Politics latest: PM bites back at call for full arms embargo on Israel - with Middle East 'close to the brink' (2024)

Following his statement on the Middle East, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer is asked a series of questions in the Commons.

The first comes from Rishi Sunak, who is leader of the opposition.

After paying tribute to those killed on 7 October 2023, the former PM asks Sir Keir about a timetable for defence spending to rise to 2.5% of GDP.

Mr Sunak points out the Labour leader's previous promise to give a timetable at the budget.

All the current occupant of Number 10 will say is that the plans will be "set out" in "due course".

More sanctions on Iran

Sir Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrats leader, asks if the government will proscribe Iran's Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

In response, Sir Keir says they do need to "deal with state threats", including the IRGC.

The prime minister adds: "We're working at pace to identify further ways to deal with those threats, including those from the IRGC.

"Already more than 400 sanction designations against Iranian organisations and individuals are in place, and we continue to look at that important issue."

Among other questions and tributes from across the House, Sir Keir bites back at a call for a full weapons embargo against Israel.

He says this would include equipment used in the defence of attacks like those from Iran last week, and would not be the right course of action for the UK to take.

Listening into the prime minister's House of Commons statement about the Middle East crisis was ourpolitical correspondent Rob Powell.

He says Sir Keir Starmer was "quite rightly" wanting to place "great emphasis" upon the first anniversary of the 7 October attack on Israel, including "how moved he was" by his meetings with families of British people who were killed in the Hamas attack.

But Rob says the PM also sought to "recognise the level of suffering that has gone on in the year since", notably Gaza and Lebanon - the former of which he described as "a living hell".

"Many in his party" and the country more broadly are "incredibly concerned" about the situations in those countries, Rob says, and the PM used his statement to reiterate calls for an immediate ceasefire in both.

But Rob says it'll be "interesting to see how his position adapts" if and when Israel responds to the Iranian ballistic missile attack last week.

The PM has been clear in his condemnation of Iran and support for Israel, but given he also wants an immediate de-escalation in the region, what happens next could expose a contradiction in his foreign policy.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to those killed in Israel when Hamas attacked on 7 October last year, as he addressed the Commons amid the escalating crisis in the Middle East.

He says today is "a day of sorrow, a day of grief", with more than "1,000 people massacred" in the worst killing of Jews since the Holocaust.

The PM notes 15 British citizens were killed on that day, and another has died since in captivity.

Sir Keir says he spoke to the families of those still being kept hostage in Gaza - and can "hardly imagine" what they are going through.

Speaking about the wider conflict, the PM says the"human toll amongst innocent civilians in Gaza is truly devastating", with more than 41,000 Palestinians killed, tens of thousands orphaned and almost two million displaced.

"We stand with all innocent victims in Israel, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon and beyond," he adds.

"And we stand with all communities here in the United Kingdom against hatred of Jews or Muslims."

The PM says the situation in Gaza is a "living hell, and it must end".

Calls for ceasefire

Sir Keir says the Middle East is "close to the brink" and condemns Iran's attack on Israel last week.

He then says the region "cannot endure" another year like the last, and all sides "must now step back from the brink and find the courage of restraint".

The diplomatic efforts of the UK included discussions with Israel, Lebanon, Jordan, the Palestinian Authority, the G7 and the EU.

The PM redoubles on his calls for British citizens to leave Lebanon "immediately".

He also says efforts to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza must be renewed, but aid must also be supplied.

And a third piece of action Sir Keir wants to see is "solutions for the long term to break the relentless cycle of violence" - including the Palestinian Authority filling the power vacuum in Gaza.

Parliament has returned from the party conference recess, and the winter fuel payment cut remains a contentious issue in the Commons.

Opposition parties and even some Labour MPs aren't happy - but the government remains defiant in blaming the Tories for the alleged "£22bn black hole" the cut is supposed to help plug.

What were the rules before?

The payments were available to everyone above state pension age.

Last year, £200 was paid to those born before 25 September 1957, while those born before 25 September 1943 received £300.

And there was a £300 per household pensioner cost of living payment.

Who is now eligible for the winter fuel payment?

It will now be limited to people over state pension age who are receiving pension credit or a limited number of other benefits.

These are income support; income-based jobseeker's allowance; income-related employment and support allowance; universal credit.

The changes mean about 1.5 million people will be eligible - down from 11.4 million.

The government has argued millions of pensioners who had been receiving it didn't need it - and the change will ensure it only goes to those who really do.

Who is eligible for pension credit?

Pension credit is available to pensioners whose income falls below a certain threshold - the payment tops up their income to this amount.

For people with a partner, income is calculated together.

Income includes state and private pensions, earnings, and social security benefits including a carer's allowance.

But not everything counts as income - disability payments, housing benefit, and council tax reduction are among the benefits that aren't.

Previous estimates published by the government indicated up to 850,000 households who were entitled to receive pension credit in 2019-20 did not claim the benefit.

The Labour government is continuing its attacks on the last Conservative administration.

Its latest target is flooding, following this year's sodden September.

According to a written statement from flooding minister Emma Hardy, more than 1,000 properties were impacted last month after double the average amount of rainfall.

This impacted areas includingNorthamptonshire, Bedfordshire, Oxfordshire, Shropshire, Buckinghamshire, and North West London.

While the new government thanked various agencies involved and claimed more than 22,000 properties were "protected", Ms Hardy went on the attack against the Tories.

Government pledges more than £1bn

She said: "The condition of flood defences has declined in recent years through a lack of investment.

"This was compounded when no more funding was made available by the previous government to repair damage from last winter.

"Asset condition is now at 92%, its lowest point since 2010, with approximately 60,000 properties at higher risk.

"The Environment Agency has allocated £36m this year to do the most urgent repairs from last winter's flood events."

The minister went on to claim more than £1.25bn will be invested by the new government this year in flood defences.

You may remember a few weeks ago us reporting on an unusual claim by Nigel Farage, who said parliament's security team had advised him against holding constituency surgeries.

He'd been challenged during an LBC radio phone-in about whether he was spending enough time in Clacton, where he was elected as an MP, and said he'd hold surgeries "when parliament allows me".

But a source said the Speaker's Office had no record of telling Mr Farage he should not hold physical surgeries in his constituency.

'The Speaker's Office is always right'

Now, Mr Farage has backtracked on his claim.

"The Speaker's Office is always right," he said earlier today, when asked about the situation during a Reform news conference.

He was there to talk about issues of law and order - you can read more in our post from 11.58.

Dozens of campaigners gathered outside the Houses of Parliament today to protest planned cuts to the winter fuel payment.

The government plans to means test the benefit, which will ultimately mean thousands of pensioners will no longer receive the winter boost.

Labour have claimed it was forced into this decision by a £22bn "black hole" in the public finances left by the previous Tory government.

The protest has been organised by the Unite union with the National Pensioners Convention and Scottish Pensioners Forum.

Coming up in the Commons

It comes ahead of the work and pensions secretary facing questions from MPs in the House of Commons.

It's a busy afternoon in parliament, with the prime minister and foreign secretary also giving statements from around 3.30pm.

We'll bring you the main things you need to know in the Politics Hub.

You probably don't spend much of your time thinking about what the prime minister's chief of staff gets up to.

But headlines surrounding Sue Gray, who came into the role with the Labour government, and her subsequent exit have made the job title a regular feature of news bulletins for months.

So, what does the PM's chief of staff do?

Despite being appointed rather than elected, they are among the most influential people in government.

They advise the PM on policy and are a near-constant at their side, with Sue Gray having been seen with Sir Keir Starmer everywhere from Downing Street to the White House.

They can also influence party politics, media strategies, and manage other advisers and staff across government.

According to the Institute for Government, they "see what the prime minister sees" - accompanying them to meetings, controlling who gets into their office, and brokering deals with other ministers.

How has the role worked before?

Margaret Thatcher was the first PM to appoint a chief of staff - it had been more of an American concept before.

Tony Blair also had one, Jonathan Powell, who wielded notable power and influence, even playing a key role in negotiating the peace process in Northern Ireland.

Illustrating how the role of the chief of staff can change depending on who's PM, Gavin Barwell - who held the role under Theresa May - told the Institute for Government "by definition, there can't be a job description".

Reports suggest Ms Gray was on the upper end of power and influence.

This was perhaps reflected by reports about her pay - she was reportedly earning £170,000, even more than the PM himself.

The Institute for Government said the pay had been between £140,000 and £145,000 during the prior 13 years.

And who's got the role now?

The latest incumbent is Morgan McSweeney.

He was previously head of political strategy and chief of staff to the Labour leader while he was in opposition.

So, he's certainly used to having Sir Keir's ear.

Sir Keir Starmer took time to "reflect" on his first few weeks of office before Sue Gray was moved into a new governmental role, Number 10 has said.

Asked whether the prime minister thought his team was effective enough under Ms Gray, his spokesperson said it was "right" for Sir Keir to "reflect on his first few weeks and months in office".

The spokesperson insisted the new appointments made yesterday - including Morgan McSweeney as Ms Gray's replacement - will "strengthen the Downing Street operation".

They added it will bolster Sir Keir's "determination to deliver to change the country voted for".

It was also confirmed that Ms Gray has started her new role, as envoy to the regions and nations, "straight away".