PMQs - live: Starmer hits back at Sunak’s national security questions in testy exchange
Labour government will allow free vote by MPs on controversial assisted dying bill
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Sir Keir Starmer was involved in a tense exchange with Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) over a national security question.
Mr Sunak said the PM has halted the implementation of the foreign agents registration scheme. Mr Starmer simply replied “that is not correct”, before sitting down to cheers from Labour backbench MPs.
Shortly after PMQs a private members bill on assisted dying is due to be formally introduced to the House of Commons.
Labour MP Kim Leadbeater, who is bringing forward the proposals, has said that disabled and vulnerable people will not be at risk from the legislation as it will apply only to terminally ill adults.
She said the end of life bill will have “stringent” criteria and the legislation was about giving “autonomy” to people at the end of their lives.
She told ITV’s Good Morning Britain: “The health inequalities in this country, the pressure that disabled people feel and the fact that they don’t feel they’ve got the same rights as other people, let’s address those issues, and I will champion those causes all day long.
“But this is about people who are terminally ill, who just want the autonomy to have the choice to end their lives in a way that they feel more comfortable with, that respects their family and their friends and their loved ones.”
Archbishop of Canterbury warns of ‘slippery slope’ ahead of assisted dying legislation
Assisted dying: What is the current law and will it change?
Woman on weight loss medicine calls Streeting ‘naive’ on anti-obesity jabs
Keir Starmer met Taylor Swift at London gig as questions continue over her blue-light escort
Kemi Badenoch claims Tory Party could cease to exist if Robert Jenrick wins leadership race
Kemi Badenoch has warned the Conservative Party could cease to exist if her opponent Robert Jenrick wins the Tory leadership contest.
The former business secretary has said the Tories have “one chance” to pick the right candidate to succeed Rishi Sunak, adding that the rise of Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats is “existential” for the party.
Addressing Tories who do not support either of the right-wingers vying for the leadership, Ms Badenoch voiced concern at speculation they could hold another contest before the next election.
Kemi Badenoch claims Tory Party could cease to exist if she loses leadership race
Kemi Badenoch warned her opponent risked reopening post-Brexit divides in the UK with his ‘Leave versus Remain’ framing of the debate about the European Convention on Human Rights
Inflation falls below 2% target for first time in three years
UK inflation has decreased to below the 2 per cent target for the first time in over three years.
The consumer price index (CPI) has dropped to 1.7 per cent, down from 2.2. per cent in August, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The figure has beaten expert predictions, which largely estimated a more modest drop to 1.9 per cent.
It’s expected the drop will empower policymakers at the Bank of England to slightly cut interest rates in November to 4.75 per cent.
Albert Toth reports
Inflation falls below 2% target for first time in three years
Experts say the drop should pave the way for strong interest rate cuts
Watch: Former Tory MP warns of side effects after stopping weight-loss jabs
Could ‘jabs for jobs’ be the miracle drug Wes Streeting needs to fix the NHS?
These are still early days, but weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic or Mounjaro could dramatically reduce demands on the health service, writes John Rentoul
Could ‘jabs for jobs’ be the miracle drug Wes Streeting needs to fix the NHS?
These are still early days, but weight-loss drugs such as Ozempic or Mounjaro could dramatically reduce demands on the health service, writes John Rentoul
Watch: David Cameron hits back at Boris Johnson Brexit claim
‘We do not pay reparations’: Starmer rejects slavery atonement bid ahead of Commonwealth summit
Sir Keir Starmer has ruled out the prospect of Britain paying slavery reparations as he prepares for a major Commonwealth summit - with the issue “not on the agenda”, according to Downing Street.
Asked for the Prime Minister’s view on paying compensation relating to Britain’s colonial past, a Downing Street spokesperson said on Monday: “We do not pay reparations.”
The question was put forward ahead of Sir Keir meeting the Commonwealth heads of government in Samoa on 21 October.
Starmer rejects slavery reparations bid ahead of Commonwealth summit
Sir Keir Starmer has set out the Labour government’s position on the slavery reparations ahead of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting this month
Watch: Health secretary Wes Streeting denies using weight loss jabs
EU entry-exit system would have been ‘complete and utter carnage’, says Dover council leader
The planned 10 November introduction of the EU’s now-postponed entry-exit system “would have been complete and utter carnage” according to the leader of Dover District Council.
Councillor Kevin Mills was speaking at a special session of the House of Lords Justice and Home Affairs Committee, following last week’s postponement of the entry-exit system (EES).
With a month to go, interior ministers decided to postpone the introduction of the EES indefinitely and apply a staged approach.
Dover council leader says EU entry-exit system ‘would have been complete carnage’
Ministers have decided to postpone the introduction of the EES indefinitely and apply a staged approach
Alex Salmond died as he opened bottle of ketchup, witness claims
Former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond died as he opened a bottle of ketchup, a witness has claimed.
The Alba Party leader died suddenly in North Macedonia on Saturday aged 69.
He had made a speech at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the city of Ohrid before collapsing at lunch in a crowded room.
Alex Salmond died as he opened bottle of ketchup, witness claims
Alba Party leader died aged 69 after suffering heart attack in North Macedonia on Saturday
British Army set to shrink to smallest size since before Napoleonic wars
Defence secretary John Healey has shocked MPs after he admitted that the army is on course to fall to its lowest number of personnel for more than 230 years.
Answering questions from in parliament, the minister confirmed that the size of the army will fall below 70,000 for the first time since 1793.
Back then, the British Army had around 40,000 soldiers but was rapidly increased to fight the French Revolutionary and Napoleonic wars.
British Army set to shrink to smallest size since before Napoleonic wars
Defence secretary says army personnel will drop below 70,000 next year - lowest since 1793
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