Politics LIVE: Starmer clashes with Sunak over national security at PMQs as assisted dying bill introduced

Labour government will allow free vote by MPs on controversial assisted dying bill

Keir Starmer refuses to rule out raising national insurance contributions

Sir Keir Starmer was involved in a tense exchange with Rishi Sunak at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) over national security.

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.

The foreign agents registration scheme would ensure that those working for a foreign power declare their lobbying activities with the UK government.

At PMQs, Mr Starmer also revealed that the government is considering sanctioning two Israeli ministers over their support for blocking aid from entering the Gaza Strip.

Shortly after PMQs the private members bill on assisted dying was 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.

Key Points

• PMQs: Government considering sanctions against Israeli ministers
• Assisted dying bill won’t put vulnerable at risk, says Labour MP
• Dame Esther Rantzen urges people to write to their MPs over assisted dying legislation
• Previous government didn’t do enough to take advantage of Brexit, Jenrick says

[16 October 2024 04:00 · Joe Middleton]

‘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.

[16 October 2024 03:00 · Joe Middleton]

Watch: Health secretary Wes Streeting denies using weight loss jabs

[16 October 2024 02:00 · Joe Middleton]

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.

[16 October 2024 01:00 · Joe Middleton]

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.

[15 October 2024 23:59 · Joe Middleton]

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.

[15 October 2024 23:00 · Joe Middleton]

Watch: Keir Starmer refuses to rule out raising national insurance contributions

[15 October 2024 22:00 · Joe Middleton]

David Cameron reveals Tories planned to sanction two Israeli ministers

The previous Tory government was preparing to sanction two Israeli ministers over comments encouraging blocking aid to Gaza, David Cameron has said.

Piling pressure on Labour to revive his plans, Lord Cameron said that before the general election he was “working up” sanctions on Israeli finance minister Bezalel Smotrich and national security minister Itamar Ben-Gevir as a way of putting “pressure on Netanyahu“ to act within international law.

Mr Smotrich was recently criticised for appearing to suggest it might be “just and moral” to withhold food aid from Gaza, while Mr Ben-Gvir has backed the expansion of illegal settlements in the West Bank.

[15 October 2024 21:00 · Joe Middleton]

Voters don’t believe Boris Johnson’s most controversial claims in new book, poll finds

Voters do not believe a raft of key claims in Boris Johnson’s new memoir, covering everything from Prince Harry to Covid, according to a new poll.

Mr Johnson was found to have lied to parliament over “Partygate” late-night bashes in Downing Street while the rest of the country was under Covid restrictions.

And since the release of his new book Unleashed key passages have been disputed.

[15 October 2024 20:00 · Joe Middleton]

Bishops’ automatic seats in House of Lords must be abolished, MPs tell Starmer

Sir Keir Starmer is under pressure to go further with reform of the House of Lords, with MPs calling for him to abolish Bishops’ automatic seats in the chamber.

It comes as the House of Lords (Hereditary Peers) Bill moves a step closer to becoming law with its Second Reading in the Commons taking place on Tuesday.

The landmark legislation, introduced last month, will remove the right of the remaining 92 hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords and is the largest constitutional reform to Parliament in a quarter of a century.

[15 October 2024 19:00 · Joe Middleton]

Watch: David Cameron reveals plan to sanction two Israeli ministers over Gaza war