ENDED · BBC · 32 updates
Andy Burnham to be quizzed by Kemi Badenoch at PMQs - follow live
PMQs live: Burnham and Badenoch clash over borrowing and North Sea drilling
Live updates, newest first
Jackdaw and Budget pressures dominate PMQs as Burnham makes gas bills announcement
Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch have clashed over Jackdaw, government debt and the chancellor's upcoming Budget in this week's PMQs. The opposition leader began by accusing the PM of "dithering" over the decision to approve drilling at the North Sea gas field, which the Conservatives approved in 202…
the-independent.com
1 more NewsBreak article
Burnham considering scrapping standing charges to ease energy bills
the-independent.com
How much do standing charges add to gas bills?
By Tom Edgington Although they vary slightly by region and payment method, currently, the average standing charge for gas is just under 30p a day - equivalent to about £108 a year. To put that in context, under the current price cap, the dual energy bill for a typical household is currently £1,723…
attackofthefanboy.com
Questions raised over PM's gas standing charge announcement
The prospect raised by the prime minister to “remove” standing charges from gas bills brings up a host of questions. As we've explained, standing charges are fixed daily fees covering the costs of connecting to a gas and electricity supply. It is likely that these charges would have to be shifted o…
the-independent.com
1 more NewsBreak article
Burnham considering scrapping standing charges to ease energy bills
the-independent.com
Burnham made an announcement on gas bill standing charges - what are they?
During his exchange with Kemi Badenoch, Prime Minister Burnham said he has asked the chancellor and energy secretary to look into removing standing charges from gas bills. Standing charges are a daily charge passed onto the customer, even if they use no energy. The fixed cost covers the cost of run…
the-independent.com
A recap: Badenoch's grills the PM on Jackdaw, borrowing and inflation
PMQs has wrapped up for another week, but we'll continue to bring analyses of what was debated. Here's a summary of Andy Burnham and Kemi Badenoch's exchange: Jackdaw: Badenoch accused Labour of "dithering" over the decision to approve extraction from the North Sea gas field. Conservatives first ap…
Davey heckle an attempt to punch a political bruise
"Behind you, Ed!" came the instant heckle as the deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, Daisy Cooper, was called to ask a question. Davey has faced some internal grumbling about his leadership recently — and there was an audible attempt by an opponent to punch that political bruise.
Gas would be imported from elsewhere if UK didn't use 'own reserves' - Burnham
Green MP Dr Ellie Chowns asks about the Jackdaw gas field, accusing the government of "pouring more fuel on the fire of climate breakdown". The PM says the gas would still be needed, it would just be imported from somewhere else if we didn't use "our own reserves". "In these difficult times, when w…
UK working 'on every level' to support Ukraine, Burnham says following Starlink question
Davey now turns to the war in Ukraine and recent reports that Elon Musk directly asked his Starlink system to be slowed down above the country, limiting Kyiv's ability to respond to Russian attacks. "Does the prime minister agree that directly supporting Putin is beyond the pale?" Davey asks. Burnh…
dpa-international.com
Lib Dems leader Davey urges Burnham to return UK to single market
Following the initial exchanges between Burnham and Badenoch, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey is pressing the PM on the UK's relationship with the European Union. He says best thing Burnham could do to bring growth is to take the UK back into single market and customs union, adding it would "b…
On Jackdaw, Badenoch and Burnham agree on the direction - if not the pace
"Faff about" and "mess up" were the two punchy quotes that summed up the exchanges between the prime minister and the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch about the approval of drilling at the Jackdaw gas field. For Badenoch, the argument is one grounded in accusing the government of taking too long t…
Muttering on the Tory benches as Burnham mentions Liz Truss
Most Labour MPs are smiling and nodding as Burnham talks up his focus on social care. But Conservatives are equally enthusiastically backing their leader as she accused the PM of only talking about, not actually making, changes. That is, until Burnham attacks the Liz Truss' mini budget, when many o…
Badenoch says Burnham must 'cut spending, cut deficit or cut tax' in next week's Budget
Badenoch says next week at the Budget, the PM has a choice "he can cut spending, he can cut the deficit, or he can cut tax", adding that there's "no other way". She goes on to ask Burnham whether he will follow that plan or "bottle it, just like Keir Starmer did". Burnham says there are signs of gr…
Burnham says Middle East crisis has contributed to rising inflation
Badenoch then accuses the prime minister of talking and not making a decision, noting that inflation figures published today showed a third successive increase. Badenoch says families are paying more for bills and asks the prime minister if he accepts his "failure" to control borrowing is contribut…
Only solution to reducing debt is to cut spending and borrowing, Badenoch says
Badenoch says the government is spending more on debt interest than schools, army and the police combined. Meanwhile, she says, the PM is worrying about "loud music on trains" - a reference to an announcement this week that passengers who play loud music on buses in England could be fined up to £10…
Labour MPs shaking heads as Badenoch calls for more drilling
Labour MPs are shaking their heads as Kemi Badenoch argues for more North Sea oil and gas drilling to boost the economy. They get rowdy as Andy Burnham says the IMF has highlighted the UK as having the fastest deficit reduction in the G7. They start pointing at the Conservative benches and laughing…
Badenoch presses Burnham on government borrowing
Badenoch carries on pushing Burnham about drilling in the North Sea, saying that the world is facing a "global energy crisis" and that there is a "red warning light" flashing on the government's accounts. This morning, total government debt hit £3tn, its highest ever - read more on that here. Baden…
Jackdaw decision 'will support us in difficult time' - Burnham
Badenoch asks Burnham whether he accepts that every barrel of North Sea oil the UK produces is a barrel of oil European partners won't buy from Russia. In response, the prime minister says the decision strengthens the UK's energy security and it will "support us in a difficult time". He says the re…
Burnham says he has asked ministers to look into removing standing charges from gas bills
Burnham responds by saying to the leader of the Conservatives that Labour has made a decision "that her government messed up", saying this is why there was a delay to Jackdaw being approved. He accuses the Tories of not carrying out the process "properly", saying his party had made a "pragmatic dec…
the-independent.com
Badenoch accuses Labour of 'dithering' over Jackdaw
Leader of the Opposition Kemi Badenoch begins by thanking the PM for approving the Jackdaw gas field, a long-awaited decision which came this morning. She accuses the government of "dithering" over the decision. The Conservatives first approved it in 2022, but it was delayed by legal challenges fro…
Prime Minister's Questions begins - watch live
Andy Burnham is now on his feet in the Commons for the start of Prime Minister's Questions - his fourth since becoming PM. Watch live at the top of this page.
PM arrives in the Commons ahead of PMQs
The prime minister has now entered the Commons and taken his seat on the government benches. He is set to be grilled shortly by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch. You can watch live at the top of this page, and we'll be providing text updates on all the key points.
Jackdaw, inflation, national debt? Interesting to see what Badenoch asks about
The House of Commons is filling up for Prime Minister’s Questions. Northern Ireland Secretary Chris Bryant is currently facing questions about his brief. It’ll be interesting to hear, in particular, what the Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch decides to ask about. She agrees with the government on t…
Burnham already in trouble with Commons Speaker for talking too much
During the first three sessions of PMQs with Andy Burnham at the dispatch box, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle has made repeated appeals for brevity. But is the PM really any more verbose than his predecessors like Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak, Liz Truss and Boris Johnson? Armed with a stopwatch for a dive into…
Burnham's Jackdaw approval not a surprise
The decision to grant approval for drilling at the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea, and the further delay in a decision about the Rosebank oil field, are case studies in the slow-motion awkwardness the UK has collectively had, over years, about energy. Since becoming prime minister, Andy Burnham…
the-independent.com
Climate activists protest Jackdaw gas field decision
Crowds have gathered outside the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero in Westminster to protest the UK government granting consent for gas to be produced from the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea. The demonstration was organised by Fossil Free London, with the group's founder Robin Wells s…
Burnham on the way to PMQs
The prime minister has just left No 10 Downing Street and will now make the short trip to the House of Commons. Prime Minister's Questions will kick off at midday.
UK debt surpasses £3tn for first time, ONS estimates
Earlier today the Office for National Statistics estimated UK national debt to have passed £3tn for the first time (debt, however, is slightly lower as a percentage of GDP than a year ago). The ONS says the government spent £24.5bn more than it took in last month, the highest figure this year and s…
the-independent.com
What do we know so far about the Budget?
Chancellor John Healey will set out Labour's tax and spending plans when he delivers his first Budget on 28 October. So far he has refused to rule out tax increases after acknowledging government borrowing costs are at "historic highs". Earlier on Wednesday, the Office for National Statistics said…
Budget looms as chancellor rejects calls to raise Capital Gains Tax
The prime minister will take to the dispatch box today while the shadow of his first Budget, to be announced by Chancellor John Healey on 28 October, looms large. This week, as first reported by the Times, the chancellor dismissed calls from some Labour MPs to increase Capital Gains Tax (CGT) - whi…
UK government approves drilling in Jackdaw gas field
The government approved gas extraction from the Jackdaw gas field in the North Sea on Wednesday morning, a long-awaited decision delayed by legal challenges and drawing criticism from environmental campaigners. The site was approved by the Conservatives in 2022, and now after final approval could s…
afp.com
3 more NewsBreak articles
Government approves drilling in Jackdaw gas field
the-independent.com
Jackdaw gas field drilling approved by UK government
the-independent.com
UK approves new gas field in the North Sea amid concerns about energy security
kxly.com
