Keir Starmer was left with his head in his hands during a chastening Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) session as Kemi Badenoch called for the door to be opened for new North Sea oil and gas projects.
The Tories’ opposition day motion, which called for the Government’s ban on new oil and gas licenses for the North Sea to be lifted, was rejected by MPs.
Ms Badenoch used today’s Commons showdown with the Prime Minister to accuse him of "hiding" behind his Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, who introduced the ban in the first place as the Government drives ahead with its "net zero targets."
She said: "Mr Speaker, we can have renewables and oil and gas. He [Keir Starmer] says it’s a matter for the Secretary of State [Ed Miliband], I thought he was the Prime Minister.
"He loves to hide behind legal process every single time. I wonder what a Director of Public Prosecutions would make of the defence, ‘sorry, I can’t produce my WhatsApps, my phone has been stolen’.
"The Jackdaw gas field could be up and running before winter. All that gas could be enough to power 1.6 million homes. That is enough to power Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex put together.
"Will the Prime Minister approve the licences or is the Energy Secretary running the Government?"
The Prime Minister fired back by urging the Leader of the Opposition to "read the legislation".
He added: "It’s exactly the legislation they used to put the licences in place which were then struck down because the process was defective.
"When Russia invaded Ukraine, energy prices doubled. In the last four weeks, we have been on a fossil fuel rollercoaster. The only way forward is to go further and faster on renewables.
"Mr Speaker, the leader of the Opposition’s approach is to outsource our foreign policy and let the US decide whether we go to war, to outsource our energy policy to Russia and Iran.
"I would never do that because it’s not in the British national interest."
Mrs Badenoch fired back, saying her opposite number was being “pushed around” by Ed Miliband.
Check out all of GB News' political coverage from the day below.
More social media companies will face court action after landmark Meta and Google decision, says Lord
Lord Nash has warned that more social media companies will face court action after Meta and Google's landmark decision in a US court earlier this afternoon.
The two online giants were found liable today for intentionally building addictive social media platforms that harmed the mental health of a 20-year-old.
Speaking in the Lords, former Conservative former minister Lord Nash said "Californian techies" have "gone way too far in prioritising their commercial instincts".
He added: "Only just minutes ago, in a court in Los Angeles, they found that Meta and Google were negligent and intentionally built addictive social media, after a 20-year-old woman said her early use of social media made her addicted and depression worse.
"And this comes after a court yesterday in New Mexico found that Meta is harmful to children’s mental health and fined them $375 million.
"And these cases will likely influence hundreds of similar cases now winding their way through the US courts."
'Historic deal would have transformed lives of resident doctors,' says West Streeting - instead he is left 'enormously disappointed'
Wes Streeting has said he has been left "enormously disappointed" after resident doctor union British Medical Association rejected the Government's latest offer.
Responding to the latest strikes, the Health Secretary said: "It is enormously disappointing for NHS patients and staff that the BMA resident doctors’ committee have rejected this offer.
"This Government has pulled every lever available to put forward a generous package – developed in tandem with the BMA – that would have transformed the working lives and career prospects of resident doctors.
"I would like to thank the leaders of the BMA’s RDC for the constructive approach they have shown to the intensive talks we have had since the turn of the year. I am only sorry that this has not resulted in an agreement.
"The result is that resident doctors will be worse off."
He added: "My door is always open to NHS unions that want to work with the Government to improve the conditions of NHS staff.
"The historic deal on the table demonstrates what can be achieved when we work together, rather than be trapped in a damaging cycle of industrial action. It is for that reason that I am not giving up just yet.
"I’ve gone as far as I can – and the Government can afford – but it is not too late for the committee to reconsider, and I urge them to do so.
"My focus and that of leaders across the NHS will sadly now have to turn again towards protecting patients, staff and our NHS by minimising disruption from more needless strikes."
WATCH: Could the use of foreign languages in election campaigns be banned?
'No strikes need to happen,' insists union, but government 'will need to act fast'
| PAThe British Medical Association (BMA) have warned the Government will "need to act fast" to prevent future resident doctor strikes.
The latest wave of strikes was confirmed this afternoon, commencing at 7am on April 7, the day after Easter Monday, and lasting for six days, until 6.59am on April 13.
But BMA Resident Doctors Committee chairman Jack Fletcher insisted that strikes "don't need to happen".
"We cannot ignore that, thanks to global events, economic indicators now point to years of greatly increased inflation," he said.
"We are simply not going to put an offer to doctors that risks locking in further erosion of pay at a time when doctors continue to leave the UK for other countries.
"We are not closing the door on talks.
"We remain willing to negotiate and are eager to get a deal done if we can simply recapture the early positive spirit of negotiations.
"No strikes need to happen, but Government will need to act fast to prevent them."
Resident doctors announce latest wave of strikes
Resident doctors have announced their latest round of strikes this afternoon, amid the ongoing row over jobs and pay.
The British Medical Association confirmed the fresh wave will commence at 7am on April 7, the day after Easter Monday, and will last for six days, until 6.59am on April 13.
BMA Resident Doctors Committee chairman Jack Fletcher said: "We have been negotiating in good faith for weeks to try and end the simultaneous pay and jobs crises for resident doctors.
"Frustratingly we had been making good progress right up until the point, in the last two weeks, when the Government began to shift the goalposts.
"As talks progressed it became clear that the money proposed for pay increases was now going to be spread over three years.
"This is combined with today’s pay review body (DDRB) recommendation of a 3.5% uplift pointing to yet more years in which our pay, at best, barely treads water.
"We have made abundantly clear throughout this dispute that our aim is pay restoration, and any deal that did not move us substantially in that direction was not going to fly."
Nigel Farage drops Reform UK pledge to nationalise water and energy companies just months after insisting it would 'cost a lot less'
Reform UK has ditched its commitment to nationalise Britain's water and energy sectors, marking a significant reversal for the party.
The policy U-turn comes just months after party leader Nigel Farage insisted that bringing half of the troubled water industry into state ownership would cost "a lot less" than the £50billion figure cited by analysts, particularly if struggling companies were permitted to collapse first.
A party spokesman confirmed that the nationalisation pledge had been scrapped, admitting Reform was now overhauling its position on utilities and strategic industries.
At the 2024 General Election, Reform had promised a "new ownership model for critical national infrastructure" in which the state and pension funds would own half each.
PICTURED: Keir Starmer attends Dame Sarah Mullally's Enthronement Ceremony
Keir Starmer attends Dame Sarah Mullally's Enthronement Ceremony
|PA
Morgan McSweeney phone theft 'fortunate timing,' says Kemi Badenoch spokesman
Kemi Badenoch's spokesman has said the timing of Morgan McSweeney's phone theft is "fortunate".
The PM's former Chief of Staff had his mobile phone, which had been used to communicate with ex-Labour peer Peter Mandelson, stolen in October last year, around a month after Mandelson was sacked from his role as US ambassador.
It has led to fears that information relevant to enquiries into Mandelson's original appointment in the role has been lost.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting admitted it was "not a good look" for the party.
And the Tory leader is among those who believes the theft raises suspicions. When asked if Mrs Badenoch thought Mr McSweeney had been lying about the theft, the spokesman said it was clear that his phone went missing around the time people in No10 were starting to worry.
When asked again, the spokesman said: "I think what Kemi would say is that it is very fortunate timing."
Wes Streeting warns Reform is an 'existential threat' to Great Britain
Health Secretary Wes Streeting has warned that Reform UK are an "existential threat" to the nation as he said the party is fuelling "open and unapologetic racism".
Referring to the Golders Green arson attack on Jewish community ambulances, Mr Streeting said the nation was seeing a "tide of racism".
He said that "open, unapologetic racism" from the 1970s "is back", adding: "Reform fuel it. Their politics benefit from it."
In a speech in east London, Mr Streeting said there has been a “loss of faith” in politics, adding: "This is a dangerous place for our country to be in. A dangerous place for any democracy to be in. Because when we stop believing that change is possible, we stop demanding it.
"When we stop demanding it, we stop achieving it. And when that happens, decline doesn’t just continue – it accelerates.
"It is the biggest fear I have as a member of this Government: that cynicism might give way to fatalism and a sense of the inevitability of decline."
A Reform spokesman told GB News: "Wes Streeting’s remarks are completely false and frankly beneath someone holding high office.
"Reform UK rejects racism in all its forms, and to suggest otherwise is a deliberate attempt to smear millions of decent, ordinary people who support us.
"It’s no surprise that as Reform UK continues to grow in support, Labour is resorting to these kinds of attacks rather than engaging with the substance of our policies."
Labour lost significant numbers of white working-class voters in Gorton & Denton by-election
Labour lost a large number of white working-class voters to the Greens in Gorton and Denton, according to the party's postmortem over the loss to Zack Polanski's party
Labour’s Deputy Leader Lucy Powell, told party activists it was a warning the party could lose voters on its left flank who went far beyond the stereotype of progressive young professionals and those from Muslim communities.
Mrs Powell, who is the MP for Manchester Central, told activists on the call that she could not "sugarcoat" the fact that many voters had wanted to send a message about Labour's failures, reports The Guardian.
She said: "There’s no doubt that we suffered from a large protest, with voters telling us to do better, be stronger about our purpose and values, and deliver the change we promised faster and more clearly.
"We have ceded the political megaphone and it’s up to us to strongly and proudly get that back."
Richard Tice takes aim at Keir Starmer's conduct during PMQs
Richard Tice takes aim at Keir Starmer's conduct during PMQs | GB NEWSRichard Tice has launched a furious attack on Sir Keir Starmer after walking out of Prime Minister's Questions with all Reform UK MPs.
Speaking to GB News following the walkout, the Deputy Leader told Political Editor Christopher Hope that the Prime Minister's response to Mr Farage was "ridiculous".
Mr Tice told GB News: "We're sick of it. This is becoming a farce."
Keir Starmer praises Muslim and Jewish communities in swipe at Shadow Justice Secretary
The Prime Minister has praised comments by the Muslim and Jewish communities following remarks about the Open Iftar event in Trafalgar Square from Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Timothy.
Sir Keir Starmer said: "I was really struck by the fact the Jewish community came out last week against the comments by the Shadow Justice Secretary by standing in solidarity with Muslims who wanted to pray in Trafalgar Square.
"Equally on Monday, at the Eid events we held, Muslims stood in solidarity with Jewish communities. That is Britain, contrary to what the Shadow Justice Secretary said last week supported by the Leader of the Opposition.
"That is how far they have fallen."
Labour MP grills Keir Starmer over West Bank settlements
A Labour MP grilled Sir Keir Starmer about West Bank settlements and products being sold in Great Britain.
The MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth Debbie Abrahams said: "Can I ask him specifically about Monday's Liaison Committee when he agreed that Israeli settlements in the West Bank are unlawful?"
She asked what will be done to stop products from the illegal settlements being imported to the UK.
The Prime Minister responded saying: "The Israeli settlements are fragrant breaches of international law and threaten viability of two state solution.
"That's why alongside international partners we have sanctioned those responsible and their supporters who incite violence. We have consistently urged the Israeli government to act to stop these incidents."
The Prime Minister added he would recommend products are properly labeled and Labour would take necessary steps "in order to defend Palestinians and protect the two state solution."
Tory MP calls on Keir Starmer to ensure no one is 'left behind in a cashless society'
A Conservative MP has called on Sir Keir Starmer to make sure no one is "left behind in a cashless society."
MP for Bromley and Biggin Hill Peter Fortune said: "As we move towards the Easter recess I'm sure the Prime Minister's thoughts are turning to the miracle of resurrection.
"My constituents have asked me to resurrect cash in shops. One of seven shops in the last year has moved to being a cashless organisation which risks leaving behind those on low income for the elderly.
"What is the Prime Minister doing to ensure no one is left behind?"
Sir Keir responded: "It is important that no one gets left behind in cashless society, the vast majority are moving online but we have to remember that some do not want to or can't."
Political parties to be banned from accepting donations in cryptocurrencies
Political parties will be banned from accepting donations in cryptocurrencies, the Prime Minister has announced.
Sir Keir Starmer told MPs the Rycroft review set out the "stark threats posed by illicit finance".
He said: "We will act decisively to protect our democracy.
"That will include a moratorium on all political donations made through cryptocurrencies."
Reform UK MPs walk out of PMQs after Keir Starmer accuses Nigel Farage of being a 'disgrace'
All the Reform UK MPs walked out of PMQs after Nigel Farage said Sir Keir Starmer’s "stop the boats" policy has failed.
Mr Farage said: "Is it not time to admit that 'smash the gangs' has been a total, abject failure, along, frankly, with most of his other policies? Isn't it now time he told us, as summer approaches, what is plan B?"
The Prime Minister said the Reform UK leader voted against the legislation giving more powers to border controls and that Mr Farage said he wishes the party "hadn't bothered" to take minority control of Worcestershire County Council.
He added the Clacton MP was a "disgrace", saying: "He wants the grievance; he doesn't want it sorted. He has absolutely no judgment."
As he prepared to answer a later question from a Labour MP about Snooker returning to The Crucible in Sheffield, Sir Keir said: "I see Reform have walked out, they’ve obviously realised they’re absolutely snookered."
Ed Davey backs Keir Starmer over Rosebank and Jackdaw Gas Fields
Ed Davey is on his feet where, he condemned the "despicable acts" on the Jewish community in Golders Green.
He backed Sir Keir Starmer's response to Kemi Badenoch over the Rosebank and Jackdaw Gas Fields, citing his past experience as a Cabinet Secretary in the coalition government.
Keir Starmer says Kemi Badenoch 'does not know where she stands' on Iran war
The Prime Minister has said Kemi Badenoch "does not know where she stands" on the war.
He said: "Oil and gas is coming out every day. There is a mix of that and renewables.
"The most important thing for energy security is to make sure we deescalate the war. I know where we stand on this, we are not joining the war.
"She wanted to join the war and now she does not know where she stands on the most important issue facing the country....time and time again she gets the big calls wrong."
Keir Starmer being 'pushed around' by Ed Miliband, says Kemi Badenoch
Kemi Badenoch has accused Sir Keir Starmer of being "pushed around" by Ed Miliband over the opening of Rosebank and Jackdaw Gas Fields.
The Conservative leader said: "He is hiding behind so many people. He is the Prime Minister he can make this decision today.
"He is so weak he is the first person to be pushed around by the Energy Secretary."
Mrs Badenoch said the the Unions and Sir Tony Blair are on her side.
The Prime Minister responded saying she should be "embarrassed" and that she has "no judgement."
Kemi Badenoch asks about Rosebank and Jackdaw gas fields
Kemi Badenoch is up for her first question, where she asks if he will grant licences for the Rosebank and Jackdaw Gas Fields.
The Prime Minister responded, saying it is a matter for the Secretary of State.
He said: "It is the same arrangements that were in place for the last Government."
He added the Government needs to move to renewables to keep costs down, adding a senior Tory used to argue this.
The Prime Minister then quoted the Conservative, says it was the Tory leader herself.
Keir Starmer on his feet for PMQs
The Prime Minister is on his feet in the Commons as he opened today's PMQs with a remark about the destruction of ambulances in Golders Green.
He said: "An attack on Britain's Jewish community is an attack on all of us. I'm pleased to say NHS will pay for permeant replacements."
Keir Starmer leaves Downing Street ahead of final PMQs before recess
Keir Starmer leaves Downing Street
|GETTY
Sir Keir Starmer has left Downing Street ahead of the final Prime Minister's Questions before the Easter recess.
He'll face six questions from Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch, two questions from Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey and then a selection of backbench MPs.
Here's who is down to ask a question at this afternoon's session:
- John Lamont (Berwickshire, Roxburgh and Selkirk, Conservative)
- Debbie Abrahams (Oldham East and Saddleworth, Labour)
- Darren Paffey (Southampton Itchen, Labour)
- Dr Marie Tidball (Penistone and Stocksbridge, Labour)
- Tonia Antoniazzi (Gower, Labour)
- Jon Trickett (Normanton and Hemsworth, Labour)
- Dr Allison Gardner (Stoke-on-Trent South, Labour)
- Dame Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire, Conservative)
- Matt Turmaine (Watford, Labour)
- Caroline Voaden (South Devon, Liberal Democrat)
- Sarah Edwards (Tamworth, Labour)
- David Burton-Sampson (Southend West and Leigh, Labour)
- Gareth Thomas (Harrow West, Labour)
- Peter Fortune (Bromley and Biggin Hill, Conservative)
Review of foreign interference in UK politics to be published
Nathan Gill was jailed for 10 and a half years for taking money to make pro-Russian statements | PAProposals to bolster Britain’s defences against foreign interference will be set out on Wednesday amid heightened concern about political meddling by hostile states.
Former top civil servant Philip Rycroft is set to publish his review of how vulnerable British politics is to foreign interference, including through political donations.
Commissioned in December last year, the review followed a series of high-profile cases of attempts by foreign states to influence UK politics, including the jailing of Reform UK’s former Welsh leader Nathan Gill for taking bribes to make pro-Russian statements.
Ahead of publication, Mr Rycroft said recent cases had shown the UK was “not immune to foreign money and interference".
He said: "Foreign states are testing our political system in increasingly sophisticated ways, and this review identifies where our defences must be strengthened to keep elections secure and trusted."
Former MP pleads guilty to four charges of drug possession
Former Conservative MP Crispin Blunt has pleaded guilty to four charges of possession of drugs including cannabis and crystal meth.
Blunt, who represented Reigate in Parliament between 1997 and 2024, made his guilty plea at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning.
The 65-year-old former justice minister served in David Cameron’s government as parliamentary under-secretary of state for prisons and youth justice from 2010 to 2012, and went on to chair the Foreign Affairs Select Committee from 2015 until 2017.
Calls for election campaigning in foreign languages to be BANNED amid 'worrying' rise of sectarianism
Hannah Spencer beat Reform's Matt Goodwin in the Gorton & Denton by-election | GETTYBan election campaigning in foreign languages - that’s the call from the Conservatives today following the recent Green by-election victory in Gorton and Denton.
And Shadow Chancellor Mel Stride on GB News Breakfast said bringing in a ban was “very important”, explaining that “if you segregate by language it makes our politics more divisive”.
During the election campaign, the Green Party put out leaflets and videos in both Urdu and Bengali, in a clear bid to target the many ethnic minority voters that make up much of the electorate in the Greater Manchester seat.
Labour MP fighting party’s migrant crackdown was a barrister challenging deportation of 'extremists'
A prominent Labour backbencher leading opposition to Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood's asylum crackdown previously worked as a barrister defending foreign nationals whom the Home Office sought to deport on national security grounds.
Tony Vaughan KC, who entered Parliament in 2024 as Folkestone and Hythe MP, has emerged as one of the most outspoken critics of the government's proposed tightening of immigration rules.
Before being elected to Parliament, his legal career saw him represent individuals the authorities classified as extremist threats to Britain.
WATCH: Mel Stride says Labour needs to 'get drilling' in the North Sea as inflation rates remain
Ed Davey dismisses threat from Zack Polanski's Greens - 'Very dangerous policies!'
Sir Ed Davey has dismissed the threat from the Greens at the upcoming local elections as he accused Zack Polanski's party of having "very dangerous policies."
The Liberal Democrat leader said: "The Greens are taking a lot of left-wing, sort of Corbynista votes from Labour with their policies of pulling out of Nato and getting rid of the nuclear deterrent.
"Those are very dangerous policies, and Liberal Democrats do not support them. We support having our nuclear deterrent, having alliances with other countries to keep our country strong."
Responding to Sir Ed's claims, Green Party peer Baroness Jones said: "We are focused on our plan to cut bills, tax the wealthy and protect public services. The Greens are building a mass movement for progressive change, starting at the local level."
Business leaders scold Rachel Reeves over 'entirely performative' meetings as energy crisis hits UK economy
Rachel Reeves faces a tough fiscal test | GETTYBritish business leaders have criticised Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ planned meetings with retail and banking executives, describing the move as "entirely performative" as the energy crisis intensifies.
Helen Dickinson, chief executive of the british retail consortium, urged ministers to "focus on its energy policy and the pipeline of additional policy costs that are about to impact businesses".
She told the Financial Times that "this seems to be a solution looking for a problem."
Mel Stride welcomes Conservative proposals to ban non-English campaign material
Sir Mel Stride has welcomed the proposal from Conservatives to ban political campaigning not in English.
It follows campaign material from the Green Party in the Gorton and Denton by-election that was published in Urdu, a stance defended by winning candidate Hannah Spencer, who said the material promoted "inclusivity".
The Shadow Chancellor Sir Mel told GB News: "I think its very important to bring up as we saw the kind of approach that can happen, if you segregate by language in that way it does make politics more divisive.
"One of the disappointing aspects of that by-election was it was stirring up division, stirring up issues around Gaza."
Labour MPs demand more protection for men and boys from the 'manosphere'
Louis Theroux and Harrison James Patrick Sullivan (also known as HSTikkyTokky)
| NETFLIXA group of Labour MPs have called for more protection from the "manosphere" for men and boys in a letter to Ofcom.
More than 60 MPs wrote to the broadcasting regulator’s chief executive, Dame Melanie Dawes, on Tuesday, saying they are “gravely concerned” about the increasing risks men and boys face when using online platforms.
In November, Ofcom gave tech platforms guidance on how to tackle harmful content and activity that disproportionately affects women and girls online.
But the group of MPs have argued men and boys also face specific risks online, such as "far-right political radicalisation", financial scams and violent pornography, brought to them by "misogynist influencers."
In the letter, the MPs said: "Men and boys encounter harmful content, including mis- and disinformation, pornography and misogynist content at a roughly similar rate to women and girls.
"However, the content targeted at a male audience is likely to be different, and platforms might need to take different steps to understand and tackle the problem."
Keir Starmer faces four major tests across England this week as local elections draw nearer
Sir Keir Starmer's Labour Party faces four major electoral tests across England this week as nationwide local elections draw nearer.
A series of by-elections will be taking place across the country: two Conservative-controlled wards, one Labour and one Liberal Democrat.
WATCH: Wes Streeting declares words are 'not good enough' as he vows for stronger action to protect British Jews
Inflation holds at 3% as Bank of England warns of fresh surge
The consumer prices index (CPI) remained unchanged at three per cent in February, matching economists’ expectations and holding at the same level recorded in January.
However, the annual rate remains above the Labour’s official two per cent target.
Figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) on Wednesday confirmed the figure, aligning with forecasts compiled in a Reuters poll.
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