Politics latest: PM insists defence spending pledge 'fully-funded'; Angela Rayner labels Rishi Sunak a 'pint-sized loser' (2024)

We're moving to a Q&A now, with the first questions each going to Olaf Scholz and Rishi Sunak.

Mr Scholz is asked whether he is "100%" convinced that Donald Trump is committed to the "central tenets" of NATO.

The prime minister is then questioned on whether he is "not entirely squaring with people" over how the projected 2.5% increase in defence spending by 2030 will be funded, and whether it will likely involve "pain" for taxpayers.

Mr Sunak says it is "not a fair characterisation", saying the plan announced yesterday is "fully funded" - predominantly with reduction in the civil service to 2019 levels.

"The chancellor has conducted a detailed exercise... that's what gives us the confidence that we can release the savings needed."

"We have an economic plan that is working," Mr Sunak adds.

Mr Scholz does not directly answer the question regarding Mr Trump, but says he is "confident" that the alliance between NATO nations "won't change" no matter who is president.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is speaking now.

He says the bond between Germany and the UK in this "dangerous moment" is "stronger than ever".

He goes on to congratulate the German chancellor for his leadership in taking the "historic decision" to increase Germany's defence spending.

"We stand here today together as the leading defence spenders in Europe. Unshakeable NATO allies and the two largest military supporters of Ukraine in Europe," the prime minister says.

"Together we will continue to provide unwavering support for our Ukrainian friends, as you [Mr Scholz] said, for as long as it takes."

He adds that the UK and Germany will continue to work closely together on other global challenges, including putting the Middle East "on a better path".

"Together, we have acted to meet this moment," he says.

"We've taken greater responsibility for our collective security.

"And today we're going even further, opening a new chapter in the security relationship between our two nations."

He concludes by saying the thing that "really unites us ... is our people", referencing the love that Liverpool has for Jurgen Klopp and that Munich has for Harry Kane.

Over to Berlin now, where Rishi Sunak and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz are holding a joint news conference during Mr Sunak's first visit to the country as prime minister.

In his opening comments, Mr Scholz marks more than two years of the Ukraine war, which he says has caused "immeasurable suffering".

He notes that Germany and the UK are Kyiv's largest supporters in Europe and should continue their support for "as long as it takes".

Mr Scholz says it is "encouraging" that US Congress has finally passed a huge security bill predominately aimed at aid for Ukraine - but that it "does not release us in Europe here from our task to further enhance our support".

Germany is deepening cooperation "in very practical terms" with the UK on a "range of projects" including a new artillery system and armoured vehicle, Mr Scholz adds.

"Both our countries, Germany and the UK, are making substantial contribution to Europe's defence industry base," he says.

To continue this, a task force will be set up to create a "well-structed" framework for security and defence cooperation, Mr Scholz announces.

He also says it's "very important" to him to create "stronger bonds" between the German and British people.

"We have many issues that we are discussing and I am delighted that we were able to do this today here in Berlin."

Oliver Dowden is now being asked whether he will apologise to unpaid carers who have been "failed" by the government.

Lib Dem MP Daisy Cooper asks whether his government will also commit to a full review of the system.

"Unpaid carers have shared heartbreaking stories of how they have been hounded by the DWP [Department for Work and Pensions] and told to pay huge fines for minor infringements on carers' allowance earning rules," she says.

"All because the government failed to do anything about a problem they have known about for years."

Mr Dowden pays tribute to those unpaid carers, saying "I know how hard they work".

He adds: "In respect of allegations of overpayment, of course appropriate discretion should be shown.

"But if it is the case that there have been erroneous overpayments, it's right on behalf of the taxpayer to be able to recuperate those."

PMQs turns to the Israel-Hamas war now, as the SNP's Mhairi Black asks Oliver Dowden if mass graves recently discovered at a hospital in Gaza constitute as a war crime.

She draws a parallel with the discovery of hundreds of bodies in graves in Ukraine in 2022.

"This house united in condemnation and rightly treated these [Ukrainian] graves as evidence of war crimes," she said.

Mr Dowden responds that the Israeli government is investigating the matter, but brands as "extraordinary" her comparison between Russia's actions in Ukraine and Israel's "legitimate war of self-defence".

Ms Black presses Mr Dowden, saying that even the risk of war crimes taking place could be reason enough to halt the sale of arms from the UK to Israel.

"We continue to urge the Israeli government to investigate any allegations of misconduct. The difference, though, is that we can trust the Israeli government -a democratically elected government, to properly investigate those things," he says.

"Of course, we keep the advice under review."

Some name calling now as Angela Rayner refers to the prime minister as a "pint-sized loser".

She says she has "read with interest" that Mr Dowden "has been urging his neighbour in Number 10 to call an election because he's worried they might get wiped out".

She asks: "Has he finally realised that when he stabbed Boris Johnson in the back to get his mate into Number 10, he was ditching their biggest election winner for a pint-sized loser?"

Audible boos ensue.

Mr Dowden replies that Ms Rayner is "always looking to attack others' failures, but is never the one to take responsibility for her own".

He once again brings up thepolice investigation into whether she broke electoral law.

"She once said: 'You shouldn't be waiting for the police to bang on your door. If you did it, then you shouldn't be doing your job'", he says.

"The Right Honourable landlady should forget her tax advice and follow her own advice."

By Gurpreet Narwan, political correspondent

PMQs began with tributes to Lord Frank Field, the former Labour minister who dedicated his career to tackling poverty.

The tone quickly changed.

"I know the party opposite is desperate to talk about my living arrangements," Angela Rayner said in her opening comments at PMQs, and indeed they were.

Oliver Dowden couldn't resist making a jibe about Labour's deputy leader, who is now subject to a police investigation over where she lived in the 2010s.

Labour quickly shifted the focus onto the government's record on housing, pointing out the troubles households face with high mortgage rates, no-fault evictions and leasehold service charges.

Mr Dowden, pointing to the Renters (Reform) Bill, said the government was on the case.

He preferred to talk about the prime minister's recently announced policy to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2030.

The Tories are trying to back Labour into a corner, forcing the party to either accept that it can't meet the promise or explain how they would pay for it.

Ms Rayner swerved the question, which didn't go unnoticed by Mr Dowden.

After some criticism from Oliver Dowden over the Labour-led Birmingham Council declaring itself effectively bankrupt, Angela Rayner responds that local authorities are facing "black holes" due to the government's austerity programme.

"Tory councils have also faced 114 notices. Birmingham Council has had over £1bn taken from their budget from some of the poorest people," she says.

She adds that more than 16,000 families across the UK face losing their homes as a result of the Conservative mini-budget.

"Meanwhile, the former prime minister [Liz Truss] parades around the world in a twisted victory lap promoting a new book, saying that the mini-budget was her proudest moment.

"Since she won't apologise to the families losing their homes, will he?" she asks Mr Dowden.

Mr Dowden says Rishi Sunak has restored stability to the economy and halved inflation.

Angela Rayner is on her feet to grill Oliver Dowden.

She begins by paying tribute to "tireless campaigner" Lord Frank Field and wishing the Jewish community a happy Passover.

The deputy Labour leader then gets straight to business as she says the Conservative Party is "desperate to talk about my living arrangements", referring to the police investigation into whether she broke electoral law.

But she says the public want to know what the Tories are going to do about theirs.

She refers to a Sky News report about a woman named Natalie who has been handed two no-fault eviction notices within 18 months.

"Instead of obsessing over my house, when will he get a grip and show the same obsession with ending no-fault evictions?" Ms Rayner asks.

Mr Dowden responds that he is pleased to have another exchange with her in the Commons, the fifth in 12 months.

"Any more of these and she'll be claiming it as her principal residence," he jokes, before noting that a vote on the issue is being held in the Commons later today.

Ms Rayner accuses him of "caving in" to the interests of Conservative backbenchers "and delaying justice for people like Natalie".

She later moves onto the issue of leasehold properties, which she calls "another Tory housing failure". The deputy Labour leader criticises the proposed ban only applying to houses.

"It's like banning non-doms but excluding Tory prime ministers," Ms Rayner quips.

"The right honourable lady is talking about legislation introduced by this government which the party opposite totally failed to introduce in their entire time in office," Mr Dowden says.

It's 12pm and time for PMQs.

Deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden is standing in for the prime minister who is in Berlin for talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz (see post at 06.50am).

Mr Dowden is facing deputy Labour leader Angela Rayner, with a police investigation into whether she broke electoral law expected to feature.

The deputy prime minister starts by offering condolences to the family and friends of Lord Frank Field, describing him as an "outstanding parliamentarian who worked tirelessly to make society a better place".

The former Labour minister and crossbench peer has died aged 81 (see previous post).