Starmer avoids question on whether he will keep cap on council tax as he faces Badenoch at PMQs – UK politics live

Catherine Fookes (Lab) ask Starmer to condemn Tories who have criticised the level of the national living wage. Starmer is happy to do so, saying the government is proudly on the side of working people.

Neil Shastri-Hurst (Con) says more schools are closing because of the introduction of VAT on private school fees.

Starmer says he understands the concerns of people who save to send their children to private schools. But all parents want the best for their children, he says. He says he won’t tolerate state schools not being able to afford teachers.

Jacob Collier (Lab) says his constituency has the best pubs in the country. Will the PM ensure pubs have a seat at the table when business rates are reformed.

Starmer says pubs are an important part of our community. The budget cut duty on beer by 1p a pint, he says.

Gavin Robinson (DUP) asks about a constituent whose son has been taken away from her and is Lebanon.

Starmer says this is a complex situation. He will set up a meeting for Robinson, he says.

Starmer says child poverty went up under the Tories. Under the budget, working people won’t pay a penny extra through their payslips, or at the petrol pumps.

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, asks if GPs, pharmacies and other healthcare provides will be exempt from the national insurance rise.

Starmer says the government will ensure GPs get the resources they need. The funding arrangements will be set out later this year, he says.

Davey says Donald Trump Jnr has posted on Instagram saying Ukraine will lose its allowance. If the US does withdraw support, will the UK and its allies step up, using frozen Russian assets.

Starmer says the UK has been resolute in supporting Ukraine. He says he has been discussing how to put it in the strongest possible position with allies.

Badenoch asks why the government is approving a four-day week for councils. That is the same pay for less work, he says.

Starmer says questions based on what the government is actually doing are better. He goes on:

What did they deliver in 14 years? Low growth, stagnant economy, a disastrous mini-budget, a £22bn black hole, and now she wants to give me advice on running the economy. No, thank you very much.

Badenoch asks about Kelly, who runs an after school club business. She says the NI rise in the budget will cost her £10,000.

Starmer says he would tell Kelly the government is fixing the mess left by the budget.

Badenoch says Starmer does not know what is going on. She asks if Starmer was told about the £2.4bn black hole in council budgets.

Starmer says the Tories want all the benefits from the budget, but none of the costs.

He says Badenoch has learned nothing.

Badenoch asks how much councils wil need for social care.

Starmer says he covered this in his first answer – £600m.

Badenoch criticises the budget, and says the government did not realise what the impact of the NI increase would be on councils.

Starmer says the government has put more money into councils than the Tories did in 14 years.

Starmer dodges question about whether he is keeping cap on council tax

Lloyd Hatton (Lab) asks Starmer about Kemi Badenoch’s “damaging” policy positions.

Starmer says the government has given people a pay rise,

This government has given millions of people a pay rise … with strengthened parental leave, with better rights for parents, huge investment into our schools and NHS whilst ensuring that payslips of working people have not been affected.

Christine Jardine (Lib Dem) asks about the impact of the national insurance rise on GP practices. Will they get extra support?

Starmer says the budget has an extra £25.6bn for the NHS and for social care. He says the government “will ensure that GP practices have the resources that we need”.

Keir Starmer says he was honoured to join President Macron in Paris on Monday for Armistice Day.

And he attended the Cop29 summit, he says.

He says it is Islamophobia awareness month. The government is against racism in all forms, he says.

Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker, says his counterpart from Somalia is in the gallery watching today.

Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs

PMQs is starting soon.

And after PMQs Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, has an urgent question on the government’s decision to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

This may not be an issue of huge concern to his constituents in Clacton, but Farage’s friend Donald Trump is said to be opposed to the move. As the Daily Mail reports, Mike Waltz, Trump’s pick for national security adviser, has in the past said transferring sovereignty of the Chagos Islands could help China.