Politics LIVE: Labour plummets to RECORD LOW in new poll as Keir Starmer's party sinks to third place

Angela Rayner standing in for Keir Starmer as she faces PMQs grilling against Tories' Chris Philp

Chris Philp has been selected to take on Angela Rayner at PMQs today, with Kemi Badenoch stepping aside for her Shadow Home Secretary as Sir Keir Starmer is away.

PMQs just minutes away - follow live

PMQs is just under 20 minutes away, with Angela Rayner set to face a grilling on Sir Keir Starmer's behalf at the hands of Kemi Badenoch's Conservatives.

We'll bring you all the top lines as the Deputy Prime Minister faces MPs - and you can follow her stint at the despatch box on the live stream above, too.

Robert Jenrick leads fury as foreign nationals found to be TWICE as likely as Britons to commit sex crimes against women

Robert Jenrick has blamed the "institutionally pro-migration" Labour Government for damning new data which reveals that foreign nationals were twice as likely to carry out sex crimes as Britons.

"This data proves what the public has long suspected - we are importing crime," the Shadow Justice Secretary fumed.

"If the Government is serious about tackling violence against women and girls, it should apply much tougher immigration restrictions to migrants from high-risk countries."

He also accused the "institutionally pro-migration" Government of refusing to publish migrant crime statistics because the party "doesn't trust the public with the truth"...

READ THE FULL STORY ON THE LATEST MIGRANT CRIME FIGURES HERE

GRAPHED: As Labour plummets to record low in new poll... How has Keir Starmer's party fared since winning the General Election?

PREVIEW: Labour's welfare Bill to face MPs TODAY as party braces for major rebellion

Labour's welfare Bill will face MPs for the first time today as the party steels itself for fury from its left on a multi-billion-pound series of cuts.

Work & Pensions Secretary Liz Kendall will fully detail reforms to Britain's "unsustainable" benefits system, which she has warned is "trapping people in welfare dependency".

She and Rachel Reeves have earmarked some £5billion in savings from the crackdown.

But scores of Labour MPs have signed a letter refusing to support Liz Kendall's cuts, while dozens more - including ministers - are said to have "concerns".

Rachael Maskell, Labour MP for York, has called the proposals "devastating" and said last night: "We must change direction and not proceed with these cuts."

But the Government insists the cuts are absolutely necessary - a senior source told The Guardian: "We have to be able to make tough decisions. We have to be able to make a Budget add up in the autumn.

"We have to be able to make tough reforms that are the right thing to do. If we cannot get this through, the consequences are far bigger than just this reform."

Kendall is set to introduce the Bill early this afternoon.

WATCH: Housing Minister Matthew Pennycook speaks to GB News Breakfast

Andy Burnham demands Whitehall must be 'fully included' in grooming gangs inquiry

Labour's Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham has vowed that Whitehall must be included in the grooming gangs inquiry.

Following in the footsteps of similar demands from Kemi Badenoch and Dominic Cummings, Burnham warned: "Decisions were taken there which I think need examination.

"There will have been people working there that also will need to answer questions."

He added that civil servants must be "fully included" in the probe.

Labour plummets to THIRD in new poll in latest blow for Keir Starmer's party

Labour has been handed a fresh polling blow after falling to a record-low third place in a new survey.

Data from pollsters at More In Common has revealed that just 21 per cent of Britons would vote for Keir Starmer's party - lower than the first-place Reform UK and the Conservatives.

Some 2,032 Britons were polled between June 13-16 for the data, with More In Common's Luke Tryl revealing: "For reference, the last time Labour's vote share was this low was at the end of March - after the Spring Statement.

"It seems Labour are not enjoying the traditional Budget bounce these events bring - though the dips seem to reverse quickly."

WATCH IN FULL: Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge speaks to GB News Breakfast

Angela Rayner filling in for Keir Starmer at PMQs - who is asking questions today?

Angela Rayner will face down MPs today ahead of the Prime Minister's return from the G7 summit in Canada.

The following MPs are set to probe Rayner at midday:

• Adrian Ramsay (Green);
• Olivia Bailey (Labour);
• Anneliese Midgley (Labour);
• Pete Wishart (SNP);
• Sarah Champion (Labour);
• Nick Timothy (Conservative);
• Sir Edward Leigh (Conservative);
• Jodie Gosling (Labour);
• Ann Davies (Plaid);
• Jonathan Davies (Labour);
• Kirith Entwistle (Labour);
• Chris Kane (Labour);
• Andrew Pakes (Labour);
• Paul Holmes (Conservative).

Labour is KILLING growth, Mel Stride says as inflation still above 2% target

Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride said: "This morning's news that inflation remains well above the two per cent target is deeply worrying for families.

"Labour's choices to tax jobs and ramp up borrowing are killing growth and stoking inflation - making everyday essentials more expensive."

Angela Rayner faces down triple-header Commons chaos as Keir Starmer STILL absent

Angela Rayner is set to oversee a triple-header day of Commons chaos today ahead of the Prime Minister's return from the G7 summit in Canada.

The Deputy Prime Minister, filling in for Sir Keir Starmer at the despatch box today, will be facing down questions from MPs, the introduction of Labour's highly controversial welfare reforms to Parliament, and another delay to the HS2 rail project.

Scores of Labour MPs have signed a letter refusing to support Liz Kendall's cuts, while dozens more - including ministers - are said to have "concerns".

On HS2, Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander will tell the Commons she is drawing a "line in the sand" over the much-delayed rail project.

"HS2 has made Britain a laughing stock in terms of its ability to deliver big infrastructure projects, and it has to end. This will set out the way we will do that," a Government source said.

Rayner also faces a wait to see who the Conservatives will be putting up to face her at PMQs - but Politico reports that nobody in Kemi Badenoch's camp was sure who would step up as of last night.

Ahead of Keir Starmer's G7 exit... PM admits GB News viewers are NOT 'far-right' for being concerned about grooming gangs

It is not a "far right" issue for GB News viewers to be concerned about grooming gangs, Sir Keir Starmer has confirmed.

The Prime Minister also said that he wanted the new national public inquiry into the rape gangs to investigate any alleged cover-ups by councillors, police and even MPs.

The Prime Minister accused politicians of jumping on a "far-right bandwagon" in January when calls for a national grooming gangs inquiry were being aired.

Challenged at the G7 summit by GB News over the far-right slur, he said: "No, no, no and I'm certainly not criticising your viewers."

However, he added that "there's one thing that I find frustrating" - but what was it?

READ THE FULL STORY FROM POLITICAL EDITOR CHRISTOPHER HOPE HERE

Inflation FALLS to 3.4 per cent - but remains significantly higher than Rachel Reeves's target

The CPI rate of inflation dipped slightly to 3.4 per cent in May, down from 3.5 per cent in April, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics.

Rachel Reeves, still eyeing up a two per cent inflation rate, said there was "more to do" to bring down inflation and help with the cost of living.

She said: "We took the necessary choices to stabilise the public finances and get inflation under control after the double digit increases we saw under the previous Government, but we know there's more to do.

"Last week we extended the £3 bus fare cap, funded free school meals for over half a million more children and are delivering our plans for free breakfast clubs for every child in the country.

"This Government is investing in Britain's renewal to make working people better off."

READ THE FULL STORY ON THIS MORNING'S INFLATION RATE ANNOUNCEMENT HERE