Andy Burnham has been accused of prioritising Britain’s ballooning welfare state over the nation’s security as he refused to commit to spending three per cent of GDP on defence by 2030.
During Prime Minister’s Questions, Kemi Badenoch said the UK was being “thrown into confusion” over whether Labour could meet the pledge.
The Conservative leader told MPs there were “serious threats to national security” that could not wait for Parliament to return from its forthcoming five-week recess for the party conferences.
She said: “Argentina is threatening the Falklands now. Russia is threatening us in the North Sea now.
“The Chancellor [John Healey] used to say not hitting three per cent by 2030 would put our troops at risk. He also said Sir Keir Starmer was unable and the Treasury unwilling to provide that funding. So is the Prime Minister unable or is he just unwilling to get that money by 2030?”
The Labour leader replied: “I appointed this Chancellor because of his strong commitment to the defence of this nation.
“I think we should do more problem-solving than point-scoring and I say to the Rt Hon lady we would do our Armed Forces well if we could agree on this crucial issue more across the floor of the House.”
He added: “Yes, we do everything to support our national security. But it can’t come at the expense of social security. Having strong national security also depends on having resilience in our communities.”
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Lib Dems warn Labour’s support for farmers ‘doesn’t even scratch the surface’ after drought
Sir Ed Davey issued the pledge of support for farmers
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The Liberal Democrats have warned Labour’s support for farmers after this summer’s widespread droughts “doesn’t even scratch the surface”.
Sir Ed Davey’s party is calling on Labour to introduce a national “call to store” programme to tackle widespread water insecurity.
The Lib Dem leader said: “Britain’s farms have enormous, largely untapped potential to store the water our communities will need as our climate changes. But farmers are being blocked by outdated planning rules and a lack of proper support.
“The Government’s £15million fund doesn’t even scratch the surface of what farmers have lost to this drought.
“We need a national call to store programme right now, identifying where that capacity exists, removing the barriers, and backing farmers who want to be part of the solution.
“The demands of our changing climate will not wait for Whitehall to catch up.”
Andy Burnham sets out conditions for second Scottish independence referendum
Andy Burnham suggested another Scottish independence referendum could be held if public opinion shows demand for one.
The Prime Minister had previously told Scotland’s First Minister John Swinney that a second referendum is “off limits”.
But in the Commons he appeared to indicate a vote could be held if there was clear public support, comparing the situation to the conditions for a border poll in Northern Ireland.
In response to a SNP MP Chris Law, Mr Burnham said the Good Friday Agreement made clear that a border poll would be “considered by the Northern Ireland Secretary when there is a clear consensus in the country, when public opinion has changed to the point where the call has to be considered”.
The Prime Minister said: “I would say exactly the same situation in Scotland. I am not aware that there is a majority of public support for another referendum and until that changes there won’t be one.”
Downing Street insisted there had been no change in the Prime Minister’s position.
Mr Burnham’s press secretary said: “The PM’s been repeatedly clear on this.
“In his call with the Scottish First Minister in his first week, the PM stated upfront that another referendum on independence was off limits and as our election manifesto makes clear, Labour does not support independence or another referendum.”
Downing Street sends warning to local police forces
Hundreds of furious locals poured onto the streets in protest following the illegal migrants’ arrival | PA
Police should “urgently consider” what more could have been done in terms of intelligence and response tactics dealing with anti-migrant protests over the weekend, Downing Street has said.
Questions have been raised over Kent Police’s handling of a demonstration by masked activists that brought Dover to a standstill on Saturday.
A further protest took place in Portsmouth on Sunday, where around 200 demonstrators tried to block migrants being driven away for processing.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “I think it’s right that police urgently consider whether more could have been done to act on available intelligence and deploy a wider range of tactics to provide a more reassuring response for the public.
“Forces have been clear, they’ll be rightly learning from any lessons identified following the event, and ministers continue to engage to get reassurance on that issue.”
Officials have told Kent Police the Home Secretary expects them to be better prepared in future.
Downing Street still has confidence in chief of Britain’s main air traffic control provider
The chief of Britain’s main air traffic control provider still has the confidence of the Government, Downing Street has said.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman told reporters: “You’ve seen this morning that the Transport Secretary met the chief of National Air Traffic Service (Nats) to raise significant concerns at the scale of disruption on behalf of both passengers and industry.
“She’s asked him to carry out a full investigation into what happened to make sure that lessons are learned, so that this doesn’t happen again. She set a deadline for them to report back in a week’s time.
“Through our Civil Aviation Bill, which returns to Parliament today, we will make sure air passengers get stronger protection of rights around cancellations, delays, and passenger support.”
Asked whether Ms Alexander and the Prime Minister still have confidence in Nats chief Martin Rolfe, the spokesman said: “Well, you’ve got the Transport Secretary’s instruction to the Nats CEO.
“I think it’s self-evident that she wants answers and the full investigation to be reported back in a week’s time, and she’s got confidence in him to deliver that.”
Pressed whether this meant the Government’s confidence in the head of air traffic control was conditional on the outcome of the investigation, the spokesman replied: “We have confidence in him and he’s been tasked with the investigation, which will report in a week’s time.”
Bridget Phillipson hits out at Reform UK over response to Nigel Farage heckler
Reform UK conference attendees violently descended on the heckler
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Equalities minister Bridget Phillipson has hit out at Reform UK over footage which showed a protester’s hair being pulled at the party’s conference.
Speaking in the Commons on Wednesday, Ms Phillipson said: “There can be no place for violence or intimidation of women, whether that’s on the Reform conference floor or anywhere else.
“I would say to this House, this is not a laughing matter, and those in Reform in recent days who have sought to make light of such serious scenes should reflect very seriously on why they think it is appropriate at one level to say that violence against women is unacceptable
“I agree, but then at another, allow it to take place at their own conference.”
Senior Conservative MP warns Israeli sanctions could harm Britain’s counter-terror efforts
A senior Tory MP has warned Andy Burnham that his sanctions against Israeli settlers could harm Britain’s counter-terror efforts.
MP for Harwich and North Essex said Sir Bernard Jenkin said: “Despite long and historic disagreements between successive UK governments and Israel, they have remained a steadfast ally in the counter-terrorist effort to keep our people safe in this country.
“We are now embarked, it seems, on a full diplomatic dispute with Israel and tit-for-tat expulsions of diplomats.
“What advice was the Foreign Office itself giving ministers on this matter, and what advice were the security services giving about our national security interest before this decision was taken?”
The Prime Minister responded: “We took close advice from the security services and of course officials in the Foreign Office and our embassies.
“The risk of the collapse of our two-state solution is a risk that should concern us all in terms of the effect that that would have on the Middle East. The risk is that it is dying before our eyes and that requires us to have the courage to act.”
Official image of Andy Burnham’s Cabinet released
Andy Burnham’s Cabinet
|CABINET OFFICE
The official image of Andy Burnham’s Cabinet has been released.
Andy Burnham hints at VAT cuts for hospitality at Budget
Andy Burnham has hinted that he could cut VAT for hospitality at next month’s Budget.
Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminster, asks about a community-owned pub in her constituency of Dwyfor Meirionnydd.
She said hospitality venues were being “held back by 20 per cent VAT while hospitality of course in France and Spain and Italy pays just 10 per cent.
“Will he have a word please with the Chancellor before the autumn Budget, and cut VAT for hospitality to prove that postcodes furthest from London and from Manchester won’t be forgotten in his drive for growth?”
The Prime Minister replied: “I am something of a pub person myself. In my first week in office, I made the decision to cut business rates for pubs.
“I think we need to go further to support hospitality. I can’t commit to what she is saying today at this Dispatch Box but I would say that she should wait for the Budget.
“We are keen to support high streets up and down the country. We are keen to support high streets and hospitality, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and indeed Wales too.”
Conservatives claim Andy Burnham is ‘nothing more than continuity Keir’
Andy Burnham speaking in the Commons
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The Conservatives have slammed Andy Burnham, accusing the Prime Minister of being “nothing more than Continuity Keir.”
A party spokesman said: “Britain heard it loud and clear today: Andy Burnham will not cut welfare to fund the defence of our country.
“The Prime Minister is prioritising the ballooning benefits bill over our national security. Shameful.
“This is not leadership it is surrender. Worse still, it’s exactly what has come before. Burnham really is nothing more than Continuity Keir.”
Ed Davey grills Andy Burnham over AI policy
Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader has grilled Andy Burnham over Labour’s policy on artificial intelligence (AI).
The Lib Dem leader referred to a report in the Financial Times that AI company Anthropic didn’t supply its most recent model to the UK-based AI Security Institute (AISI) because of a request from Donald Trump.
Sir Ed asked: “Does the prime minister think that it’s acceptable for President Trump to undermine Britain’s efforts to keep the world safe from dangerous AI?”
In response, Mr Burnham praises the AISI as a “world leader”, pointing to the appointment of a dedicated AI minister to cabinet, Kanishka Narayan, as showing he is aware of the issue.
He said : “We have lifted the level of the conversation about artificial intelligence within government, and the offer is open to colleagues on all sides of the House who want to be a part of that crucial discussion.”
SNP leader in the Commons says ‘popularity will not help people in the Commons
Dave Doogan MP
|PARLIAMENT.TV
The SNP’s leader in the Commons asked Andy Burnham about how people are being supported this Winter.
The MP for Angus and Perthshire Glens Dave Doogan says energy bills are going up, some morgages are going up, and petrol prices are rising too, adding Mr Burnham remains “fairly well liked…I must admit, I quite like the Prime Minister. However, popularity will not help people pay this bills.”
He then asked how people were being supported and helped.
The Prime Minister responded “I will remove VAT from electricity bills next month. I appreciate it will not solve everything but it should take a little bit of pressure off.”
Mr Burnham also thanked Mr Doogan for his “faint praise.”
Andy Burnham addresses Ed Miliband’s sanctions on Israel
Andy Burnham has addressed Ed Miliband’s controversial sanctions on Israel after being accused of being “continuity Keir”.
The Prime Minister said: “She mentions leadership, let me tell her, and the whole House where Britain is showing leadership.
“There have been Conservative politicians at this despatch box, Labour politicians too, for decades, who’ve talked about the importance of the two-state solution between Israel and Palestine.
“Words from any politician about a two-state solution will be only words if it’s not backed with action.
“Leadership is about taking action. Where there is injustice, where we need to correct unfairness, people being driven out of their homes, losing their homes, being intimidated in their daily lives.
“I credit the father of the house who yesterday applauded the action that this government is taking in this difficult and dangerous world.
“Britain has to stand for something. Britain has to show leadership. Britain has to stand for fairness against injustice, where people are being bullied out of their homes, intimidated
Kemi Badenoch grills Andy Burnham over Chagos ‘surrender’
Kemi Badenoch slams Andy Burnham
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Kemi Badenoch has grilled the Prime Minister over Labour’s controversial Chagos Islands “surrender”.
Mrs Badenoch told Andy Burnham: “Why, just like Keir Starmer, is he planning to surrender the Chagos Islands?”
The Prime Minister responded, saying: “She does have to do better than that…They are the worst kind of points to be scoring at this time in front of the country.
“We will not be surrounding our base on Diego Garcia, we are in discussions with the United States.”
Andy Burnham says national security defence spending ‘should not come of the expense of social security’
Kemi Badenoch pressed Andy Burnham on national spending and the Conservative plan for defence funding.
The Prime Minister responded: “We are playing our role around the world and we will continue to do so.
“We should have an honest conversation over this dispatch box. I do not think we should take £4billion cut from housing benefits…That would create levels of homeless we have not seen before.
“Yes we do everything to support our national security but it cannot come at the expense of social security…This side of the house will not be forced to choose between the two.”
Kemi Badenoch presses Andy Burnham over John Healey resigning as Defence Secretary
Kemi Badenoch pressing Andy Burnham
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Kemi Badenoch used her first question to ask if John Healey was right to quit as Defence Secretary.
The Prime Minister said: “Defence spending was 2.3 per cent and fell during 14 years of the Conservative Government.
“We would do our armed forces well if we could agree on this issue across the houses”.
Andy Burnham on his feet in the Commons
Andy Burnham is on his feet in the Commons for his weekly bout with Kemi Badenoch.
He’s opening his speech with a tribute to those who died on the September 11 attacks in 2001.
The Prime Minister also paid tribute to the family and friends of PC Matthew Blades, who are gathering for his funeral in Hartlepool today.
Andy Burnham leaves Downing Street for PMQs
Andy Burnham leaves Downing Street
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Andy Burnham has left Downing Street ahead of his second PMQs bout with Kemi Badenoch.
We’ll bring you all the updates both here on our Live Blog and on PMQs Live with Chris Hope and Gloria De Piero.
Zack Polanski welcomes Labour’s ‘necessary first steps’ following Israel sanctions
Green Party leader Zack Polanski said Labour had taken “necessary first steps” with a ban on trade with illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.
Asked his thoughts on comments from Sir Ephraim Mirvis, the chief rabbi, who described it as a “dark day for British Jews”, Mr Polanski said he was concerned “any time that anyone conflates antisemitism and criticism of the Israeli government”.
He added: “Actually, ironically, I think this leads to more antisemitism because it blurs the lines from people who should know better.
“What I would say to anyone who represents any religion or any group of people is, we need to be really specific with our language, we need to be really clear and sensitive.
“I think in a situation like this, where the Israeli government have to be challenged, to conflate a challenge to the Israeli government and a challenge to the settlers and the ethnic cleansing, as an attack on British Jews, actually makes me as a Jewish person feel less safe.
“I think everyone needs to be sensitive, including myself, about the language we use and how we talk about the situation.”
Ed Miliband pushes back on Chief Rabbi’s comments
Sir Ephraim Mirvis criticised the Foreign Secretary
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Ed Miliband has pushed back on remarks made by the Chief Rabbi, defending sanctions on Israel.
The Foreign Secretary told Jewish News: “Well, I’m a proud British Jew, and I don’t agree with the Chief Rabbi.
“I have great respect for the Chief Rabbi, but I don’t agree with him, and I believe that it must be possible to do what we did yesterday, which is to stand up for British values of the rule of law, of dignity for people, of the prevention of injustice.
“[I]do so in a way, as I did yesterday, to say to anyone in our country who holds British Jews responsible for the actions of the Israeli government, that is antisemitism, pure and simple.”
Bank of England warns UK mortgage rates rising faster than anywhere in G7
British homeowners are being hit by one of the sharpest rises in mortgage rates across the world’s biggest economies, the Bank of England has warned.
Borrowing costs have jumped by around 0.75 percentage points since the outbreak of the Iran war, leaving families remortgaging today facing hundreds of pounds more in repayments.
Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey told MPs that the increase in UK mortgage rates since the conflict began was the largest across the G7, with the possible exception of Japan.
“UK mortgage rates typically are about 75 basis points, 0.75 percentage points, higher than they were at the point the conflict broke out,” Mr Bailey told the Treasury Select Committee.
Second day of travel chaos as Nats boss to face Transport Secretary
Passengers will face further delays today
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The boss of the UK’s main air traffic control provider will face a grilling from the Transport Secretary on Wednesday as widespread disruption continues with hundreds of flights cancelled following a technical issue.
Flight monitoring website Flightradar24 said 1,300 flights to and from UK airports were axed on Tuesday after a system issue hit Nats, the National Air Traffic Service, which provides air traffic control services to 15 UK airports.
Tens of thousands of passengers were caught up in the chaos, which continued on Wednesday with further cancellations and delays expected as airlines deal with the knock-on impacts at airports including Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester and Stansted.
According to FlightRadar, 246 flights had been cancelled at Heathrow Airport by 6am on Wednesday, while Gatwick passengers faced 33 cancellations.
Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander is set to speak with Mr Rolfe on Wednesday before she addresses MPs in the Commons for the second reading of the Civil Aviation Bill.
Who’s asking Andy Burnham questions today?
It’s Wednesday, so it’s Prime Minister’s Questions today (or The People’s Major Questions, as Andy Burnham previously suggested).
As is standard, Kemi Badenoch will ask six questions for the Prime Minister, followed by three from Liberal Democrats leader Sir Ed Davey.
The floor will then open to MPs, with the following backbenchers putting their names down to ask Mr Burnham a question:
- Sarah Hall (Warrington South, Labour)
- Connor Naismith (Crewe and Nantwich, Labour)
- Wera Hobhouse (Bath, Liberal Democrats)
- Dame Siobhain McDonagh (Mitcham and Morden, Labour)
- Dr Lauren Sullivan (Gravesham, Labour)
- Alberto Costa (South Leicestershire, Conservative)
- Kim Johnson (Liverpool Riverside, Labour)
- Liz Saville Roberts (Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Plaid Cymru)
- Ian Lavery (Blyth and Ashington, Labour)
- Chris Law (Dundee Centra, SNPl)
- Daisy Cooper (St Albans, Liberal Democrats)
- Laura Kyrke-Smith (Aylesbury, Labour)
- Cat Eccles (Stourbridge, Labour)
It is up to Speaker Lindsay Hoyle to decide who gets called.
Labour making ‘grave mistake’ by slapping sections on Israel, claims Richard Tice
Richard Tice has warned Labour is making a “grave mistake” by slapping sanctions on Israel.
Reform UK’s Deputy Leader told GB News: “It is driven by kowtowing to the anti-Semites in the Labour Party, the anti-Semites on the Labour benches, the Islamists that he’s trying to kowtow to.
“It is a disaster for the safety and security of British Jews on British streets. That’s what I told the Foreign Secretary. As well as damaging our security relationship with the United States and indeed with Israel, that provide us with significant intelligence.
“Of course, it’s resulted, as I forecast in the Commons yesterday, in immediate tit-for-tat sanctions by Israel, which could grow and be very significant indeed. This is completely wrongheaded.
“Frankly, if there are any emboldened incidents against British Jews in the United Kingdom, that blood will be on the hands of the Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister.”
Alex Burghart slams Labour’s Israel sanctions
Alex Burghart has slammed Labour’s sanctions on Israel, adding they say “a lot about the votes the party is trying to get back”.
The Shadow Northern Ireland Secretary told GB News: “They’re not going to make Israel change its policies.
“MI5 working with Israeli intelligence prevented several terrorist attacks…the Israelis help us because we are friends and our enemies are their enemies.
“I am very, very against what Labour is doing.”
Ed Miliband apologises to delayed travellers
Ed Miliband has apologised to delayed travellers
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Britain cannot have a repeat of the travel disruption seen at airports on Tuesday, the Foreign Secretary has said.
Asked about the disruption, Ed Miliband told the BBC: “First of all, I want to apologise to all of the passengers who have faced disruption. This is frankly unacceptable. It was a problem at the National Air Traffic Service, but we can’t have this happen again.
“The Transport Secretary is calling in the head of the Nats, the National Air Traffic Service, this morning to get answers to this.
“Frankly, we’ve got to have our airports running smoothly and properly, without those problems, and that is what the Transport Secretary will be asking for from the head of the National Air Traffic Service.”
Green Party says Labour’s Israel sanctions are a ‘crucial first step’
The Green Party has welcomed Labour’s restrictions on trade with illegal Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank, adding they were a “crucial” first step.
The party’s foreign affairs spokeswoman Dr Ellie Chowns said: “The measures announced today mark a critical and overdue step towards upholding the UK’s obligations under international law, one which the Green Party has long fought for and strongly supports.
“We additionally welcome the government’s recognition that the occupation is unlawful and that Palestinians face ethnic cleansing in the West Bank.
“Exerting pressure on the Israeli Government over illegal settlements is crucial to protecting the human rights of Palestinians, and Greens are pleased to see action taken to progress this aim.
“The Foreign Secretary has spoken of a fundamental reset in Britain’s relationship with the Israeli Government, this reset could not be more welcome, nor more needed.
“It is critical that our work does not end here; the UK has a legal and moral responsibility to use every lever to end its complicity in the Israeli Government’s crimes, including the ongoing genocide in Gaza.”
Kemi Badenoch warns of ‘serious consequences’ for Labour after Israel sanctions
Kemi Badenoch issued a warning to Labour
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Kemi Badenoch has criticised Ed Miliband’s sanctions on Israel, warning of “serious consequences”.
Writing in The Sun, Ms Badenoch said sanctions showed the Prime Minister was “putting its own party-political interests ahead of our national interest”, adding that Israel was “an important security and intelligence partner” for the UK.
“These sanctions are performative politics, designed to appease Labour MPs and activists regardless of the consequences for Britain,” she wrote.
“And those consequences could be serious. Israel is an important security and intelligence partner for the United Kingdom.”