PMQs live: Starmer urges women to report inappropriate behaviour amid Gregg Wallace questions
Comes as influential report warns UK interest rates will fall by less than expected over next two years after autumn Budget
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Your support makes all the difference.Women who make reports of inappropriate behaviour must have “confidence that they will be taken seriously”, Sir Keir Starmer has said, as allegations against Gregg Wallace continue to grow.
The prime minister said politicians should be ready to put in place “mechanisms” that would instil that confidence, after a Labour MP asked him about “women of a certain age”, reflecting comments for which the MasterChef presenter has since apologised.
Wallace faces multiple complaints of inappropriate behaviour, originally from 13 people across a range of shows over a 17-year period, and has stepped away from the cooking programme.
Meanwhile, Kemi Badenoch has mocked Sir Keir Starmer over former transport secretary Louise Haigh’s resignation, which came after admitted misleading the police a decade ago.
The Tory leader told the Commons the country “needs conviction politicians, not politicians with convictions”.
“He can try and change the topic as much as he likes but the public are watching. He owes them an explanation”, she said.
Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of obfuscating over Louise Haigh’s resignation, after Badenoch demanded he provide the House of Commons with an explanation over the incident.
BBC director general Tim Davie set to be grilled by MPs over Gregg Wallace allegations
BBC director general Tim Davie is set to be grilled by MPs on allegations surrounding MasterChef host Gregg Wallace when he next appears before the culture, media and sport committee.
The committee’s chairperson, Tory Gosport MP Caroline Dinenage toldThe Independent that she expects Mr Davie to give evidence before the Christmas recess to talk about the BBC World Service.
But she added: “This subject (Gregg Wallace) will also come up.”
It comes amid growing calls from MPs for the BBC to take responsibility for the investigation into claims surrounding Wallace.
Read our exclusive from political editor David Maddox here:
BBC director general Tim Davie to be grilled by MPs over Gregg Wallace allegations
Exclusive: The BBC is facing growing calls to take responsibility for the investigation into allegations surrounding the MasterChef host
Women who report inappropriate behaviour must have confidence, says Starmer
Women who make reports of inappropriate behaviour must have “confidence that they will be taken seriously”, the Prime Minister has said.
Sir Keir Starmer said politicians should be ready to put in place “mechanisms” that would instil that confidence, after a Labour MP asked him about “women of a certain age”, reflecting comments for which broadcaster Gregg Wallace has apologised.
Alison Hume (Scarborough and Whitby) asked at Prime Minister’s Questions: “Given that a significant number of members in this place are, regardless of class, ‘women of a certain age’, would the Prime Minister agree with me that when a woman of a certain age, or indeed any woman of any age from any background, says they have experienced sexual harassment or inappropriate behaviour, they should be listened to, supported and the perpetrator dealt with?”
Sir Keir replied: “I certainly agree with that and I think everybody across the House would.
“She’s right because one of the greatest barriers that women face when coming forward and reporting unacceptable behaviour in the workplace is having confidence that they will be taken seriously.
“And that requires all of us to put in place mechanisms and arrangements to make that possible.
“Everybody should be treated with dignity and respect and I’m proud of the fact that the Employment Rights Bill we are passing will strengthen protections from sexual harassment at work.”
Israel fury with Lammy’s diplomacy by Twitter
The Israeli government has attacked David Lammy for using X (formerly Twitter) for diplomacy after he posted strong criticism about the humanitarian situation in Gaza.
Less than 24 hours after the foreign secretary attended the Labour Friends of Israel annual lunch and met the mother of a hostage held by Hamas, he has provoked a row with Israel over his joint statement on the war in Gaza.
Amid growing concerns over the humanitarian situation in Gaza following thousands of deaths and reports that aid angencies cannot get access, Mr Lammy and his German and French counterparts (the E3 group) agreed today to sennd an ultimatum to the Israeli government.
Read the full article here:
Israel fury with Lammy’s Twitter diplomacy over ‘unacceptable situation in Gaza’
David Lammy along with the foreign ministers of France and Germany has written to the Israeli government warning about the ‘unacceptable humanitarian situation in Gaza’
Watch: MPs discuss Gregg Wallace ‘women of a certain age’ comment during PMQs
Keir Starmer is stuck between a rock and a hard place over trade
Janus-like, Sir Keir Starmer insists that Britain does not have to choose between the United States and the European Union, saying: “Against the backdrop of these dangerous times, the idea that we must choose between our allies, that somehow we’re with either America or Europe, is plain wrong.”
This ambiguity about British priorities or “cakeism”, to put it less kindly, is hardly new – but it is becoming increasingly unsustainable. Since the Second World War, the British have found themselves sometimes bound by the bridge between the two shores of the Atlantic Ocean. Sometimes it is a happy relationship, sometimes it is torn.
It must be said, the UK found this relationship rather easier to handle over the half century when the UK was a member of the European Union and its forerunners. In security terms, all the main players on both sides of the pond (with the partial exception of France) were committed members of Nato, and all were committed to the established international order and, albeit haltingly, the gradual easing of international barriers to trade and investment.
Read the full editorial here:
Keir Starmer is stuck between a rock and a hard place over US and EU trade
Editorial: If Sir Keir’s luck does not hold, then within the lifetime of his government the UK could be hit with punitive US trade tariffs with no realistic chance of regaining the trading and investment opportunities with Europe that were sacrificed for Brexit. Tough choices may have to be made
No 10 refuses to add further detail to Haigh’s resignation
The Prime Minister’s press secretary declined to provide further details on the “new information” that led to Louise Haigh’s resignation as transport secretary.
Asked what the new information was that Sir Keir Starmer referred to during Wednesday’s PMQs, she said: “You have got the Prime Minister’s words in the House. I have got nothing to add to that.”
Starmer to raise issue of British hostage in Gaza with Qatar
Sir Keir Starmer is expected to raise the issue of Emily Damari, the only British hostage in Gaza, when he meets the Emir of Qatar on Wednesday.
The Prime Minister official spokesman said: “Qatar has played a leading mediation role in the conflict and you can expect the release of hostages to feature.
“I would also point you to what he said earlier in the week at the LFI (Labour Friends of Israel) event, that in every diplomatic conversation he has he urges world leaders to do everything they can to see the return of hostages.”
Starmer repeatedly dodges questions over Louise Haigh’s resignation in PMQs clash
Starmer rules himself out of race for Christmas number one single
Sir Keir Starmer has ruled himself out of the race for Christmas number one, after MPs Carolyn Harris and Sir Ed Davey released rival singles.
Ms Harris, the Labour MP for Neath and Swansea East, told MPs to laughter: “Today question three (on the order paper), but who knows? Next week, I could be number one in the charts. As the first MP this year to bring out a Christmas single, will the Prime Minister join me in thanking my musical collaborator, the hugely talented Mal Pope, and everyone involved with this year’s Everyone Deserves hamper campaign, that will deliver festive food to 1,500 homes across five constituencies in South Wales?”
The Prime Minister replied: “There’s obviously going to some rivalry in the race for number one by Christmas. I’m not going to be joining in that particular one, but I do thank her and Mal Pope for their campaigning.”
He said hampers are “much needed” by some of her constituents and added: “Christmas is a time to think of others and I do pay tribute to her and all those supporting those in need, and this Government will always support the most vulnerable in our society.”
Sir Ed, the Liberal Democrats’ leader who released a track titled Love Is Enough, told the Commons: “I for one will be downloading the song of (Ms Harris).”
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