stance

    That's the main exchange between the PM and Labour's Sir Keir Starmer over, and next we turn to SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn.

    He starts by reflecting on the 2010 election when he says "David Cameron convinced Nick Clegg to drop his pledge on tuition fees."

    "Does he intend to take credit for convincing the leader of the Labour party to do likewise?", Flynn asks to huge cheers and jeers in the chamber.

  8. Coronation will be special, says PM, before urging people to vote Torypublished at 12:20 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    In response to Starmer's final question, Sunak says he is looking forward to this weekend's coronation, saying it will be "very special".

    He then delivers a plea for voters to vote Conservative at tomorrow's local elections, saying his party stands for lower crime and council tax, and fewer potholes.

    He then attacked a "litany of broken promises" from Labour under Keir Starmer.

  9. Starmer rounds on Tory record, before turning to Coronationpublished at 12:19 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Keir Starmer at PMQsImage source, House of Commons

    Starmer says "debt doubled since 2010, growth down, tax up, the economy crashed, they're going to need a bigger note".

    Changing tack, he says he hopes people will enjoy the Coronation - the world will see the country at its best, but it will be a reminder of the loss of the late Queen.

    Will the PM join him in honouring her and wishing the new King a long and happy reign?

  10. PM says Tory record on housing speaks for itselfpublished at 12:17 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Sunak says people's memories aren't short and the last time Labour were in power "there was no money left for the country".

    He adds that Boris Johnson built 60,000 homes while he was Mayor of London, while Sadiq Khan managed only half of that.

    In Wales, Sunak says people need 12,000 homes built a year, which the Labour government there also only achieve half of that.

    "As ever, Labour talk and the Conservatives deliver", the prime minister concludes.

  11. Starmer says PM is making excuses over housingpublished at 12:16 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Starmer continues to question the PM on housing saying Sunak has given local councils a way out - reflecting on the recent housing targets removal.

    He gives an example of a family with kids struggling to buy houses - accusing Sunak of excuses.

    "Why doesn't he stop excuses, blaming everyone else and just build some houses instead?" Starmer asks.

  12. Our housing policy puts local communities in charge, says PMpublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    The prime minister says the government's changes will put local communities "in control of new housing".

    He accuses Labour of wanting to impose "top down" housing targets and "concrete over the green belt".

  13. Starmer criticises Tory decision to scrap housing targetspublished at 12:15 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    The Labour leader says Sunak is out of touch. A £9,000 home deposit will take an average saver four years to build up - roughly the annual bill to heat the PM's swimming pool, Starmer adds.

    And now, he says, Sunak is kicking people when they are down because of his decision to scrap housing targets, "killing the dream of home ownership for a generation". Why does not he reverse it?

  14. Last year saw record number of first time buyers, says PMpublished at 12:13 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    RIshi Sunak at PMQsImage source, House of Commons

    Sunak says that's why the government has introduced a 95% mortgage guarantee scheme and why they are helping people in social housing own their own homes.

    He adds last year there was a record number of first time buyers, the highest number in 20 years.

    Sunak tells Starmer this was twice the amount Labour ever achieved in office, adding "whilst Labour failed home owners, the Conservatives are delivering for them".

  15. Starmer moves on to ask about house depositspublished at 12:11 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    More from Starmer who pushes Sunak again on how many people will be paying more on their mortgages

    "He has the stats in front of him," Starmer says adding 930,00 people will be paying more - so nearly two million people in total he says.

    The Labour leader asks the PM about how long it will take someone to save for an average house deposit.

  16. Interest rates are expected to fall, Sunak sayspublished at 12:10 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Sunak replies that public expectations from the Bank of England are for interest rates to fall.

    He says that Labour's spending plans would result in "more debt".

  17. Starmer presses on mortgage costspublished at 12:09 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Starmer says 850,000 more people are paying more on their mortgages - because the Conservatives used their money as a "casino chip" - while cutting tax for the "super-wealthy".

    How many more people will be paying higher mortgages by the end of 2023, the Labour leader asks.

  18. Tories are delivering on home owning, PM repliespublished at 12:07 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Sunak opens by telling Starmer because of Conservative party's tax cuts mean 90% of first time buyers aren't paying stamp duty on new homes.

    He adds this means the largest number of people buying their first home in 20 years.

    That's a conservative government delivering on people's aspirations to buy their own homes, he concludes.

  19. Starmer begins by asking about tax rates and mortgagespublished at 12:06 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Media caption,

    PMQs: Sunak and Starmer clash on rising mortgage rates

    Sir Keir Starmer gets to his feet and starts by echoing the best wishes ahead of the King's coronation on Saturday.

    "Across the house we are all looking forward to the celebrations," Starmer says.

    He asks Rishi Sunak does he know how many mortgage payers are paying higher rates since Tories crashed the economy last September?

  20. PM begins with lookahead to Coronationpublished at 12:02 British Summer Time 3 May 2023

    Sunak in commons

    The session is beginning - first up, Rishi Sunak sends his wishes to the King and Queen ahead of the Coronation this Saturday.

    He says it's a moment of pride for the country.