i mean, who's time. tugendhat i mean, who's placing them? time. tugendhat i mean, who's pla estherem.7 it's right to >> esther mcvey it's right to say there is a handful of disgruntled members of parliament. absolutely. penny had her chance to become the leader. she didn't win . so you leader. she didn't win. so you know that's where it is. goes to bed. penny be the bed. so penny won't be the leader. it's rishi sunak. however, those ten however, when we did those ten rwandan votes the other night, we hours . i rwandan votes the other night, we hours. i spoke we were there for hours. i spoke to the conservative mps and to all the conservative mps and they supported me except they fully supported me except for those disgruntled ones. so if a of if there was a vote of confidence in rishi sunak, he'd won by win a country mile. won by win by a country mile. >> he quite .7 why not have it >> is he quite? why not have it now instead lance the now then, instead of lance the boil well what vote boil of this? well what a vote of confidence. of no confidence. >> do that? don't >> would you do that? you don't need that. the prime need to do that. he's the prime minister. think today, minister. and i think today, with of the economy, minister. and i think today, with the of the economy, minister. and i think today, with the global of the economy, minister. and i think today, with the global investmentiomy, minister. and i think today, with the global investment that, with the global investment that he's in £32 billion nissan he's got in £32 billion nissan investing here, google investing here, that's what we want. economy is getting better. >> that's esther's point. it's the working what the the plan is working is what the government say. >> i inflation >> well look i mean inflation has come down let's be clear has come down but let's be clear about prices are still going has come down but let's be clear abo they'reices are still going has come down but let's be clear abo they're just are still going has come down but let's be clear abo they're just going ll going has come down but let's be clear abo they're just going up|oing has come down but let's be clear abo they're just going up by|g has come down but let's be clear abo they're just going up by a up. they're just going up by a bit than they were before. bit less than they were before. we've the biggest fall we've seen the biggest fall in living ever

history. >> going live to the house of commons. it's prime minister. >> i know the whole house will join congratulating join me in congratulating vaughan election vaughan gething on his election as welsh labour leader and expected election as first minister of wales, and also offering mark drakeford our best wishes on retirement. the wishes on his retirement. the government will always government i lead will always work tirelessly to benefit the lives of people across the united , and i look united kingdom, and i look forward working forward to working constructively the new constructively with the new first to deliver for constructively with the new firs people to deliver for constructively with the new firs people of to deliver for constructively with the new firs people of wales. 'er for constructively with the new firs people of wales. mrfor constructively with the new firs people of wales. mr speaker, the people of wales. mr speaker, this morning i had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others my duties others in addition to my duties in house. i shall in this house. i shall have further meetings further such meetings later today. >> judge watson. >> judge watson. >> mr speaker. the >> thank you, mr speaker. the people clacton have had a people of clacton have had a tough time with the cost of living, doing everything living, and i'm doing everything i am doing everything i i can. i am doing everything i can to support them. with that in mind . does he agree with me, in mind. does he agree with me, my right honourable friend? agree with me that cutting inflation is the very best way to do that , and that today's to do that, and that today's statistics are very welcome. and can he reassure my constituents

that he will continue working hard to get inflation as low as possible to protect their savings, help with their bills and give them the financial security they deserve ? mr security they deserve? mr speaken security they deserve? mr speaker, today's figures show that our plan is working . that our plan is working. >> inflation. inflation has fallen to 3.4% from its peak. over 11, down by almost 70, the steepest fall since the 80s and now at the lowest level since september 2021. and people's pay packets are going further, with real wages growing for eight months in a row and taxes being cut by £900 for the average worker. and that is why we need to stick to the plan to deliver a brighter future for our country. the leader of the opposition , keir starmer. opposition, keir starmer. >> can i thank the prime minister for his words in welcoming vaughan gething to his post as first minister of wales? as the first black leader of any

european government? it's a historic moment that speaks to the progress and values of modern day wales, and i also pay tribute to mark drakeford for his long, steady service in wales . mr speaker, violent wales. mr speaker, violent prisoners released early because the tories wrecked the criminal justice system . 3500 small boat justice system. 3500 small boat arrivals already this year because the tories lost control of the borders, the nhs is struggling to see people because the tories broke it . struggling to see people because the tories broke it. millions are paying more on their mortgages, a budget that hit pensioners, a £46 billion hole in his sums . why is the prime in his sums. why is the prime minister so scared to call an election ? election? >> well, mr speaker, mr speaker, as i said in january, my working assumption is that the election will be in the second half of the year. but i must say, i thought that out of everybody, he'd actually be the most grateful , mr speaker, because grateful, mr speaker, because he's now actually got time to

come up with a plan for britain . what? >> we're all we're all looking forward to finally seeing it . forward to finally seeing it. >> oh, we're ready. >> oh, we're ready. >> just call it just call it. >> just call it just call it. >> but, mr speaker, he talks . he >> but, mr speaker, he talks. he talks the plan. >> let's just take his rwanda policy . when they first policy. when they first announced this gimmick, they claimed it would settle tens of thousands of people. the home office then whittled it down to a mere 304 times. that number have already arrived this month, and the backlog stands at 130,000. can the prime minister any flaw in his plan to deport less than 1% of that backlog ? less than 1% of that backlog? >> mr speaker, mr speaker , since >> mr speaker, mr speaker, since i became prime minister, the number of small boat crossings are actually down by over a third. mr speaker, and that's

because we've doubled national crime agency funding. we've increased the illegal enforcement raids by 70. we've closed 7500 bank accounts, deported 24,000 illegal migrants and processed over 112,000 cases, more than at any point in the last two decades. mr speaken the last two decades. mr speaker, and it's crystal clear, as we're seeing from the labour party's opposition in this house, while we're committed to stopping the boats, the labour party would keep them coming . party would keep them coming. >> the tragedy is we know the prime minister doesn't even believe in the rwanda gimmick. he tried to stop funding it, but he's now so diminished that his entire focus is stopping his mps holding the sword of damocles above his head, perhaps even literally. in the case of the leader of the house, his great hopeis leader of the house, his great hope is to populate his party

with a couple of empty planes, praying they won't notice when the flight stopped going. the boats still coming and the costs keep mounting. how has he managed to spend £600 million of taxpayer money on a gimmick to deport 300 people? yeah. >> mr speaker , it's crystal >> mr speaker, it's crystal clear. not only does the labour party not have a plan to fix this issue, but the truth is they don't actually care about fixing this issue. we talks about the gangs. when we gave the police new powers to crack down on the people smuggling gangs, he spent months campaigning and voting against him . but thank thanks to our new him. but thank thanks to our new laws. thanks to our new laws, 900 criminals have been arrested, 450 have been convicted, serving over 370 years behind bars. if it was up to him, if it was up to him, those criminals would still be out on our streets. mr speaker,

and the truth is, if the truth is, if he wasn't the labour leader , he'd still want to be leader, he'd still want to be their lawyer. hey . their lawyer. hey. >> your stomach speaker. >> your stomach speaker. >> i've prosecuted more people smugglers than he's had, and he's had helicopter rides. and that's a lot . and this. i've that's a lot. and this. i've doneit. that's a lot. and this. i've done it . rwanda that's a lot. and this. i've done it. rwanda gimmick is going to cost the taxpayer £2 million for every one of his 300 people that they deport . i know the that they deport. i know the prime minister likes to spend a lot on jet setting, but that some plane ticket. it's the cost of tory chaos and it's working. people are paying the price. the man he made, his immigration minister, let the cat out of the bag when he said the prime minister's symbolic flights will not provide a credible deterrent . and we know the prime minister himself thought it wouldn't work

if the people selling this gimmick don't believe in it. why should the country ? should the country? >> mr speaker, he's very keen to talk about who we prosecuted. he's a bit less keen to talk about when he defended hizb ut—tahrir, mr speaker, but when it when it comes when it comes to this question, when it comes to this question, when it comes to this question of how to deal with people who are here illegally, his values are simply not those of the british people. after all, this is the person who campaigned to stop the deportation of foreign, dangerous criminals. mr speaker , dangerous criminals. mr speaker, a dangerous criminal was jailed for dealing class a drugs after he fought to keep him here. a gang master was convicted of carrying a knife after he fought to keep him here. so whether it's representing terrorists or campaigning for criminals, it is clear whose side he's on. and it's not the british people . it's not the british people. >> it's genuinely sad to see him

reduced to this nonsense. and let's take another example that i started with up . i started with up. >> shush. >> shush. >> excuse me , but it is after 14 >> excuse me, but it is after 14 years of tory chaos in the prison system, the justice sector is reduced to begging. >> the prime minister either to send fewer offenders to prison or to release them even earlier. i must have got sympathy for anyone trying to get an answer out of the prime minister. so what's it going to be? fewer criminals behind bars in the first place or more released early onto our streets? which is it ? it? >> mr speaker, thanks to our record and plan , violent crime, record and plan, violent crime, violent crime has fallen by 50. mr speaker, we've recruited more police officers, giving them more powers and kept serious offenders in prison for longer. what's his record ? what's his what's his record? what's his record? he voted against greater protection for our emergency

workers, opposed tougher sentences for violent criminals, and failed to give police the powers they need. it would be back to square one, with labour soft on crime and soft on criminals. yes >> you can see why he doesn't want an election . why is party want an election. why is party of lost faith? why half his cabinet are lining up to replace him? no answers, no plan, no clue. and the prime minister has never had the courage to stand up to his party. so let me help him out and say to them what he wishes he could. the mortgage mayhem, the waiting list, the criminals walking free. they are the costs of tory chaos. and if they can't bring themselves to stop the endless games and gimmicks, stop putting themselves before country , they themselves before country, they should pack up, go home and waste somebody else's time. it wasn't that difficult, was it, prime minister

>> mr speaker, mr speaker , he >> mr speaker, mr speaker, he talks prime minister mr speaker, he talks about his ideas . but he talks about his ideas. but we're two weeks on from the budget. the shadow chancellor found time to make a one hour speech last night, and we still we still don't know how they're going to pay for their £28 billion black hole. >> while he tries to talk >> but while he tries to talk down britain and the progress that we are making , today's news that we are making, today's news shows that the plan is working. >> inflation down. mr speaker, energy bills down, wages up, pensions up and taxes cut by £900. and that is the choice . £900. and that is the choice. higher taxes and back to square one with labour or tax cuts and real change with the conservatives . nikki snel mr conservatives. nikki snel mr speaker the uk birth rate is falling while those requiring fertility treatment to conceive is rising .

is rising. >> there are no employment rights attached to those undertaking fertility treatment, no paid time off work. would the prime ministerjoin me in encouraging employers, large and small, across the united kingdom , to sign up to the fertility workplace pledge, which i have launched with fertility matters at work, lgbt mummies, fertility network uk and many others to support those undertaking fertility when they're in work here. >> well, can i start by thanking my honourable friend for her excellent work campaigning on this issue ? and she is right. this issue? and she is right. employers should offer their staff understand , support and staff understand, support and flexibility whilst they are undergoing fertility treatment and the best way to improve the experience of those undergoing treatment, both women and their partners, is through voluntary approaches and that's why i would join her encouraging all companies to sign up to the fertility workplace pledge . fertility workplace pledge. >> snp leader stephen flynn . >> snp leader stephen flynn. >> snp leader stephen flynn. >> mr speaker, with his

backbenchers looking for a unity candidate to replace him, which of the now numerous born again thatcherites on the labour front bench does he believe best fits the . bill? the. bill? >> well, mr speaker , mr speaker, >> well, mr speaker, mr speaker, it, it was it was, it was surprising to hear all this talk about the 1970s, from the shadow chancellor in particular. but then if you see what's happening in places like birmingham, where taxes are going up by 21, mr speaken taxes are going up by 21, mr speaker, services are being cut, whether it's social care, children's services or indeed in some streets, literally, the lights are being turned off. it was unsurprising why they talking about the 70s. and i can just say what they've done to birmingham. the conservatives just say what they've done to birn neverm. the conservatives just say what they've done to birnneverm. “them�*nservatives just say what they've done to birnneverm. “them�*nsetoatives will never let them do to britain. yes stephen quinn, of course, mr speaker, there is a serious point to be made here because the ifs have warned of

the conspiracy of silence which exists between the labour party and the conservative party when it comes to £18 billion of looming public sector cuts. >> just last night, they actually outlined that the fiscal rules of the labour party and the conservative party are, in effect, identical. so as such , we're such so with such continuity on offer. mr speaker, the public are right to be anti westminster aren't they. yeah. well mr speaker, mr speaker, i, i'm surprised to hear him quoting the ifs because the ifs also described the recent snp budget as in their words, misleading and, and said that and said in their words that pain is almost certainly coming. >> it is a savage tax and axe budget. mr speaker, a savage tax and axe budget. because here's the reality of it. whilst nhs spending in england is going up,

we're going now live to a statement from leo varadkar, the irish taoiseach who is resigning possession of a national living wage, statutory sick pay, lower personal taxes, improved family leave, allowing parents to spend more time with their children in those crucial early years. >> i'm happy that during my time as taoiseach, we were able to honour my commitments to double spending arts, culture spending on the arts, culture and making a real and sport. this is making a real difference now and will continue to do so into the future , to do so into the future, fostering and assisting the artists and the sportsmen and women of the future . we provided women of the future. we provided leadership increasing our leadership by increasing our spending on international development, and we've expanded our diplomatic footprint around the world, building on ireland's already considerable soft power, the national broadband plan is underway, bringing fibre based internet connections to every home, school, business and farm and community in ireland, which the critic said shouldn't be done. we've established the technological universities and the rural development fund , and

the rural development fund, and since 2011 we've quadrupled since 2011we've quadrupled overall annual investment in pubuc overall annual investment in public infrastructure. that's meant considerably more investment priorities like investment and priorities like housing, health care facilities, school buildings and climate action. and i am deeply proud that we as irish people, welcomed over 100,000 ukrainian refugees to our shores when they needed our protection. notwithstanding the challenges this brings . notwithstanding the challenges this brings. in my time as taoiseach, we reduced consistent poverty and income inequality. housing construction has more than doubled, with 500 people becoming home owners each week for the first time, the highest number in almost two decades. of course, there are areas in which we have been much less successful and some in which we have sadly gone backwards. but i hope you'll forgive me if i leave it to others to point them out on a day like this, they will receive plenty of airtime and column space. when i became party leader and taoiseach back in june 2017, i knew that one

part of leadership is knowing when the time has come to pass on the baton to somebody else, and then having the courage to do it. that time is now. so i am resigning as president and leader of fine gael, effective today. and will resign as taoiseach as soon as my successor able to up successor is able to take up that office. i've asked our party general secretary and executive council to provide for the new leader to elected in the new leader to be elected in advance of the ardeche. on saturday, april 16th, thus allowing a new taoiseach to be elected when the doll resumes after easter break. i know after the easter break. i know this will come as a surprise to many people and a disappointment to some, and i hope at least you will understand my decision . i will understand my decision. i know that others will. how should i put it? cope with the news just fine. that is the great thing about living in a democracy. there's never a right time to resign high office. however, this is as good a time as any . budget 2024 is done. as any. budget 2024 is done.

negotiations have not yet commenced. on the next one, the institutions of the good friday agreement are working again, and our trading relationship with the uk in the post—brexit era is settled and stable , and the new settled and stable, and the new taoiseach will have a full two months to prepare for the local and european elections and up to and european elections and up to a year before the next general election . my reasons for election. my reasons for stepping down are both personal and political. i believe this government can be re—elected and i believe my party, fine gael, can gain seats in the next doll . can gain seats in the next doll. most of all, i believe the re—election of this three party government would be the right thing for the future of our country continuing to take us forward, protecting all that's been achieved and building on it . but after careful consideration, the irish taoiseach leo varadkar, announcing his resignation there i >> -- >> we're going straight back to the house of commons. this is pmqs live for legal migration about how best to accommodate a

smaller number of asylum seekers safely at raf scampton, whilst recognising the council's ambitious plans for regeneration. >> and let me tell him i fully support those discussions and the government is committed to the government is committed to the site being used for accommodation for the shortest possible time and then released to the benefit of the local community. >> layla moran. >> layla moran. >> mr speaker, our nhs is at breaking point. my constituent was told he needed a gallbladder operation after a visit to a&e. he waited in hospital nil by mouth all day. no operation. he's then told to stay overnight or risk his place on the list. so he sits in a hot, smelly, windowless waiting room for eight hours on a plastic chair. then a gurney comes with no pillow and that's where he sleeps. and the next day the nurses say no operation. there just aren't any beds. his wife told me the conservatives are running the nhs into the ground, given his experience, given so many others across the country sharing that experience, how can

he say otherwise? yes >> yeah, well, i'm very sorry to hear about the honourable lady constituent experience, and i'm sure she'll be raising it with the local nhs trust as well. what i, what i would say is, of course, the nhs is recovering from a difficult two years, but it has received considerable backing from this government record investment, as was acknowledged by the nhs ceo just the other week. a plan to improve productivity in the future. and when it comes to beds, we've invested in 5000 new beds, we've invested in 5000 new beds year. more beds over the last year. more ambulances and all of that is contributing to lower waiting times. lists coming down times. waiting lists coming down and an improved a&e performance over year . over last year. >> angela richardson. >> angela richardson. >> mr speaker, the people the >> mr speaker, the people of the eastern villages of guildford, the clantons, horsleys, the clantons, the horsleys, effingham , ripley and oakham effingham, ripley and oakham have had enough unwanted development and villages taken out of the greenbelt without promised infrastructure is why i've been calling for an immediate of the local immediate review of the local plan last three years. plan for the last three years. does right friend does my right honourable friend agree labour's agree with me that labour's promise of concreting over the

green against the green belt, even against the wishes of local mps, would simply add insult to injury? >> yeah, well, mr speaker, unlike both the liberal democrats and the labour party who believe in top down targets that decimate the greenbelt , we that decimate the greenbelt, we believe in local people having a say over their local communities, which is why we are committed to protecting and enhancing the greenbelt. the national planning policy includes strong protections to safeguard this important land. i know her local plan is currently under review by the council, who have indicated that they will be updating it, and i hope the honourable member and her constituents that constituents engage with that process future process to help shape future guildford generations. >> cedric . >> cedric. >> cedric. >> mr speaker, the eu foreign policy high representative joseph borrell said on monday that israel is provoking famine in gaza and using starvation as a weapon of war. >> president biden has said that there should be no attack on rafah without a plan to ensure the safety of more than 1

million people living there. does the prime minister agree with high representative borrell and biden ? because i and president biden? because i do, and we need a ceasefire. if he does agree, would he say so here in the chamber today? yes >> well, so, as the honourable gentleman knows, i've explained our position repeatedly, but the findings from the ipcc are gravely concerning. it's clear that the status quo is unsustainable, and we need urgent action now to avoid a famine. the uk is doing all it can to get more aid in and to prevent a worsening crisis. 2000 tons of uk funded food aid, including flour and hot meals, is being distributed by the world food programme in gaza today. as we speak enough to feed more than 275,000 people, and we will continue to do everything we can to alleviate the suffering that people are experiencing . experiencing. >> sir bill wiggin, close question. question number nine, sir. >> mr speaker, the department for education is mounting a

significant intervention in herefordshire's children's services that includes expert improvement advice, a commissioner with statutory powers to direct the council, and a two year improvement partnership with leeds. and i can assure my hon. friend that the department is closely monitoring the council's progress. >> sir bill wiggin, i thank my right friend taking right hon. friend for taking this situation, this terrible situation, seriously . situation, so seriously. >> the permanent secretary from the department of education visited hereford recently, and so he will know that the new conservative council are trying to mend the damage done by the previous green and independent authority to far too many young people and their families as a father. does he agree with me that progress is still far too slow and so will he. meet me and discuss what more we can do. >> well, like my hon. friend, i am concerned to hear that children in herefordshire are not receiving the level of service that they should expect, and i that ministers have

and i know that ministers have revisited the commissioner's latest report, and whilst some improvements have been made, i agree with him. it's also very clear that pace of change is clear that the pace of change is not what it should be. hon. not what it should be. my hon. friend right to friend has been right to campaign tirelessly this. campaign tirelessly on this. i assure ministers continue assure him. ministers continue to hold the local authority for account, of course i will be account, but of course i will be happy to meet with him to discuss concerns further. discuss his concerns further. mohammad yasin, thank you very much, mr speaker. >> bedford renal unit is closed until further while until further notice while investigation into the water treatment unit are carried out . treatment unit are carried out. >> this is a major incident for the nearly 100 patients in bedford whose lives are now severely disrupted by the need to travel around 50 miles up to four times a week to access life saving kidney dialysis. will the prime minister commit all the necessary resources needed by east and north hertfordshire renal unit services to urgently fix this major issue ? fix this major issue? >> well, i'm sorry to hear about the specific issue with the

renal unit, i think. forgive me not being familiar with the exact details, but i'll make sure that we look into it in the department and that the nhs is being provided all the being provided with all the support they to support that they need to rectify the situation. support that they need to rectmrthe situation. support that they need to rectmrthe sifox:ion. support that they need to rectmrthe sifox thank you, mr speaken >> tomorrow is world down syndrome day. we have made huge, innovative strides in this country with the unanimous passing down syndrome act passing of the down syndrome act in initiatives passing of the down syndrome act in as initiatives passing of the down syndrome act in as yours, initiatives passing of the down syndrome act in as yours, mr initiatives passing of the down syndrome act in as yours, mr speakerzs passing of the down syndrome act in as yours, mr speaker ,. passing of the down syndrome act in as yours, mr speaker , to such as yours, mr speaker, to provide work placements here in the of westminster for the palace of westminster for people with down's syndrome. there outstanding issue we there is an outstanding issue we have to deal with. however, while the time limit on abortion in the uk is 24 weeks gestation for down syndrome due to an anomaly in the law, it is 40 weeks up to full time, something that many members may not understand. with cross—party support, i will be tabling an amendment to the criminal justice bill to equalise the time limit in line with our disability and equality legislation. surely we cannot

accept in the 21st century that people with down syndrome are second class citizens in our country. will the prime minister support the change? >> well, i am grateful to my right hon. friend for his dedicated work in passing the down syndrome act into law and can i thank him also for highlighting world down syndrome day, where we'll be hosting a reception in number to mark reception in number 10 to mark the , as he knows when the occasion, as he knows when the occasion, as he knows when the grounds were the grounds for abortion were amended, parliament agreed that doctors were best to make doctors were best placed to make those decisions with those difficult decisions with women and their families. and also, , it's been a also, as he knows, it's been a long standing convention that it would be for parliament to decide whether to make any changes law on abortion , changes to the law on abortion, and that these issues have always treated as an always been treated as an individual matter of conscience. >> hannah bardell, thank you very much, mr speaker. >> some of my livingston constituents and constituents in broxburn and craigshill have the misfortune of houses with of living in houses built with rak concrete and many of them can't get insurance, can't get mortgages. >> and one constituent told me very emotionally he cannot even

afford so will the afford a survey. so will the prime arrange his prime minister arrange for his ministers to meet with me to discuss his government can discuss how his government can fund authority and fund local authority and devolved devolved devolved governments, devolved governments that did not even exist when these houses were built, and support that built, and give the support that was promised. we need action how. >> now. >> hear, hear! >> hear, hear! >> well, mr mr speaker, i happily look into the issue that the honourable lady raises, but l, the honourable lady raises, but i, in the first instance, i'm sure it'll be a question for the snp government in scotland to answer, to make sure that they're their they're providing for their constituents . and we have a constituents. and we have a strong track record of investing in communities right in local communities right across scotland, with our levelling and levelling up funding and investment . but when investment partnership. but when it comes to housing, obviously she know that's she will know that that's a devolved area, but i'll happily look issue that she raises. >> andrew rosindell mr speaker, sir, prime minister should sir, the prime minister should be aware that the people of romford are appalled by the catastrophic reign of the current mayor of london. so does he. does he agree that traditional boroughs like

havering should have more independence from city hall? but independence from city hall? but in the meantime, to save london, shouldn't we sack sadiq and elect susan hall as the next mayor of our capital? >> well, can i pay tribute to the honourable member for romford championing of his area and his passion to preserve its character? now as he says, whilst whilst there aren't current plans to redraw the boundaries, i can understand his desire , especially with london desire, especially with london being run by the labour mayor with nightlife being decimated, crime increasing and the mayor raising taxes on hard working people by over 8, london can certainly, mr speaker, do better , and the only way for pride to be restored in london is with susan hall as its new london mayor and charleton. >> thank you, mr speaker. last sunday was the second anniversary of p&o ferries illegal sacking of 786 british

seafarers . and despite what seafarers. and despite what ministers have said, p&o has faced no sanction and this government's new code of practice on fire and rehire would not stop it happening again. >> shameful. >> shameful. >> this parliament will be the worst on record for living standards , and real wages are standards, and real wages are still worth less than they were in 2008. >> so why, after 14 years, has this government failed to deliver a better deal for workers across britain? yeah. >> well. mr mr speaker, in fact, as the chancellor just recently pointed out, living standards are £1,700 higher in real terms than they were in 2010. and if he wants to do something to protect working people in this country, perhaps he should have a chat with his shadow chancellor about her plans to impose £28 billion of tax rises on everyone in our country. >> sarah albertson thank you, mr speaken

>> after decades of a labour mp, wrexham was known as spice town , wrexham was known as spice town, but not any more. >> in the last four years we've become a city with £160 million investment zone, £20 million town, £23 million. shared prosperity fund was soon to have the largest trading estate in europe with more jobs than jobseekers, with secured the future of hightown barracks. yes, hollywood, yes, our football club . football club. >> agree with me that it's this conservative mp and this conservative mp and this conservative government. >> yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah . >> yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah. >> yeah, yeah yeah yeah yeah. >> oh yeah . >> oh yeah. >> oh yeah. >> oh yeah. >> oh my. my honourable friend has been an excellent campaigner for wrexham putting, putting it on the map, putting it on the map. after years of decline under the labour party, the heart of one of wales's investment zones, with our plan for towns helping to regenerate the local high street and

improve public safety. and i can tell my honourable friend with such a great campaigner like herself, the next five years will only look brighter for wrexham. actually, dalton . wrexham. actually, dalton. >> thank you, mr speaker. last week the prime minister rightly called conservative party donor frank about frank hester's comments about the honourable member for hackney north and stoke newington racist . it has since newington racist. it has since emerged that mr hester has made comments that a group of indian members of staff should climb on the roof , like on the roof of the roof, like on the roof of a train, and has made reference to asian corner. >> does the prime minister agree with me that these comments are racist? >> yes or no? >> mr speaker, i address this last week and the minister for women and equalities addressed this just half an hour ago . this just half an hour ago. >> father of the house, sir peter bottomley . peter bottomley. >> thank you, mr speaker. you and the prime minister will be welcome in the arun district of my constituency, where developers are trying to build over every vineyard ,

over every vineyard, horticultural nursery and agricultural land . agricultural land. >> could he point out that the last place to build homes is prime agricultural land, especially in an area where developers have enough permissions to meet the council's targets for the next five years? >> well, mr speaker, my right honourable friend is right that sustainable development must be at the heart of our planning system . and that's why we're system. and that's why we're committed the housing committed to meeting the housing needs communities by needs of our communities by building homes, the right homes in places, making sure in the right places, making sure that everyone uses best use of brownfield land , conserving our brownfield land, conserving our countryside. but that's also the point that he makes, which is important. as i've been crystal clear, we must protect agricultural land, food security is incredibly important and we need our farmers to produce more great british food and is water. >> thank you very much, mr speaker . we know the prime speaker. we know the prime minister advice minister has received advice about the legality of the israel gaza war that he's had time to consider it, that governments can and do publish such advice.

so will he tell the house what steps he is taking to act on that advice? in reviewing uk arms sales in supporting proceedings in the icj and icc , proceedings in the icj and icc, and in exercising the uk vote in the un security council ? the un security council? >> well, mr speaker, we continue to call for israel to respect international humanitarian law and for civilians to be protected too many civilians have been killed, and we want to see israel take greater care to limit its operations to military targets . these are points that targets. these are points that both i and the foreign secretary have repeatedly made to prime minister netanyahu. we have previously assessed that israel is committed and capable of complying with international humanitarian law. and, of course, we always keep this under review. >> vickers thank you, mr speaker i >> -- >> the prime minister will be aware of plans by national grid to build 50 metre high pylons and network through much of

rural lincolnshire , which is rural lincolnshire, which is causing much consternation, particularly in rural villages. could my right honourable friend assure my residents that when finally ministers consider the consultations that come forward from national grid, that they will give sympathetic consideration to putting some of the sections underground? yeah >> well, mr speaker, my hon. friend is absolutely right to raise the concerns of his constituents, and he will recognise the balance that we need to strike by making sure that we give our country the energy security that needs, but do that in a way that is respectful of the impact on local be sure local communities. i'll be sure to make sure that ministers take into account that into account the concerns that he's raised, and that all the views of local constituents views of his local constituents are into account. are taken into account. >> final question. mr speaker, given the prime minister's and his government's days are numbered and will soon be in opposition, will he used the small amount of time available to him and join the 138 united nafions to him and join the 138 united nations member states and

recognise the state of palestine ? >> 7- >> yes, mr 7 >> yes, mr speaker, ? >> yes, mr speaker, our 7 >> yes, mr speaker, our position has been consistently clear that we will recognise the state of palestine when it makes most beneficial sense for the overall peace process. of course, we're committed to an ultimate two state solution, but in the here and now, what we are calling for is an immediate, sustained humanitarian pause which would allow for the safe release of hostages, including british nationals and more aid to reach gaza. and we would urge all sides to seize the opportunity and continue negotiations to reach an agreement as soon as possible . possible. >> please, prime minister, that was prime minister. prime minister rishi sunak taking questions from mps in the house of commons who are still joined here westminster here in our westminster studio by cabinet office minister esther mcvey and shadow leader of house commons lucy powell. >> yes, you've been sending your brilliant gb views brilliant questions to gb views at gb news. com for our panel because remember this programme is it's all about is different. it's all about your questions. is different. it's all about your questions . over to you your questions. over to you chris. for the first one.

>> well we have a first question here. interesting here here. interesting question here from emailed us from ken. and he's emailed us asking about keir starmer lucy powell. when will ask a powell. when will he ask a question that's on the state of things in the country rather than troubles in the tory party? >> well, he did that >> well, i think he did that today watch him do every today as i watch him do every week. asking about week. he was asking today about the rwanda plan that the government has, which is incredibly it's going incredibly expensive. it's going to cost around £2 million per person to send them to rwanda. i mean, we could all go and have a nice long holiday in the ritz in paris for less , the less than paris for less, the less than that, so he was asking some big questions about that. he was also asking about the government's plans to release prisoners early because the government have lost control of prison places. so they now need to, to release criminals early. so, look, it is prime minister's questions. hisjob is to ask so, look, it is prime minister's questions. his job is to ask the government how it's getting on with its policies. and the answer usually is not very well because they are chaos, they are disunited, but also their policies are expensive and just

not working . okay, that's tom not working. okay, that's tom bradby what about the question ? bradby what about the question? oh yeah, to be fair, i think the viewer hit on a good point because labour don't have really anything to say. they've always played the man and not the ball, so all they can do is invariably smear and smear because they've got nothing really to talk about. and when you look at the impacts of lockdown and covid, the impacts of what we've got out of and now actually not even celebrating when there is some good news, labour is always talking down the country and i think that's a misstep. and actually you to at how actually you need to look at how we've of it better than we've come out of it better than like of europe, like parts of europe, better than japan, better canada, than japan, better than canada, actually. britain up actually. let's talk britain up for a change, i'd say. >> well, anthony from staffordshire, he's been in touch and he wants to know this. why doesn't the government scrap vat altogether? small vat altogether? support small businesses, support big businesses, support big businesses , support the businesses, support the consumers, leave national insurance alone, scrap vat instead. does anthony have a point? well i've heard this a

lot actually, from the hospitality sector. >> in fact , i think we were in a >> in fact, i think we were in a event together, lucy and i, on that. so i get that. but i think what rishi sunak has said and said it very clearly, we are the party that wants low taxes. but once you've spent 400 billion on covid, a 100 billion on cost of living and energy support, you've got to say, when can we bnng you've got to say, when can we bring it down? first thing is bnng bring it down? first thing is bring down inflation. then bring down inflation. and then we've will national we've said it will be national insurance which we've said it will be national ins brought which we've said it will be national ins brought down which we've said it will be national ins brought down £900 which we've said it will be national ins brought down £900 per ch we've said it will be national ins brought down £900 per person we brought down £900 per person because that's like a double tax on jobs making simplistic. but i do have sympathy for bringing down vat because i'm a i'm a low tax tory. so i'd be wanting that next highest tax burden in 79. >> said that i agreed with >> i've said that i agreed with that. but but but lucy powell i can't think of a single tax cut that labour have announced. i mean you the labour party says taxes are too high bemoans the fact but what tax would labour cope. >> well look we have got the highest tax burden in 70 years,

gloria. so the conservative mps and others can say they're for low taxes, but the reality is under their watch, taxes have gone up to their highest level in 70 years. and actually when they wanted to raise national insurance, which was only a few months ago when they originally raised national insurance , raised national insurance, they've just recently cut it. we opposed that raise in opposed that that raise in national insurance because national insurance because national insurance because national insurance is a tax on on jobs and attacks on working people, which we felt was the wrong decision at the time. and that's who's bearing the burden of the tax rises of this government. it is ordinary working people with their council tax rises, with their ordinary taxes going up. but the big question is , i think, for big question is, i think, for the for the conservative party now they've announced that they want to cut national insurance altogether . that's £46 billion altogether. that's £46 billion of unfunded tax cuts. and i think pensioners will want to know, especially because i think people feel that paying into their national insurance through their national insurance through their life contributes to their

pension entitlement. on one hand, talk about the highest tax in 70 years. and as we're bringing it down, then talk about where would that tax come from? so you can't do that. we would looking how bring would be looking at how to bring it as as we get the it down as we as we get the country on track. labour is 28 billion as well that it's got to find annually for its green growth and for pensioners. growth plan. and for pensioners. actually brought in the actually we have brought in the triple lock. we have helped pensioners for years and years and years. we've given them a significant rise, rightly so . significant rise, rightly so. whereas i think what would the labour give at the time? is it a couple of pound, if that a couple of pound, if that a couple week? couple of pence a week? so please about please don't talk about pensioners looked please don't talk about per£0.78 s looked please don't talk about per£0.78 s considerably)ked please don't talk about per£0.78 s considerably byd we £0.78 we've considerably by thousands looked after thousands of pounds looked after pensioners and rightly so is the plan to get rid of national insurance by when couldn't insurance and by when i couldn't tell when genuinely tell you by when i genuinely couldn't . but for me, making couldn't. but for me, making sure that the economy is stable, making sure inflation is coming down and then making sure that tax comes down, and obviously as labour are now the new thatcherites talking about margaret thatcher, it's a huge

surprise to me. but that's what margaret thatcher did. inflation down and then taxes onto one issue as we've had two, issue here as we've had two, two, several or several emails here two, several or several emails heryes, andrea from cornwall >> yes, andrea from cornwall writes in to ask can anyone in the tory party tell me that b you? and when my family and i will get access to an nhs dentist. dental practice dentist. our dental practice went in september went fully private in september last year and my daughter has been waiting list for six been on the waiting list for six years a dentist c from years for a dentist and c from lincolnshire to just just to know you made a similar know you made a very similar point. know you made a very similar pointphoned over 100 dentists >> i phoned over 100 dentists around the country and still can't nhs . i need can't get an nhs. i need implants. dentistry is a is a major, major problem. the plan's not working. >> absolutely. it's a major problem and it has been for some time. i've done debates before. i went back into be a cabinet minister. i've done debates on that. so i'm pleased to see the extra £200 million that the government's put in and the outreach work and paying dentists more, is a huge dentists more, but it is a huge problem. again, something else that went significantly worse. george easing lockdown. but we have to support people and this

is a big issue that we've got to get right. so i welcome the support but we need more. >> would it be better under >> would it be any better under laboun >> would it be any better under labour. would would labour. well look would would sue able to get dentist. >> yes, yes it would be better under labour because got under labour because we've got a fully funded plan release fully funded plan to release 800,000 from 800,000 new dentists nhs from what point do you pay for it with, yes we are. we fully funded and we fully accounted for that. and dentistry is a massive issue because it has got impossible. i mean, it's got impossible. i mean, it's got impossible under this conservative government to get a dentist appointment. and that's not just bad for those individuals who then can't get their dental health done in an affordable way, but it's also costing the nhs dearly as well, because, you know, some shocking statistics that i read recently and my husband's an a&e doctor. so i hear this from him too, is that the majority of children coming into our a&e departments is with tooth decay and tooth problems, so it's costing acute care for a great deal to deal with the with with the

prevention that could otherwise be happening. if we could just get people the oral health care that they need, child that they need, because child tooth awful and we all tooth decay is awful and we all agree on that. and that's why i say the steps that the government take has taken in the last couple of months is welcome, more needs to be welcome, but more needs to be done. accept and then done. so i accept that and then you've get the dentist. you've got to get the dentist. hence given a bonus you've got to get the dentist. hecome. given a bonus you've got to get the dentist. hecome. i given a bonus you've got to get the dentist. hecome. i know,en a bonus you've got to get the dentist. hecome. i know, but a bonus you've got to get the dentist. hecome. i know, but youa bonus you've got to get the dentist. hecome. i know, but you chosers to come. i know, but you chose you're not to get you you're not going to get you change contracts and change the contracts and the payments. i mean, my dentist tells the time. he tells me this all the time. he was it through, but was telling me it through, but it my nhs labour's that it was my nhs labour's ones that we've increased. we've actually increased. now we've actually increased. now we've time to do we've had a lot of time to do that, get that, but over the that, i get that, but over the 14 years got and 14 years it's got worse and worse worse and the worse and worse and the contracts, you're paying contracts, you're not paying dentists that work. dentists enough to do that work. there's no incentive there. that's why they're going private. to you, may the private. so to you, may the economy get the economy on track , because you can't pay for this if you don't have the money. so this is what we're doing, as i said, 500 billion we spent on lockdown. and now we've all got to come together to get over that. first thing would that. and the first thing would be is a major. how be dentistry is a major. how much did liz budget

much did the liz truss budget cost as well? i mean, you tanked the economy, you crashed the economy. paying more economy. we're all paying more for higher mortgage for that in higher mortgage rates. look wales . rates. lucy, i look to wales. wales, which is labour run. the nhs, in fact, they're nhs, is worse. in fact, they're now people to england now sending people to england because so there because the nhs is so bad. there look at what's happening to farmers as labour race to net zero. it's not. it's going to cost 5500 farmers jobs and the 20 mile an hour in labour run wales is costing 4 billion economy. i am and that's what labour do. what? david's got nothing to do with my mortgage rates going up hundreds of pounds a month, and all the viewers here interest rates gone through the roof because decisions took when you lost decisions you took when you lost control of the economy crashed the we're all paying the economy. we're all paying a price. labour run wales is worse. the economy worse on everything. absolutely measure, as is birmingham city council, run by labour, and as is london, run by labour, and as is london, run by labour, and as is london, run by labour. so please, labour would tank the economy for the whole country. renee there's many good places on by labour as well. james and crystal palace

james and crystal palace is noting that the safety of rwanda bill going through the house bill is going through the house of at least of lords today, or at least whether back the whether it comes back to the house commons house of commons again. >> we'll to if they >> we'll wait to see if they accept changes reverse >> we'll wait to see if they acce by changes reverse >> we'll wait to see if they acce by the nges reverse >> we'll wait to see if they acce by the nges recommons, that by by the house of commons, he . the pm said he's going he says. the pm said he's going to stop the boats. esther mcvey. what's he done ? what's he got to what's he done? what's he got to say of say about the number of crossings mean so crossings today? i mean 3000 so far this year. not working far this year. it's not working is and can rwanda work? is it. and can rwanda work? >> believe rwanda will work. i >> i believe rwanda will work. i kind of wish that we didn't have those wrecking measurements, that we had votes in the house of lords , fundamentally by of lords, fundamentally by laboun of lords, fundamentally by labour. labour's voted against stopping this illegal migration at least 70 times. and we've now got to get it through because as the national crime agency said , the national crime agency said, the national crime agency said, the rwanda will be a deterrent. i that's really important. i think that's really important. and the other mentions that rishi sunak in question time mentioned today and that's, you know, extra support, you know , know, extra support, you know, with fans to stop it. all of the agreements like agreements we've got like albania to send people back. so yes, it's one of a set of measurements. and of course we've stopped the boat

crossings, as the prime minister said, more to be said, by 30. a lot more to be done. but remember, we're the only with illegal only party dealing with illegal and legal migration. labour doesn't have an answer on this at all. the word labour is wanting to. it'll do worse under laboun wanting to. it'll do worse under labour. no plan, no plan . labour. no plan, no plan. >> that is what the tories want. >> that is what the tories want. >> illegal boat crossings before this government came in, they've gone through the roof a year on year on year. they used to be a few dozen a year a few years ago. now there are tens of thousands a year. it's gone through the roof around the world. it's gone through. it's gone through roof. because gone through the roof. because you've lost control of immigration. control immigration. you've lost control of managed well. of managed migration as well. and plan , it won't and the rwanda plan, it won't work. that's why we've been voting against it. half £1 billion. just ask a half £1 billion. just ask a half £1 billion. two for 300 people. lucy, can i just ask a question ? lucy, can i just ask a question? when people come over illegally, they should be. when people exactly straight away. and when they don't have their passport because frequently they destroy their we don't know their passport. so we don't know where they're from. how is labour them back to

labour sending them back to somewhere that they don't know where come there has where they come from? there has to country, safe to be a third country, a safe third country. otherwise you won't be sending anybody anywhere. but you're not rwanda, sending anybody anywhere. that's because all the opposition because of all the opposition from lefty lawyers, lefty politicians who vote against it. so let's hope. how big is the backlog now? you're not even processed them. we need this. and you don't even call it a backlog anymore . the home backlog anymore. the home secretary calls a queue secretary now calls it a queue can. millions of can. i am paying millions of pounds? it does, let me pounds? know if it does, let me answer. paying millions answer. you're paying millions of pounds a day to house people, a to house people in a day to house people in expensive hotels because you're not processing their not actually processing their applications , so you don't know applications, so you don't know whether they're illegally whether they're here illegally or gone . deal or not. so those are gone. deal with backlog, deal with the with the backlog, deal with the backlog. you've with the backlog, deal with the backlidecision you've with the backlog, deal with the backlidecision set, you've with the backlog, deal with the backlidecision set, get you've with the backlog, deal with the backlidecision set, get theiu've got a decision set, get the returns send returns arrangements and send people . that's what we people back. that's what we would do. and we deal with the criminal gangs who driving criminal gangs who are driving people we have got people over here. so we have got that that's that backlog down. that's correct . and we have the correct. and we have got the answer massively first, i'm answer massively up first, i'm honestly bit got it down honestly a tiny bit got it down right. so what would say it

right. so what would you say it works. and the planes go off and rwanda's working and it's been a deterrent and we're sending people away. would labour keep the rwanda policy once the planes off and if it were planes are off and if it were working, would you keep the rwanda policy if it were working ? well, it won't work. no, no. my if it did so my question is if it did so that's what we need to know. so expensive. even if it would work . we think think that for the . we think we think that for the half £1 billion, £500 million for your own figures say that will send 300 people, 300 people going to rwanda for £500 million. this is not 2 million. that's £2 million per person. you see, this is nonsense. the figures figures. no, no, the home office figures. no, no, it's uncapped and we're sending as many people as your own figures predict 300. >> i'm going to draw this fantasy politics from their own home office figures. do let us know what you think . two know what you think. two competing views on to how solve soft on soft on immigration. >> labour. yeah right. lost control of immigration tories.

but anyway you let more people in as you know. >> right okay. mark has been in touch, please could you ask your guests mark fantastic question. but do let us know where you're from next time . how much longer from next time. how much longer they think people can the they think people can afford the extortionate levels of council tax. we don't know where you're from, mark, but i suspect this figure is not untypical. he says.i figure is not untypical. he says. i now pay almost £9 a day. that absurd. now that's the that is absurd. now that's the high rates of council tax, which, by the way, i feel felt particularly when lived particularly when i lived outside much particularly when i lived outsidefor much particularly when i lived outsidefor a much particularly when i lived outsidefor a cheaper much particularly when i lived outsidefor a cheaper property. higher for a cheaper property. it's still going to be the same. however, it's a council tax under labour. you're not going to give of cash to suddenly give loads of cash to suddenly give loads of cash to government, you? to local government, are you? >> just about >> let's not just make it about us when we're not the ones putting council tax up. the government has has raised the cap. >> labour led birmingham there. >> labour led birmingham there. >> there's particular problems in in birmingham particular historic problems. but what's happened local government funding has gone through the floor. so local government is only partly funded by your council tax. it's also partly

funded by central government based. it should be based on need but it's not based on need. and this government changed the formula so that the better off areas, usually the tory areas , areas, usually the tory areas, now get more of the central government funding, the worse off areas with the highest need, get of that local get less of that local government funding to try and plug gap government funding to try and plug gap in their own plug the gap in their own underfunding of things like social care and looked after children in that the government are doing. they were the ones who put up cap this year, who put up the cap this year, the amount that local authorities allowed authorities are allowed to increase it by 5% and local government have had no choice but that because they've seen their funding cut, cut, cut cut , their funding cut, cut, cut cut, cut year after year as demand has for social care and has gone up for social care and the things that they're responsible. >> who's who's, who's who's behind the increase in council? >> the social >> well, definitely the social care support. we've care needs extra support. we've seen that. where where's your . seen that. where where's your. so £600 million has just gone into that to support that was cut by 3 billion. hang on a second. and then extra support has gone into the councils to

support them in different ways. i look now at the sort of 8.3 billion for road surfacing and potholes. so more money is going in. but i will look at birmingham, was run birmingham, which was labour run and it system. there shouldn't have been there. get commonwealth games that they shouldn't have done. were told not to go andy street and not to go for andy street and what done with as what they've done with as i said, manchester mayor. so said, it's manchester mayor. so that taxi bills that were being paid so badly badly run and it's now going to its constituents for a 20% increase in council tax. don't agree with that. and as i said, that's what you get from a badly run council. but times are hard. i get that. and that's the government's that's why the government's handed 600 million to handed out 600 million to support mark. >> i'm sure we've got >> i'm not sure we've got a clear answer on clear answer from either on whether will whether your council tax will fall, just explanations of fall, but just explanations of why it's so high. >> well, it's going up because of what the government have been doing. frank from teesside. listen asked your listen he asked what's your plan? for growth. plan? labour's plan for growth. now back your now you've rolled back your growth or £28 billion growth plan or £28 billion of green well we've green investment. well we've still got a really ambitious

growth still got a really ambitious growe're looking investing >> we're looking at investing 5.5, at least 5.5 billion a year over ten years in that transition to green and per capita, that is actually more ambitious than what the beau biden has done in in america . biden has done in in america. yeah. so that's fully costed. it's going to create thousands of jobs, especially outside of london in the south east, around the country, in the places that once built britain and like teesside, teesside, teesside, nonh teesside, teesside, teesside, north wales , scotland, coastal north wales, scotland, coastal communities, but also greening that steel industry as well. tidal carbon capture all these great technologies of the future. we've got that plan for growth and we think that will, do what this country needs to do, which is win that global race. and the conservatives are just turning their back on it. >> from blackpool, she >> maria from blackpool, she asked an interesting question. i don't able to don't know if we'll be able to help i guess it's one don't know if we'll be able to helyou. i guess it's one don't know if we'll be able to helyou. as i guess it's one don't know if we'll be able to helyou. as to, guess it's one don't know if we'll be able to helyou. as to, i|uess it's one don't know if we'll be able to helyou. as to, i would :'s one don't know if we'll be able to helyou. as to, i would like re don't know if we'll be able to helyou. as to, i would like to for you. as to, i would like to ask minister sunak for you. as to, i would like to ask he minister sunak for you. as to, i would like to ask he discussed sunak for you. as to, i would like to ask he discussed with sunak for you. as to, i would like to ask he discussed with barack for you. as to, i would like to ask hewhenlssed with barack for you. as to, i would like to ask hewhen heed with barack for you. as to, i would like to ask hewhen he visited barack for you. as to, i would like to ask hewhen he visited him ck obama when he visited him in downing week i >> -- >> very interesting. i'd say i

was we all intrigued when was we were all intrigued when it a little tour around it was a little tour around europe. know i'd be europe. well, i know what i'd be asking, obama, don't europe. well, i know what i'd be askingwhat obama, don't europe. well, i know what i'd be askingwhat rishi bama, don't europe. well, i know what i'd be askingwhat rishi asked don't europe. well, i know what i'd be askingwhat rishi asked him,|'t i know what rishi asked him, but i know what rishi asked him, but i know be asking about know what i'd be asking about him. biden, give us a break. him. joe biden, give us a break. that stand or that man can't stand again or the rumours. that your wife the rumours. true that your wife might to run as might actually want to run as the democrat candidate. so i guess i'd be intrigued to know that.is guess i'd be intrigued to know that. is that what he's doing? reaching out around the world? >> but obviously, do you worry if wins, there'll if trump wins, there'll be a problem the labour problem for the labour government the government if labour wins the election? to see two better >> i'd like to see two better candidates to lead america, to be honest. but more importantly, i guess i'd hope he was asking about support for ukraine. i hope he was asking about trade deals, and i hope he was asking about nato and the support there. >> okay. and i guess if you if the polls are right , then you the polls are right, then you will be hosting those, leaders and leaders, in number and former leaders, in number 10. but for now , we've run out 10. but for now, we've run out of time. we've thoroughly enjoyed your company. another all woman. >> lucy. we did a good one. there we were. lucy. we were us. >> we were lively for coming up .

>> we were lively for coming up. >> we were lively for coming up. >> it's good afternoon, britain, with tom and emily, who are going to tell us what's in there? sure. >> will any government anywhere in the world ever host a referendum ever again? it's only been a couple of weeks since leo varadkar lost two referendums by enormous margins when he thought he'd win them. and now he's out as irish t shook also the australian aboriginal referendum did not go the way the government thought it would just a few months ago. it seems there's a revolt against what governments their governments want their populations to do. >> yes. >> yes. >> governments ea—- >> will governments stop asking if they don't get the answers that they're expecting? also, one story that caught my eye is that a cambridge college , one of that a cambridge college, one of the university's colleges, has decided , has drawn up plans to decided, has drawn up plans to scrap their anglican choir altogether in favour of more diverse music . diverse music. >> i think this is a travesty, a break with tradition , but we'll break with tradition, but we'll get to the bottom of what's going on. >> what a thrilling show, emily and tom. well, that's all from

me in gloria for a bit. >> and mps are going , me in gloria for a bit. >> and mps are going, i shouldn't say on holiday because they're all contests, aren't they? having a parliamentary recess. we will be back for prime question. prime minister's question. i think the 17th of april. think it's the 17th of april. yes. happy easter then, yes. happy easter until then, from . you've ever seen chris? from me. you've ever seen chris? lots. >> you've been watching this pmqs live me and . gloria. pmqs live with me and. gloria. >> a brighter outlook with boxt solar , the sponsors of weather solar, the sponsors of weather on . gb news. on. gb news. >> hello and welcome to your latest gb news weather forecast from the met office. today we've got some rain spilling its way south eastwards , the best of south and eastwards, the best of the up towards the brightness up towards the north—west mild north—west and fairly mild across the country. now that's down front that down to this weather front that we've sitting through we've got sitting through central of the country, central parts of the country, bringing air across bringing this milder air across the uk. but as it eases from the northwest, you see northwest, you can see some brighter skies pushing in to western northern western scotland and northern ireland afternoon .

ireland through this afternoon. so that's we'll see the so that's where we'll see the best sunshine. quite best of the sunshine. quite grey, murky and cloudy best of the sunshine. quite grey, rain murky and cloudy best of the sunshine. quite grey, rain and urky and cloudy best of the sunshine. quite grey, rain and drizzle,i cloudy best of the sunshine. quite grey, rain and drizzle, someiy with rain and drizzle, some heavier the day heavier bursts through the day across england and wales, but down towards south—east it down towards the south—east it should dry. we'll see some should stay dry. we'll see some brightness of 16 or brightness with highs of 16 or 17 celsius through wednesday evening. then that rain continues to filter its way south and eastwards, tending to die out as it does through the night. a lot of cloud left in its wake, though some pockets of mist and fog developing and a few spells , particularly few clear spells, particularly for the north and the northwest. but you can but later in the night you can see this cloud and rain gathering western gathering across western scotland and northern ireland, so turning quite wet windy scotland and northern ireland, so theiing quite wet windy scotland and northern ireland, so the end quite wet windy scotland and northern ireland, so the end ofte wet windy scotland and northern ireland, so the end of the 'et windy scotland and northern ireland, so the end of the night. windy scotland and northern ireland, so the end of the night. but dy by the end of the night. but typically temperatures around by the end of the night. but typicaitheymperatures around by the end of the night. but typicaltheymperatlbe. around by the end of the night. but typicaltheymperatlbe. ar(this where they should be for this time year . where they should be for this time year. generally mild time of year. generally mild tonight. and windy to tonight. wet and windy start to the day though for scotland and northern ireland that rain continuing to pile in through the day, the winds picking up across country quite across the country turning quite windy in far northwest, but windy in the far northwest, but a elsewhere . a breezy picture elsewhere. bright and breezy for england and some sunny spells and wales. some sunny spells from to time, just making from time to time, just making it fresher than it feel a little fresher than today highs of 15 or

today but still highs of 15 or 16. i'll see you soon. bye bye . 16. i'll see you soon. bye bye. >> looks like things are heating up boxt boilers sponsors of weather on

gb news. good afternoon. >> britain. it's coming up to 1:00 on wednesday, the 20th of march. >> the irish premier, leo varadkar , has in the past hour varadkar, has in the past hour resigned. >> this follows two enormous referendum defeats in ireland , referendum defeats in ireland, where the public rejected the government's attempts to change constitutional language around the family and the role of women. >> an investigation is launched at the hospital which recently treated princess kate and king charles. at least one member of staff is suspected of trying to access kate's medical records. we'll bring you the very latest. >> are we about to see a drop in

interest rates?