Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: PA)
Sir Keir Starmer will face Kemi Badenoch for Prime Minister’s Questions at midday today. The Prime Minister will receive a grilling from the Conservative leader at the weekly session in the House of Commons.
Mrs Badenoch could use her questions to ask Sir Keir about criticism of the Government’s grooming gangs inquiry. It comes as two survivors of child sexual abuse have quit their roles in the probe as they hit out at the Home Office’s handling of the issue.
Sir Keir has also been under pressure over the collapse of the China spy case. And Chancellor Rachel Reeves is also under high pressure after it emerged yesterday that UK Government borrowing in September hit the highest level for the month in five years.
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LibDem MP accused of giving Starmer her question in advance
A LibDem MP was left red faced yesterday after she was accused of handing Keir Starmer her planned PMQ question in advance.
A Downing Street snapper took a photo of one of Sir Keir’s PPSs arriving for the prep session yesterday with a transparent folder, through which Roz Savage’s question could be seen.
It’s raised allegations that the LibDems are working with Labour rather than playing their official opposition role.
Who’s asking today’s PMQs questions?
Q1Dr Roz Savage (South Cotswolds)
Q2Wendy Morton (Aldridge-Brownhills)
Q3Jayne Kirkham (Truro and Falmouth)
Q4Mr Will Forster (Woking)
Q5Bill Esterson (Sefton Central)
Q6Sir Ashley Fox (Bridgwater)
Q7Daniel Francis (Bexleyheath and Crayford)
Q8Simon Hoare (North Dorset)
Q9Rebecca Smith (South West Devon)
Q10Michelle Welsh (Sherwood Forest)
Q11Lee Barron (Corby and East Northamptonshire)
Q12Alan Strickland (Newton Aycliffe and Spennymoor)
Q13Sarah Dyke (Glastonbury and Somerton)
Q14Ms Julie Minns (Carlisle)
Q15Patrick Hurley (Southport)
Cabinet minister offers apology to victims of grooming gangs
A Cabinet minister offered an apology to victims of grooming gangs “if they felt let down” by the process for setting up a national inquiry.
Asked whether an apology was the right way to begin repairing relations with victims and survivors, Environment Secretary Emma Reynolds told Times Radio: “I’m sorry if they felt let down by the process.
“I’m sure that the Home Secretary will be saying more about this. She’s written in The Times today, you will have seen, and your listeners will have seen about this case and about how seriously the Government takes this and how committed we are.
“The Prime Minister was the first person to prosecute grooming gangs back in 2012. He is personally committed to getting to the truth of the matter and delivering justice to these girls, as is the rest of the Government and the Home Secretary.”
Asked whether she thought Home Office minister Jess Phillips should resign over the row, Ms Reynolds said: “No, I believe that my colleague Jess Phillips brings huge experience to the role that she is doing, having worked with victims of rape and sexual abuse for many, many years, even before coming into Parliament.
“I really want to just reassure people that this is a huge priority for the Government.”
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Rachel Reeves blasted for 3.8% ‘inflation spiral’
Sir Mel Stride has blasted Rachel Reeves’s “inflation spiral” as the figure hit 3.8% for the third month in a row.
The Shadow Chancellor warned Ms Reeves’s tax, spend and borrow “doom loop” has sent prices rocketing, causing “dire implications for ordinary families’ finances”.
Read the full story here
Kemi goes for a hat trick at PMQs
Kemi Badenoch will be hoping for her third decent PMQs in a row at noon after run-ins on Peter Mandelson and China.
Tory money is their leader going hard on the grooming gangs inquiry.
(Image: Getty)
Keir Starmer’s diary today
Morning!
Prime Minister’s Questions isn’t the only thing in Sir Keir Starmer’s diary today.
He will also will host Western Balkans leaders for a summit in London as the UK seeks to agree further measures to bring down the number of migrants arriving illegally.
Some 22,000 people were smuggled by gangs last year along routes through the region, which has become increasingly important to tackling illegal migration across Europe.
The UK is already working with partners in the region – comprised of North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Kosovo – as part of Labour’s pledge to target smuggling gangs and bring down the number of small boat arrivals across the Channel.
The Prime Minister confirmed earlier this year that he had spoken to countries about the possibility of hosting so-called return hubs where the UK could send failed asylum seekers before they are deported.
