Summary

  • Rishi Sunak calls Sir Lindsay Hoyle's decision to break with convention on a Gaza ceasefire vote "very concerning"

  • The PM says "we should never let extremists intimidate us" into changing how Parliament works, after Hoyle allowed a vote on a Labour amendment to an SNP proposal

  • It comes after the SNP's Westminster leader tells Hoyle his party has no confidence in him as Commons Speaker after yesterday's debate chaos

  • More than 60 MPs now say they have no confidence in Hoyle, who has apologised twice for making the "wrong decision"

  • Meanwhile, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has denied threatening Hoyle, saying he “simply urged” the Speaker to ensure there was the “broadest possible debate”

  • On Wednesday, MPs approved a Labour motion calling for an "immediate humanitarian ceasefire" following hours of debate which saw SNP and Conservative MPs walk out of the Commons

  • You can watch our coverage live at the top of this page by clicking the play button

  1. Labour asks how PM will protect steel industrypublished at 12:47 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Labour's Chris Elmore, MP for Ogmore, pushes Sunak on his government's "grubby deal" with Tata Steel, which has put thousands of jobs in the steel industry at risk in Port Talbot and beyond.

    Elmore accuses Sunak of failing to protect the steel industry, and says he has two options, firstly to "work with the unions, Tata and workforce to protect industry and protect jobs with investment".

    The second option is to "walk away, as Tory leaders always do, and abandon South Wales once again", he says.

    Sunak says the government has worked hard to secure a "sustainable future" for Welsh steel.

  2. PMQs wraps uppublished at 12:45 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    That's it for Prime Minister's Questions and MPs are now filing out of the Commons.

    We have more coverage to bring you, so stick with us for those last few questions.

  3. Sunak says 'more to come' on tackling knife crimepublished at 12:44 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside Kim Johnson asks about the government's plans for tackling "the scourge of knife crime".

    Sunak says there are plans in place that are working, but there is more to come.

    He says legislation is coming to increase criminal sentences for knife crime, as well as a ban on so-called zombie knives.

    He says he hopes Johnson and Labour will support the legislation when it is brought before the House.

  4. Law to exonerate Post Office victims will come 'very soon' - PMpublished at 12:43 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Labour MP Kate Osborne returns to the Post Office scandal, saying "we wouldn't have any action" without the ITV drama, Mr Bates vs The Post Office, putting a spotlight on the issue at the start of the year.

    This claim is met by angry shouts from the Tory benches.

    Osborne goes on to ask if the prime minister will bring to the Commons a law to exonerate victims before the next election.

    Sunak says that will come "very, very soon".

  5. Should MPs be able to vote according to their consciences?published at 12:41 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Media caption,

    Calling for Gaza ceasefire now 'not in anyone’s interest’ - Sunak

    The SNP's Patricia Gibson, MP for North Ayrshire and Arran, asks whether MPs should be able to vote according to their consciences on life and death matters?

    She's referring to a vote later today in the Commons on calls for a ceasefire in the Israel-Gaza conflict.

    Sunak flags that he has called for an immediate humanitarian pause but "just calling for an immediate full ceasefire now, which collapses back into fighting in days or weeks will not be in anyone's interest".

    He adds: "We are committed... to finding a lasting resolution to this conflict, which delivers on the promise of a two-state solution."

  6. Postpublished at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Robin Walker, the Tory MP for Worcester, asks about strengthening guidance to keep mobile phones out of classrooms.

    He cites "deeply disturbing evidence" about the risks to young people of being exposed to social media too early - and puts it to the PM that it's time to review the age of digital consent.

    Sunak says the government has a plan for education and protecting children online, and that it wants to "protect their safety and mental health".

  7. PM says government will continue to support LGBT communitypublished at 12:39 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Labour's Ben Bradshaw puts it to Sunak that Kemi Badenoch, the equalities minister, claims she has "engaged extensively" with LGBT organisations while in office, however a freedom of information request reveals she's not met with "a single one", but has met "two fringe groups" that campaign against transgender rights.

    "What is the problem the prime minister and a section of his party has with transgender people?" Bradshaw asks.

    In response, Sunak says his government has a "proud" track record of supporting those in the LGBT community, "and will continue to do so".

    He says those questioning their gender should always be treated with the "utmost dignity, compassion and sensitivity", however alongside that, "it is completely reasonable to highlight the importance of biological sex".

  8. Analysis

    Starmer focused on Badenoch Post Office rowpublished at 12:38 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Harry Farley
    Political correspondent

    The government’s stand-off with the former Post Office chair Henry Staunton is not going away.

    Sir Keir Starmer used all six of his questions to ask Rishi Sunak about the allegations from the Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch about Mr Staunton.

    She said his claims – that he had been told to stall payouts to allow the government to "limp into the election", apparently to help state finances – were "completely false" and accused him of spreading "made-up anecdotes".

    Some Conservative MPs I’ve spoken to privately questioned the wisdom of Badenoch attacking Staunton so vociferously. Why add oxygen to the row, they asked.

    It was notable that when Rishi Sunak was repeatedly asked whether he wanted to echo Ms Badenoch’s allegations, he declined to do so.

  9. PM urged to 'join fight for green and pleasant land'published at 12:37 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    A question from the PM's own benches now from Sir John Hayes, who says "cheap foreign imports" and now "industrialisation of the countryside" with solar panels and pylons are harming the UK's food security.

    He asks the prime minister to "join my fight for our green and pleasant land".

    Sunak says his government has already taken steps to "protect" agricultural land from solar developments, and adds that announcements he made at the National Farmers Union yesterday shows that they are backing farmers with more funding.

    You can read more about that, here.

  10. Postpublished at 12:35 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Now Siobhan Baillie, the Conservative MP for Stroud, asks about fees for ID verification, which she says are creating a "perfect cyber storm".

    She says bereaved parents want new measures to protect children, fraudsters are routinely using fake IDs to scam, and "faceless, traceless bots" are interfering with politics across the globe.

    The PM agrees verification can be a powerful tool and the home secretary is meeting tech companies on Monday to raise these points.

  11. Government has track record of supporting SEND children - PMpublished at 12:34 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Matt Western, Labour MP for Warwick and Leamington, is up.

    He raises alleged comments made by members of Warwickshire Country Council about children with special educational needs.

    Western quotes them as saying that the children need "some form of strict correction" or they're "just really badly behaved kids".

    He says other "inappropriate language" was also used.

    Western asks Sunak if he condemns the councillors' language and urges them to resign.

    Sunak says he is not aware of the details of the allegations, adding that his government has a track record of supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

  12. Sunak asked about immigration planspublished at 12:31 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Conservative MP Andrew Rosindell details opinions he says he hears from his constituents in Romford regarding "radical" immigration plans, stopping illegal immigration and distancing the UK from Europe's human rights laws.

    He asks the prime minister whether he will visit him in east London.

    In a brief answer, Sunak replies: "I agree with everything he said and I look forward to visiting him and his Romford constituents at the earliest opportunity."

  13. SNP: Will MPs look back on today's Gaza vote 'with pride'?published at 12:30 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    The SNP's Pete Wishart says that his vote in 2003 against the war in Iraq was "one I'm most proud of".

    He says today's vote on the party's proposal to call for a ceasefire in Gaza is of "similar significance", and asks the prime minister if he believes MPs should look back on today "with similar pride".

    Sunak responds by saying that no one wants to see fighting go on "any longer than necessary", adding that the government is doing "everything we can" to bring about a humanitarian pause in fighting which would allow hostages to be released, and humanitarian aid to be brought in.

    SNP's Pete Wishart speaks during Prime Minster's QuestionsImage source, House of Commons
  14. Postpublished at 12:29 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Labour's Clive Betts asks about new laws to safeguard sustainable futures for football clubs, to ensure that no community in the future loses its football club as Bury has done.

    The Sheffield South East MP asks the PM to urgently bring forward legislation.

    Sunak responds saying the independent regulator will help deliver this and adds the Conservative MP for Bury has secured £1m in funding to safeguard the new football club in Bury.

  15. UK government plans aim to support farmers - PMpublished at 12:27 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Next up is Virginia Crosbie, Tory MP for Ynys Môn, who asks the PM about farming.

    "Our farmers and food security are vital," she says, adding that the budget for farming should be "ring-fenced".

    Crosbie hits out at the Welsh government's plans for the industry, which she claims would result in job losses and a £2bn hit to the Welsh economy.

    Sunak says his government's plans are aimed at supporting farmers and growing more British food, in contrast to the plans of the Welsh government which he says will "decimate farming communities".

    Virginia Crosbie, Tory MP for Ynys Mon, is seen in the House of CommonsImage source, House of Commons
  16. 'We will always back our North Sea economy' - Sunakpublished at 12:26 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Alba Party MP Neale Hanvey says an incoming Labour government could affect oil and gas jobs, and points to the recent closure of the Grangemouth oil refinery in Scotland. He asks why the government couldn't find the money to secure the refinery's future.

    Sunak says the future of Grangemouth is a decision for its owners, and that the UK and Scottish governments are working together to make sure there are "efficient assurances" in place for the refinery's employees.

    On the broader topic of the oil and gas industry, "we will always back our North Sea economy", Sunak says.

  17. PM: UK is committed to working towards permanent ceasefirepublished at 12:25 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Flynn says that tonight, the House will have the opportunity to "join with the majority of the international community to say that enough is enough, killing in Gaza must stop, and hostages must be released".

    He adds that the "best way to do that is to send a clear and united message that we back an immediate ceasefire".

    Sunak answers by saying that the government also wants to see the fighting in Gaza end as soon as possible "and never again allow Hamas to carry out terrorist attacks".

    "But just calling for an immediate ceasefire is not in anyone's interest," he adds.

    Sunak insists that the UK is committed to their position, which is to work towards a permanent ceasefire, and a "humanitarian pause to get hostages out and get the aid in".

  18. Sunak 'shares concern' on high casualty numbers in Gazapublished at 12:23 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Stephen Flynn stands at the House of Commons during PMQsImage source, PA Media

    Stephen Flynn, the SNP's Westminster leader, is up next.

    He uses the opportunity to talk about Israel-Gaza and the vote on the SNP's call for an immediate ceasefire, which is due after PMQs.

    "As it stands, some 60% of the buildings in Gaza are either damaged or destroyed... some 30,000 people are dead, and 1.4 million people are currently sheltering in Rafah awaiting an imminent Israeli onslaught," he says.

    Flynn asks the PM whether this can amount to "self-defence".

    Sunak responds as we would expect saying he "shares the concern" of Flynn on the high number of casualties and calls for an "immediate humanitarian pause".

    This is a shadow debate of what we can expect later - the SNP and Labour calling for a ceasefire and the government a pause.

  19. Infected blood scandal is awful and government will make it right - Sunakpublished at 12:21 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Sunak says he is "aware of the strength of feeling" on the inflected blood scandal, and that "thousands have suffered for decades".

    The prime minister says his government has "committed" to updating parliament within 25 days of the release of the final report into it.

    It's a "deeply awful scandal", he says, and the government is doing "what we need to do to make it right".

    • Up to 30,000 people were infected with contaminated blood in what has been called the biggest treatment disaster in NHS history. Thousands have died. You can read more about it here
  20. Starmer wants assurances on quicker compensation paymentspublished at 12:18 Greenwich Mean Time 21 February

    Starmer says "numerous scandals" in recent decades have shaken public faith in our institutions, including the infected blood scandal.

    He says people need to see that politicians are being honest with them.

    He asks whether the PM can put victims' minds at ease and assure them the government is not "limping" towards compensation payments.

    An overhead shot of the House of Commons during Prime Minister QuestionsImage source, PA Media