PMQs live: Starmer says alleged arson attack on his home was an ‘attack on democracy’

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Andrew Snowden (Con) says the offshore cable scheme in Morecambe is one of the most objected to schemes in the country. He asks the government to consider another route.

Starmer says this is subject to a quasi-judicial planning process, so there is a limit to what he can say. But he says impacts are meant to be '“carefully considered” under the planning process.

Amanda Martin (Lab) asks if Starmer wil back her bill to increase penalties for people who steal tools from workers.

Starmer says this is a serious crime. The justice secretary will consider this, he says.

Farage says Starmer's immigration speech shows he's 'learning great deal from us'

Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, says he enjoyed Starmer’s speech on Monday. He says Starmer seems to be “learning a great deal from us”.

He asks Starmer to declare a national emergency at the borders.

Starmer says the border security bill will give terrorism-type powers to the Border Force. But Farage voted against it.

Sarah Smith (Lab) asks about a boy waiting 18 months for an EHCP in her constituency. Will the voices of parents and children be at the heart of Send reforms?

Starmer says every young person with Send should get the right support. He says more funding has been allocated for this.

Starmer defends immigration speech, telling Plaid Cymru MP who questioned his consistency she was talking 'rubbish'

Liz Saville Roberts, the Plaid Cymru leader at Westminster, says Starmer used to support migrants. But now he only echoes the views of focus groups, she says. She asks if there is any believe he holds which survives a week in Downing Street.

Starmer replies:

Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish.

He goes on:

I want to lead a country where we pull together a walk into the future as neighbours and as communities, not as strangers, and the loss of control of migration by the last government put all of that at risk, and that’s why we’re fixing the system based on principles of control, selection and fairness.

Starmer says situation in Gaza 'simply intolerable and getting worse'

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, asks if the government will bring in the Lib Dem plan for a higher minimum wage for care workers.

Starmer says the government will introduce a fair pay deal for them.

Davey turns to Gaza, and asks if Starmer will call President Trump and ask him to recognise Palestine, and to get a plan for aid to enter Gaza.

Starmer says the situation in Gaza is “simply intolerable and getting worse”.

He says his team is working night and day on getting aid into Gaza, hostages released and a new ceasefire.

Badenoch says Starmer needs to listen to business.

Starmer says Badenoch should listen to business, who support the government’s trade deals. He criticises her for opposing the new deal with the EU before it has even been announced. He goes on:

She certainly says she’s going to rip it up. It is so unserious. She even was reduced last week to call the Indian government accusing them of fake news, no wonder she did so badly as a trade secretary.

The project for them is over. They’re sliding into oblivion. They’re a dead party walking.

Badenoch says business groups say the employment rights bill will make things worse for them. Why does Starmer think he knows best?

Starmer says this is the same old Tories – opposed to workers’ rights.

Badenoch says things are getting worse. She mentions a hospice that will be hit by the rise in employer national insurance.

Starmer says Badenoch complains about the budget every week, but she supports the extra spending for the NHS without saying how she would fund it.

Badenoch says she welcomed Starmer’s “tiny tariff dea” with the US.

Starmer says, if Badenoch thinks that deal was tiny, she should go to Solihull and speak to steelworkers who have been protected from tariffs.

Starmer accuses Tories of 'sliding into brain-dead oblivion'

Badenoch asks about the chain store Beales having a Rachel Reeves closing down sale.

Starmer says Badenoch must be “the only person left in the country who thinks the economy was booming after the last government”.

He says “a once great political party is sliding into brain-dead oblivion”.

Starmer says alleged arson attack on his property 'an attack on democracy, and values we stand for'

Kemi Badenoch starts by saying how unacceptable the attacks on his home were.

And she asks why unemployment is rising.

Starmer says he appreciates what Badenoch said about the arson attacks. She contacted him straight way, he says. He says he was grateful.

He says this was “an attack on all of us, on democracy and the values that we stand for”.

On unemployment, he accuses her of talking the country down.

Lorraine Beavers (Lab) asks about an air quality problem in her Blackpool constituency.

Starmer says, when Tory MPs say “Oh no” at the mention of 14 years of Tory rules, they are just saying what the public feel.

He says the air quality issue is one being addressed.

Starmer hails US and India trade agreements

Keir Starmer starts by mentioned the trade deal with India, and the “landmark agreement” (he does not call it a trade deal) with the US. And he says the immigration white paper has been published.

He also says MPs will want to remember the 40th anniversary of the Bradford City fire.