12 h. ago Mrs Rayner's tone was markedly less fiery. A tigress tamed. A curry taken down from vindaloo to korma: QUENTIN LETTS on Prime Minister's Questions

With Sir Keir Starmer still not back from foreign jaunts - for so unexciting a man to have such wanderlust is psychologically intriguing - it fell to Angela Rayner to do the honours at PMQs.

Politics

23 h. ago DWP says transitional payments scheme for those losing Pip ‘one of most generous ever’ – UK politics live

Department for Work and Pensions publishes text of bill cutting benefits and claims three-month transitional period is ‘one of most generous ever’Angela Rayner, the deputy PM, will be taking PMQs shortly. And she will be up against Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary.When Kemi Badenoch became Tory leader, she did not appoint a deputy (or even a “de factor deputy”, a post that has existed in Tory politics in recent years) and she said she would decide who would stand in for her at PMQs on a case by case basis. Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, got the gig the first time Starmer was away.Chris Philp follows Alex Burghart in rotating for Kemi Badenoch at PMQs. One Westminster wag asks “When is it going to be Robert Jenrick’s turn?”We have this profound challenge of the number of people joining the armed forces being outweighed by the outflow the people leaving. So ultimately its about retention.And the number one issue reason cited in last month’s attitude survey fo...

Politics

23 h. ago Watch in full: Angela Rayner faces Chris Philp in PMQs as Starmer returns from G7 summit

Watch as Angela Rayner faced Chris Philp at PMQs on Wednesday (18 June), filling in for Sir Keir Starmer as he travels back from the G7 summit in Canada.

Politics

24 h. ago Watch Angela Rayner and Chris Philp’s furious clash over immigration and housing in full

Angela Rayner and Chris Philp got into a fiery clash over immigration and housing during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday (18 June).

Politics

25 h. ago Angela Rayner fends off demands for apology over Keir Starmer's 'far

Angela Rayner was filling in at PMQs in the absence of Keir Starmer - who has been accused of delaying his departure from the G7 summit in Canada to dodge the grilling .

Politics

25 h. ago PMQs: Angela Rayner and Chris Philp clash over migration – UK politics live

Deputy prime minister and shadow home secretary clash over Conservatives’ Rwanda scheme and small boat arrivalsAngela Rayner, the deputy PM, will be taking PMQs shortly. And she will be up against Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary.When Kemi Badenoch became Tory leader, she did not appoint a deputy (or even a “de factor deputy”, a post that has existed in Tory politics in recent years) and she said she would decide who would stand in for her at PMQs on a case by case basis. Alex Burghart, the shadow Cabinet Office minister, got the gig the first time Starmer was away.Chris Philp follows Alex Burghart in rotating for Kemi Badenoch at PMQs. One Westminster wag asks “When is it going to be Robert Jenrick’s turn?”We have this profound challenge of the number of people joining the armed forces being outweighed by the outflow the people leaving. So ultimately its about retention.And the number one issue reason cited in last month’s attitude survey for the armed forces for leaving was ...

Politics

26 h. ago Watch live: Angela Rayner faces Chris Philp in PMQs as Starmer returns from G7 summit

Watch live as Angela Rayner faces Chris Philp at PMQs on Wednesday (18 June), filling in for Sir Keir Starmer as he travels back from the G7 summit in Canada.

Politics

26 h. ago PMQs watch LIVE: Angela Rayner slaps down top Tory for doing 'absolutely nothing' on grooming gangs

Angela Rayner rebuffed Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp's call for an apology for the PM hitting out at far-right 'poison' earlier this year

Events

26 h. ago UK politics live: Angela Rayner to face Chris Philp in PMQs clash after Labour attacks Tories over HS2 failings

Transport secretary Heidi Alexander will accuse the Tories of an ‘appalling mess’ over the delayed rail project

Events

28 h. ago Keir Starmer accused of delaying return from G7 in Canada to dodge grooming gangs grilling at PMQs today as Rayner fills in

The G7 gathering of world leaders in Canada wrapped up last night, but Angela Rayner will be standing in at the weekly PMQs session this lunchtime.

Events

9 d. ago Another drop in UK net migration in 2026 may cause labour shortages, says No 10 adviser

Prof Brian Bell says predicted fall to 200,000 people means retail, care and hospitality sectors may struggle to fill postsUK politics live – latest updatesUK net migration is expected to fall to 200,000 in 2026 with possible resulting labour shortages in the hospitality and retail sectors, an independent adviser to the government has said.Prof Brian Bell, the chair of the migration advisory committee, said the figure was then predicted to rise again to just below 300,000 in the medium term. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago Net migration to UK down by half in 2024 compared with year before

Office for National Statistics estimate shows fall from 860,000 in 2023 to 431,000 last yearUK politics live – latest updatesNet migration to the UK is estimated to have almost halved from 860,000 in the year ending December 2023 to 431,000 in the year ending December 2024, the Office for National Statistics said.The estimate for the difference between the number of people moving to and from the UK is the biggest fall since the pandemic. Continue reading...

Politics

4 w. ago UK politics live: Net migration to UK plummets by more than 400,000 in a year

Difference between the number of people moving to the UK and leaving the country has fallen to the lowest level since the pandemic

Politics

4 w. ago Starmer says he wants ‘more pensioners’ to get winter fuel payments in policy U

The prime minister told PMQs that as the economy improves he would loosen the eligibility rulesYouGov has published more details of its polling on the electorate’s relationship with Labour, as covered in the Sky News report mentioned earlier. (See 10.06am.)It shows that Reform UK supporters are most likely to think that Labour is trying hard to appeal to them – but least likely to say they would respond positively. Only 4% of Reform UK supporters say they would consider voting Labour, the poll says.I ask her if there will be any changes as demanded by MPs She says while “we want to make sure we address all of people’s concerns, but stressed: “whatever the fiscal position that the government faces, I think the system as a whole needs to change.” Continue reading...

Economics

4 w. ago PMQs live: Starmer says he wants ‘more pensioners’ to get winter fuel payments in major U

The prime minister says as the economy improves he would look again at thresholds YouGov has published more details of its polling on the electorate’s relationship with Labour, as covered in the Sky News report mentioned earlier. (See 10.06am.)It shows that Reform UK supporters are most likely to think that Labour is trying hard to appeal to them – but least likely to say they would respond positively. Only 4% of Reform UK supporters say they would consider voting Labour, the poll says.I ask her if there will be any changes as demanded by MPs She says while “we want to make sure we address all of people’s concerns, but stressed: “whatever the fiscal position that the government faces, I think the system as a whole needs to change.” Continue reading...

Economics