Shadow energy secretary calls on government increase on petrol duty in autumnpublished at 13:24 GMT

13:24 GMT

Vicky Young
Deputy political editor

Just when the government was starting to talk about positive signs in the economy, the war in Iran is having an immediate impact on the cost of living in the UK.

The politics of that dominated today’s PMQs exchanges between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch.

Speaking to me on Politics Live, Claire Coutinho, the Conservatives' shadow energy secretary, echoed her leader’s call for the government to cancel the planned increase in petrol duty this autumn.

Defence minister Luke Pollard accused the Conservative leader of fearmongering but refused to be drawn on what, if any, support for motorists the government might provide in the coming months.

As the US action continues, it’s clear the impact on UK households is growing as a political issue.

Image source, EPA

"Did you lie to the prime minister?" Peter Mandelson was asked this morning as he emerged from a house before driving away.

It's a question on minds today as we await this afternoon's release of the first batch of files into his appointment as British ambassador to the US.

The files may help paint a clearer picture over what the government knew about Mandelson's involvement with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein when the former Labour minister was picked for the role.

During PMQs Keir Starmer repeatedly took aim at Kemi Badenoch for what he called her "screeching U-turn" over whether the UK should have joined the war in Iran.

"In this job you don't get a second shot at making the right call on taking your country to war," the prime minister told the Commons.

"If she were prime minster we would be in the war and she would be coming back to Parliament a week later to say 'Oh sorry. I got that one wrong.'"

Tara Mewawalla
Live reporter

Image source, House of Commons

There were jeers from the benches during Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch's exchanges at today’s PMQs.

The prime minister focused on his actions in the Middle East while the Conservative leader sought to interrogate him on fuel duty.

Here is what happened:

• Starmer said the UK armed forces were working “day and night” to protect British lives in the Middle East and that the RAF have flown more than 230 hours of defensive operations
• He said he had decided not to take part in the initial US and Israel attacks on Iran and was “attacked” by Badenoch, accusing her now of “the mother of all U-turns”
• The PM said Reform UK leader Nigel Farage and Badenoch had "been spooked" and "jumped into supporting the war" without thinking about the consequences and were now trying to "back peddle"
• Badenoch asked the PM about fuel duty, accusing him of increasing the cost of petrol - Starmer told MPs it will remain frozen until September and will be "kept under review in light of what's happening in Iran"
• She also mentioned the British warship HMS Dragon which departed the UK for the Mediterranean yesterday, saying if she were PM it would have left a week ago
• Starmer said he made the most important decisions a leader has to make in the last two weeks - the decision not to join the war in the Middle East and to protect lives
• Our political editor Chris Mason writes that Starmer swung at Badenoch with conviction, highlighting his confidence in his decisions on the Middle East from the last week

PM swings with confidence and conviction at Badenoch's position on Iranpublished at 12:37 GMT

12:37 GMT

Chris Mason
Political editor

There was a confidence and sense of conviction in the prime minister’s main exchanges with Kemi Badenoch today – on the big picture decision about the UK’s outlook on the Iran war.

Badenoch sought to continue asking questions about the rise in fuel duty due in September – which, in time, the government will have to answer one way or another.

But on the question of the UK’s stance on the conflict, Keir Starmer feels a sense of justification that he called it right and, in his view, has been consistent.

He was keen to repeatedly point to the multiple positions senior Reform UK figures have articulated on the war and Kemi Badenoch previously pondering a greater involvement of the UK in the conflict while also worrying about petrol prices.

PMQs has just come to a close for another week.

There was a lot of ground covered - but it was fuel duty and the conflict in the Middle East that dominated the initial exchanges between the PM and the Tory leader.

Stay with us for a recap and analysis on the key moments.

Image source, House of Commons

Now a question from Lib Dem MP Wendy Chamberlain.

She asks about Mohamed al-Fayed, the former owner of Harrods.

She says an all-party parliamentary group (APPG) for survivors of al-Fayed's alleged abuse has called on the Met Police to describe his crimes as trafficking.

"Does the PM recognise that characterisation?" she asks.

Starmer says he will meet with the APPG and victims, adding that it is "very important to do so".

There is an ongoing police investigation but "that doesn't mean we can't have the meeting and listen to those who need to be listened to," he says.

The SNP's Stephen Flynn returns to the conflict in the Middle East for his question.

He says the consequences will be stark for the global economy, as well as lives in the UK.

He asks the prime minister about a missile which hit a primary school in Iran and whether he believes it was a war crime.

Starmer says he is concerned by footage of the strike. He adds that he's shocked that the SNP does not support taking action to protect British citizens in the region, including Scots.

The BBC has more here on the area near the school being hit by a series of strikes

Davey next asks the PM to guarantee that energy bills in the UK won't rise.

Starmer says a cap is in place until July, which addresses the situation for households, and that the government is working with the sector and with allies to do "everything we can".

There are concerns about the impact the conflict in the Middle East could have on energy bills and other costs as traffic is reduced through the Strait of Hormuz, the world's busiest oil shipping channel.

The Commons Speaker then interjects again to ask a member to withdraw a comment they made while Starmer was speaking.

"Calling another member a liar is not acceptable," Hoyle says.

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey is on his feet now.

He raises the Dunblane massacre, and a BBC documentary that aired on the school shooting last night.

• For context: On the morning of Wednesday 13 March 1996, a gunman entered the gymnasium of the town's primary school and murdered 16 children and their teacher. The incident sparked gun control measures in the UK

Davey says Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has called the handgun ban "ludicrous".

He asks Starmer if he agrees that firearms legislation should be reviewed to close any loopholes?

Starmer says he "certainly" does, and we "must never forget the horror of Dunblane".

He adds that families fought a campaign which made the country safer, and the UK should be "grateful for their courage".

Image source, House of Commons

Badenoch says Starmer "doesn't want to talk about fuel duty because he's got absolutely no answers".

Everyone knows the pattern, she says, indicating the government are walking into a U-turn. "Why doesn't he stand up and admit he's got it wrong, and scrap the hike right now?"

Starmer says he has made the most important decisions a leader has to make in the last two weeks - the decision not to join the war, and to protect lives and British interests.

Badenoch has "utterly disqualified herself from becoming PM," he says, adding: "Thankfully she never will".

Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle ejects an MP following disorder.

Badenoch gets to her feets again to say she has never criticised the armed forces, only Starmer and his decisions.

She says she won't take any lectures from the PM and says military families are worried about petrol prices. She adds that farmers are also being punished with higher fuel prices.

Starmer says Badenoch has no apology for pilots risking their lives and he won't take lectures from someone who says the UK should join a war and then a week later says she got it wrong.

Badenoch turns next to the British warship, HMS Dragon - which departed the UK for the Mediterranean yesterday.

She says if she if she were prime minister it would have left a week ago, to cheers from the opposition benches.

Starmer says the vessel is being "carefully" loaded with the anti-strike ammunition and capability it needs.

He also accuses Badenoch of having previously described pilots in the region as "just hanging about", when they are acting to defend us.

He calls for her to apologise for such comments.

Image source, House of Commons

Badenoch says the PM "seems to be asking last week's questions", and presses him again on fuel duty.

Does Starmer not understand how important cars are to people in rural areas, "or does he just not care", she asks.

Starmer says they are working across all departments and with allies to deal with the impacts of the conflict with Iran.

He again accuses her of a "screeching U-turn" over joining the Iran war.

The Speaker again interrupts, calling for order in the Commons as jeers rise.

Badenoch says the "mother of all U-turns" is Starmer saying the government wouldn't increase fuel duty. How does a rise in fuel duty help with the cost of living, she asks?

Starmer says fuel duty is going to "remain frozen until September", and that the government will keep the situation under review in light of events in Iran.

He challenges Badenoch's position on Iran again, saying the most important decision a leader has to take is whether to commit their country to war.

"I know they don't want to hear it," he says, to jeers from opposition benches. "I never said we should join [the war]".

"She and the Reform leader have been spooked", he says. They have "jumped into supporting the war" without thinking about the consequences and are now trying to "back peddle", he says.

Image source, House of Commons

Starmer says the government is not increasing the cost of petrol and the UK is taking necessary measures to deal with the impact of the conflict in the Middle East.

He says the best thing to do is work with others to deescalate the situation.

Starmer says he took the decision not to take part in the initial US and Israel attacks on Iran, and was "attacked" by Badenoch relentlessly.

He then accuses Badenoch of having totally abandoned her position.

"That is the mother of all U-turns," says Starmer.

Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asks her first question: "Why does the prime minister think now is the right time to increase the cost of petrol?"

Image source, House of Commons

Opening PMQs, Keir Starmer says the UK's armed forces are working "day and night" to protect British lives in the Middle East.

The RAF have flown more than 230 hours of defensive operations over multiple countries, shooting down multiple drones, he adds.

He thanks them for their "courage and for their professionalism".

Keir Starmer is on his feet and Prime Minister's Questions is go.

We'll be bringing you updates and analysis on the key lines right here - tap watch live at the top of the page to follow along.

Image source, Getty Images

Another item on the prime minister's agenda this week is the Courts and Tribunals Bill, which returned to Parliament on Tuesday.

The bill, which aims to curb access to jury trials in England and Wales, will progress to the next stage it passed by 304 votes to 203, a majority of 101.

Some Labour MPs had voicing their opposition to the plans. Ten rebelling against the government, and dozens abstained.

The proposals would see juries in England and Wales replaced with a single judge in cases where a convicted defendant would be jailed for up to three years.

A study of the court backlogs by the Institute of Government, a think tank, projected that cutting jury trials would save less than 2% of court time, assuming that the cases would be dealt with more quickly.

The Ministry of Justice said that more than 90% of criminal cases were already heard fairly without a jury.