Starmer rules out joining customs union with EU, saying it would not be sensible to ‘unravel’ trade deal with US
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says the new US national security strategy is deeply concerning. He asks Starmer to tell Trump that any US inteference in European democracy would be totally unacceptable.
Starmer says Europe is strong, based on its values of freedom and democracy.
Davey says he did not hear Starmer says he would stand up to Trump.
Turning to the customs union, Starmer says he if keeps opposing the UK joining a customs union with the EU he will not be standing there in a year’s time.
Starmer says Labour has manifesto commitments on the customs union and the single market (to not join – though he does not say that).
Referring to the customs union plan in particular, he says the UK now has trade deal. It has a better deal with the US than any other country. And it would not be sensible to unravel that by joining an EU customs union, he says.
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Jim Dickson (Lab) asks about the record of the Reform UK-led Kent council.
Starmer says people in Kent have been let down by Reform UK. He says Nigel Farage is under pressure to apologise for what he said at school, and he mentions two Reform UK council figures also accused of racism.
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Saqib Bhatti (Con) asks the PM to review the decision to put VAT on church repairs. He says this is putting the future of churches at risk.
Starmer says he supports churches, and is hosting a reception for them in Downing Street today.
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Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminster, also asks Starmer to join a customs union with the EU.
Starmer repeats the point about not wanting to do that because it would mean having to “unravel” the trade agreement with the US. He recalls visiting a car factory to announce that because that deal saved jobs.
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Starmer rules out joining customs union with EU, saying it would not be sensible to ‘unravel’ trade deal with US
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says the new US national security strategy is deeply concerning. He asks Starmer to tell Trump that any US inteference in European democracy would be totally unacceptable.
Starmer says Europe is strong, based on its values of freedom and democracy.
Davey says he did not hear Starmer says he would stand up to Trump.
Turning to the customs union, Starmer says he if keeps opposing the UK joining a customs union with the EU he will not be standing there in a year’s time.
Starmer says Labour has manifesto commitments on the customs union and the single market (to not join – though he does not say that).
Referring to the customs union plan in particular, he says the UK now has trade deal. It has a better deal with the US than any other country. And it would not be sensible to unravel that by joining an EU customs union, he says.
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Badenoch quotes the figure for the number of appointments lost to strikes.
She says ministers are not doing their jobs because they want Starmer’s job. Except Rachel Reeves who is struggling to keep her own job.
Starmer defends his record, and say the Tories are not offering an alternative.
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Badenoch says that is wrong too. There are 1,300 fewer police officers.
She asks how many appointments have been lost to strike action in the NHS.
Starmer says there have been five million extra appointments in the NHS.
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Updated at 07.16 EST
“Wrong,” says Badenoch. She says the DfE website says there are 400 fewer teachers.
She says Labour promised more police officers. How many more have been hired?
Starmer says there will be more next March. He says Badenoch seems to be rehearsing for Liz Truss’s new show. She praised the mini budget, he says.
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Badenoch says energy bills have gone up by £187. She says Bridget Phillipson promised to hire more teachers. How many more has she hired?
More than when the Tories left office, says Starmer.
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Badenoch says everyone can see Starmer has lost control of his party. His ministers are so busy trying to replace him that they have taken their eyes off the ball.
She’s says Ed Miliband wants to recycle himself as leader. He said he would cut energy bills by £300. How much have they been cut for?
Starmer says the government has taken £150 off energy bills, in addition to the £150 taken off them last year.
Three ex Tory MPs have gone to Reform recently, and 21 in total. The real question is how is next. Robert Jenrick is “twitching” after his come and get me plea from Nigel Farage.
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Kemi Badenoch asks why Labour MPs are calling him a caretake PM.
Starmer says his MPs are proud they have passed a budget that will protect services. There will be no return to austerity. He says Badenoch is trying to save her job.
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Rachael Maskell (Lab) says tackling child poverty is a critical mission for the government. So will the government raise pregnant women and children out of poverty?
Starmer says he is particularly concerned by the quality of maternity services. The government wants to improve these services.
He says Badenoch thinks maternity pay is excessive. That would push thousands of children into poverty.
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Starmer reveals British soldier killed in accident in Ukraine while observing soldiers testing equipment away from frontline
Keir Starmer starts by saying all MPs will want to send their condolences to the family of a soldier killed in Ukraine. He was injured in an accident away from the frontline while observe ring Ukrainian soldiers testing a new capacity. He was one of a small number of personnel in Ukraine.
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