Politics LIVE: Nigel Farage watches PMQs from public gallery amid fury over Keir Starmer's attacks

Lindsay Hoyle delivers surprising sporting message ahead of PMQs showdown

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle started Prime Minister's Questions with a surprising sporting message.

Keir Starmer heads to Commons for PMQs showdown

Sir Keir Starmer is preparing for a likely grooming gangs grilling from Kemi Badenoch.

The Prime Minister is expected to come under pressure from the Leader of the Opposition after four rape gang victims quit a panel advising the national inquiry over fears survivors had been silenced.

Mrs Badenoch had accused Labour of "sabotaging" the grooming gangs inquiry.

"Many will now suspect Labour is sabotaging the Grooming Gangs inquiry and deliberately dragging it out beyond the next election," she said.

Zack Polanski unveils three Labour defectors as Greens ramp up attacks on Keir Starmer

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has unveiled three Labour defectors ahead of Prime Minister's Questions.

The London Assembly Member, who has overseen a steady rise in support in the polls, met with the three former Labour councillors in Swindon.

He said: "The Green Party is having a moment now.

"Since I was elected a month ago, our membership has increased now by 85 to 90 per cent.

"It's going up a few thousand every single day - we've just hit 130,000 members."

Taking aim at Sir Keir Starmer, Mr Polanski added: "Very often it doesn't feel like anybody is leading the Labour Party."

Who's grilling the PM? The full list of MPs speaking at PMQs revealed

Scottish independence plan is a 'win for Vladimir Putin', Labour Minister claims

The SNP’s push to remove the UK’s nuclear deterrent from an independent Scotland would be a “gift to Putin”, a defence minister has warned.

Luke Pollard criticised the plan—announced by First Minister John Swinney earlier this month—saying it would seriously undermine national security and be welcomed in Moscow.

“This isn’t just bad policy—it’s dangerous,” said Mr Pollard. “Scrapping the nuclear deterrent tears apart our defences at a time when threats are growing. It’s exactly what Putin wants to see.”

He argued that Britain’s Trident system remains one of the few military assets the Kremlin truly fears, and warned that abandoning it was not a “credible position” in today’s volatile global climate.

Pollard also accused SNP ministers of disrespecting the “dedication and sacrifice” of Royal Navy submariners who operate the deterrent, saying their efforts had been “effectively attacked” by the Scottish Government’s stance.

Britain receives migrant crisis olive branch as ally offers to become UK return hub

Britain has been extended a migrant crisis olive branch as Kosovo's Prime Minister has said he "wants to help the UK" by offering to accept the UK's rejected asylum seekers.

Albin Kurti said he wants to help Britain combat illegal immigration in return for more support to strengthen its national security against Serbian and Russian threats.

Mr Kurti spoke before a summit of Western Balkan leaders, hosted by Sir Keir in London on Wednesday, where he said talks were ongoing between British and Kosovo officials.

The move makes Kosovo the first country to express its interest in Sir Keir's plan to establish a series of return hubs where rejected asylum seekers would be sent after they have exhausted all avenues of appeal in the UK.

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Lib Dems: Rachel Reeves keeps sitting on her hands

The Liberal Democrats have told Chancellor Rachel Reeves to take more action after inflation held at 3.8 per cent.

“The Government can’t keep sitting on its hands - thoughts and prayers won’t fix this," the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokeswoman Daisy Cooper said.

“As families look on at the ever increasing costs of food bills, energy bills, children’s school uniforms and more, the winter is looking very expensive and very bleak.

“Ministers need to roll up their sleeves and set out a proper plan to slash energy bills, tackle food prices by backing our farmers, cut red tape for business, and boost jobs by scrapping the damaging jobs tax.”

Mel Stride issues tax warning as inflation holds at 3.8 per cent

Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel Stride has issued a tax warning after inflation held at 3.8 per cent.

Sir Mel said: “Inflation remains at almost double the Bank of England’s two per cent target because of Rachel Reeves’ decisions – pushing up the cost of living and punishing those Labour promised to protect.

“This financial year Labour have borrowed £100billion because they do not have the backbone to reduce spending.

"Combined with her £25billion Jobs Tax, Rachel Reeves is pushing inflation higher and higher.

“Starmer and Reeves do not have the backbone to sort this mess out.

"Only the Conservatives have the plan and the strong team to break the doom loop and ease the cost of living by delivering £47billion in savings and bringing inflation under control – delivering a stronger economy.’

Inflation SHOCK as CPI rate remains at 3.8% for third month is a row

Inflation for the 12 months to September 2025 remained at 3.8 per cent, according to the latest figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

This is the same level reported for the consumer price index (CPI) rate over recent recent months and is nearly double the Bank of England's desired target for inflation.

Previous forecasts had estimated inflation would rise to four per cent, which means today's figures offer slight relief for inflation for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to deal with ahead of November 26's Autumn Budget.

In the wake of the Covidi-19 pandemic, households have been forced to content with inflation-hiked prices for goods and services amid the ongoing cost of living crisis.

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