Prime Minister Keir Starmer faces sharp criticism in the House of Commons over Peter Mandelson’s US ambassador appointment despite Epstein ties, Hillsborough Law delays, and safeguarding failures like grooming gangs. Labour’s 60,000 skilled worker training pledge and £200M heritage funding contrast with £500M demanded for Alexandra Palace. Starmer defends 60,000+ deportations, including a third rise in foreign criminal removals, while promising human rights law reforms and urgent action on knife crime, bin strikes, and rural flooding—yet MPs question his leadership amid resignations like Morgan McSweeney’s. Meanwhile, C-SPAN shifts to US crises: Trump-era shutdowns, Venezuela’s post-Maduro chaos, and executive power debates, underscoring global instability as domestic scrutiny intensifies. [Automatically generated summary]
Along with these other television providers, giving you a front row seat to democracy.
British Prime Minister Kier Starmer fielded questions from members of the House of Commons, where he was asked about his appointment of Peter Mandelson as US Ambassador following his resignation earlier this month, after it was revealed he had ties to the late convicted sex offender Geoffrey Epstein.
So first of all, we now go to 1 Cent Toby Perkins for Prime Minister's questions.
Good morning, sir.
Prime Minister.
I didn't know the Prime Minister was that popular on this side.
My thoughts, and I'm sure the thoughts of the whole House, with the two children stabbed at Kingsbury High School in Brent.
And my heart goes out to everyone affected by this appalling attack.
We thank the police for their rapid response.
It's important now that we give them the space to pursue their investigation.
And Mr. Speaker, this morning I conveyed the UK's deepest condolences to Prime Minister Kearney and the people of Canada for the devastating shooting in Tumblr Ridge.
Mr. Speaker, I'm determined to fix the broken SEN system.
No parents should have to fight for the support their child needs.
Today we announced a 10-year plan to fix the crumbling school estate that we inherited, delivering a more modern and inclusive classrooms that meet the needs of every child.
Mr. Speaker, this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and there's been quite a few of those this week.
unidentified
In addition to my duties in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.
Thank you.
I'd like to associate myself with the Prime Minister's remarks there.
The Prime Minister's commitment to one and a half million more homes will require 48,000 new entrants to the construction industry every year.
In Chesterville we're doing our budget.
The Construction Skills Hub brought 70 new entrants into the construction sector and we did see a welcome increase in numbers across the country last year.
But we need a step change.
We need numbers to double.
So can the Prime Minister tell the House what steps he is taking to get more people to commit to construction industry careers and get those numbers up where we need them to deliver on his housing ambitions?
The task of rebuilding our country is a huge opportunity to give young people a brilliant career.
And we're backing apprentices with a record £3 billion budget.
And we're making sure companies who bid for major contracts commit to high-quality apprenticeships here in the United Kingdom.
And Mr. Speaker, we're creating 13,000 new opportunities for young people as plumbers, engineers and bricklayers, securing their future and rebuilding this country.
unidentified
We come to the Leader of the Opposition, Kevin Ben.
And can I associate my side of the House with the Prime Minister's words on the horrific stabbing in North London yesterday, as well as the shooting in Canada?
When he was Leader of the Opposition, the Prime Minister said, and I quote, I never turn on my staff.
Well, Mr. Speaker, I've accepted responsibility and apologised for the mistakes that I made.
But let me say this, Mr. Speaker.
Let me say this, Mr. Speaker.
Morgan McSweeney helped me change our party and helped me win a landslide election victory, which delivered for them the smallest Tory party in over 100 years.
Mr Speaker, I delivered a landslide victory for our government.
Only four people have ever led the Labour Party to victory in the general election.
I'm one of them.
And she talks about numbers.
Let us remember, Mr. Speaker, five Prime Ministers, seven Chancellors, eight Home Secretaries, eight Foreign Secretaries, 16 Housing Secretaries, all completely useless.
All failed Britain and this Prime Minister's clearing up the mess.
She comes here every week desperately fighting to save her dying party.
I'm fighting to change our country.
Interest rates down.
Inflation down.
Waiting lists down.
Child poverty down.
And I'll tell you another thing's down.
The number of Tory MPs.
unidentified
Thank you Mr Speaker.
The government has delivered the funding needed to rebuild the new Frimley Park Hospital after the party opposite made empty unfunded promises to my constituents.
Now we urgently need to get on with announcing the preferred site along with the investment needed to improve public transport, road access and parking.
Will the Prime Minister urge NHS England to make this a priority and help give much-needed clarity to Brattonall Forest residents?
Mr. Speaker, can I associate myself with the Prime Minister's remarks about the dreadful stabbing of two children in Brent and about the horrifying shootings in British Columbia?
Our thoughts and prayers are with the children's parents and the people of Canada, especially those grieving the loss of loved ones.
Mr. Speaker, to appoint one paedophile supporter cannot be excused as misfortune.
To appoint two shows a catastrophic lack of judgment.
The Right Honourable Gentleman once told this House that when a Prime Minister refuses to take responsibility, and I quote, it only serves to convince people that things cannot get better, that governments cannot improve people's lives, and that progress is not possible because politics does not work.
Does he still agree with himself?
And does he share my fear that that is exactly what is happening now?
But I think the whole House will agree that the Manson scandal has shown yet again why we need a duty of candour for anyone and everyone in public office.
Mr. Speaker, there should be no more delays in putting the Hillsborough Law on the statute books.
After the long fight by the bereaved families and so many others, like the Mayor of Greater Manchester, the Prime Minister once said it would be one of the first things he did in number 10.
Will he finally do it now, even if it's the last thing he does?
The panel report in the Hillsborough case was when I started working on the Hillsborough case.
That was in 2012, when his party were in power.
And they could have passed this law a long time ago and saved a lot of Greece.
I'm proud that this Labor government is bringing in a Hillsborough law, something I have committed to for a very, very long time.
unidentified
But Jim Quidley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
As the Prime Minister will have heard me say, the Isle of Wight is a fantastic place to live, work and learn, despite the Leader of the Opposition trying to give us to China.
Speeches and Solutions00:15:33
unidentified
He will also be aware of some of the challenges we have in cross-sole transport, reliability, frequency, and price.
The emissions trading scheme, which ironically only applies to hybrid vessels, may increase fares further.
Despite exemptions granted for Scotland and Northern Ireland, the lack of grid capacity fully decarbonise.
I am deeply concerned about the impact on our island community.
Will the Prime Minister urgently ask Desnes Ministers to review this issue?
I know how important affordable ferries are for his constituents' everyday lives.
The ETS scheme will make Journalist cleaner, and we're working with ferry companies on the grid connections in ports that enable greener vessels.
I'll make sure that he gets a meeting with the relevant minister.
unidentified
Stephen Flynn.
Mr. Speaker, if I've just listened to the Prime Minister correctly, he's essentially rolled the same pitch in relation to Matthew Doyle as he did with Peter Mandelson, that they weren't clear with him.
He appears to be the most gullible former director of public prosecutions in history.
But he had a slight problem, Mr. Speaker, because some of us do read the newspapers.
Towards the end of last year, indeed on 30 December, having written to the House of Lords Appointments Commission, I received a response from the Chair, who advised me that as part of their vetting, they provide confidential advice to the Prime Minister on the propriety of a potential nominee.
He will have read that in nine days their former party chief executive goes on trial for embezzling money.
And if he'll have read that the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, we see one of the worst failures in Scottish public life.
Vulnerable children and adults put at risk.
Evidence of serious warnings to the SNP government were ignored.
He should have been looking at those, not looking at the newspapers.
The First Minister should act because families deserve accountability.
unidentified
Can I just remind the Promise that we don't discuss live curses cases of judicial?
Anna Dixon.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Last week, I met Leighton, a T-level construction student at Bradford College.
He was working on the remediation of rack at Airedale Hospital.
In the last few years, Bradford has made tremendous progress in reducing the rate of young people not in employment education or training.
So will the Prime Minister reconfirm his commitment to vocational and skills training and set out how this Labor government is ensuring that young people like Leighton have career opportunities in construction and other critical industries?
Leighton's success is a testament to what young people can achieve with the right support.
We're creating technical excellent colleges and delivering training places for 60,000 skilled construction workers.
And Labour's creating opportunities for every young person whilst building the homes, the schools and the hospitals that our country needs.
And that's what I'm fighting for.
unidentified
Rebecca Smith.
Last year, Plymouth was named the National Centre for Marine Autonomy and given a defence growth deal.
However, the SMEs in the unmanned surface vessel sector, many based at Turnchapel Wharf in my constituency, are having their work held back because of out-of-date regulations from the Maritime and Coast Guard Agency.
Last week, I was told that draft regulations exist, but that they require primary legislation.
Now, without these new regulations, many of these vital SMEs developing autonomous vessels that have dual commercial and defence use are at risk.
So, Mr. Speaker, will the Prime Minister show some backbone and consider finding a slot for primary legislation as a matter of urgency, or at least consider adding it to the King's speech later this spring, assuming that he is still in charge of the legislative programme by then?
Mr. Speaker, we are taking action, but in the particular case she raises in her constituency, if she sends me or my team the details, I'll see if there's anything we can do to support what is obviously an important issue.
unidentified
Steve Rays.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
The Prime Minister will be aware of Lorraine Cox, a resident of Exeter, who in 2020 was murdered by a man whose asylum claim had been denied but who is not removed from this country.
Will the Prime Minister set out what more this government will do to make sure deportations of people who have no right to be here and of those who have committed criminal offences will be sped up?
And would he meet with Lorraine's father to discuss the family's campaign for justice for Lorraine?
My honourable friend raises an awful case, and my thoughts and those I'm sure of the whole House are with the loved ones of Lorraine.
Tackling violence against women and girls is a critical mission, and I'll make sure the Home Office Minister meets the family.
I want to be absolutely clear, Mr. Speaker.
Illegal immigrants who commit such appalling acts should not be in this country.
That's why we've already removed nearly 60,000 people with no right to be here, and deportations of foreign criminals is up by a third.
We're also reforming human rights law to allow us to swiftly remove those with no right to be here.
unidentified
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
My Oxfordshire constituents are sick of widespread potholes, particularly at Milton Interchange, Didcot, and along the A417 serving Challow and Stamford in the Vale.
Yet the government is cutting funding for Oxfordshire County Council by £24 million over three years, which is equivalent to its annual highways maintenance budget.
The Prime Minister is of course entitled to dig a pothole for himself, but why is he cutting funding for Oxfordshire's roads?
We put a record amount of money into dealing with potholes.
He needs to ask his council, run by his party, why they're not using that money.
unidentified
Douglas McAllister.
Source of great pride to Scottish Labour MPs that is Chancellor Gordon Brown lifted more children out of poverty than any other Chancellor before him.
It's also a source of great pride that this Mr. Flint, you don't need to come behind that because still your vote is louder than mine.
Douglas McAllister.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
It's also a source of great pride that this torch is now passed over to our government and by removing the two-shell benefit cap, we will lift more children out of poverty in a single parliament than ever before.
2,260 children in West and Bartonshire, 95,000 in Scotland.
Does the Prime Minister agree that this demonstrates true Labour values in action across Scotland and the UK?
Well on this side of the House, Mr. Speaker, we know the damage that growing up in poverty does to the life chances of children.
The Tories put hundreds of thousands of children into poverty and they'll live with that for the rest of their lives.
We are undoing their damage.
Our decision will benefit almost 100,000 children in Scotland as we deliver the largest reduction in child poverty in any single parliament.
unidentified
Lear Wilson.
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
The manslaughter of baby Gigi Meehan at a nursery in Cheadall.
21 counts of child cruelty at Riverside Nursery in Twickenham Green in my constituency.
56 charges of sexual assault and creating indecent images at a nursery in Camden.
And just this week, 21 counts of sexual abuse at a nursery in Bristol.
Mr. Speaker, CCTV was critical for convicting the criminals in most of these cases.
So will the Prime Minister ensure that no parent ever has to fear for their child's safety while they go to work by introducing mandatory CCTV in nurseries and a childcare workers register?
They're harrowing cases for everyone in this country.
The safety of children is, of course, paramount, and we're acting to keep them safe.
We're implementing all the proposals consulted on to strengthen safeguarding as part of our early years foundation stage framework.
Expert group developing guidance on the effective use of CCTV, the point she makes, and considering whether it should be mandatory in early settings.
I'll make sure that she's updated as we take that work forward.
Catherine West.
unidentified
Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker.
126 years ago, this House legislated to make Alexandra Palace available for the free use of the public forever.
And last year, Luke the Nuke changed darts forever by rewriting the record books.
Today, Ali Pally plays host to World Championship Darts, Master Snooker, Herringay Huskies, Greyhounds for Ice Hockey, plus music, comedy, drama, and more.
Will the PM today keep the palace competitive as the international venue for darts by supporting my campaign to raise a one-off public-private £500 million investment for urgent capital improvements?
Prime Minister, can I thank my Honourable Friend that the People's Palace is an iconic British venue, a home for darts, snooker, and world-class music.
It's vital that we support brilliant venues that give so much to our cultural life.
And that's why, Mr. Speaker, we're providing almost £200 million to preserve heritage buildings across the country so venues like Alexander Palace can have a bright future.
unidentified
Last week, Stark Bay was devastated by storm damage, homes and businesses wrecked, and an important A-road severed.
Thousands who used it to commute to school, work and health care are stranded, bus routes broken, emergency vehicles blocked, and the 300,000 visitors who come annually and underpin our fragile tourist economy now in doubt.
But this is a place that has stepped up twice to defend our country.
Once when one and a half million cubic metres of shingle were dredged out of the bay to build the naval dockyards in Plymouth, and again when it was used as a training ground for the D-Day landings at a cost of 750 American soldiers' lives.
It is also the site of a unique national nature reserve with rare species found only here.
This storm damage is of national significance.
So I ask the Prime Minister if he will ensure that the myriad of government agencies and departments needed will work together with experts to find and fund a sustainable long-term solution to the coastal erosion that is inflicting so much.
It's a very important question, but I'm sure the Prime Minister must have got it in the first two minutes.
I know communities have been badly affected by recent storms and damage the A379 is very concerning.
I'm pleased that she is meeting the Rhodes and Floods Minister today.
I think we are investing £10 billion to improve coastal and flood defences and I want to thank the Environment Agency staff for working hard right now, putting extra protections in place and supporting people ahead of further wet weather.
unidentified
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
For too long communities like mine in Bartley Green felt decisions were made about them, not with them.
Fourteen years of austerity did not just close neighbourhood offices and youth services.
It broke trust.
Through Pride in Place in Woodgate, this government is helping residents restore the Woodgate Valley Cafe and so much more.
What is the Prime Minister's message to my constituents about how politics can be a force for good and that he will never walk away from my community and the country we love?
My message is that I've always believed that those with skin in the game make the best decisions about their community.
And I know just how much her constituents want Woodgate Valley Visitor Centre back open.
Together I do think we can make that happen.
And if you want to know Mr. Speaker, where hope is in Britain, it's in our communities.
And that's why we're investing so heavily in our Pride in Place initiative.
unidentified
James Wilde.
Thank you very much.
My constituents' mum, sister, and stepfather were killed in a horrific, dangerous driving crime.
And the foreign national offender was sentenced to 10 and a half years.
But the family have just been told that he may be released imminently in order to be deported, having served just three years.
Will the Prime Minister look at this case and what steps can be taken to prevent that release, given such a pitiful service time, three years for three lives, would be the final insult and undermine public confidence in our justice system?
Can I thank him for raising what is obviously a terrible case?
I'll make sure that it's looked into if he could provide further details so we can do it as quickly as possible.
unidentified
David Pintultusensky.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Our democracy in this House relies on the spoken word.
But many with speech disabilities are left without a voice.
I have a speech impediment.
So do two million adults and one in 12 children.
It can rob people of their confidence, lead to discrimination and limit our opportunities in work and in public life.
It's time to tear down these barriers.
Can the Prime Minister share what this government is doing to help people with speech disabilities get the support they need so their voices can be heard?
Can I start by saying he is an inspirational and powerful campaigner on this issue?
And by doing what he's doing, he will give great courage to other people to take the same steps.
I'm proud we're increasing the number of NHS speech and language therapists.
We're trialling new ways of identifying and supporting children with speech and language needs in their early years because I agree that every child deserves the help they need to reach their potential.
unidentified
Dr. Old Pinkerton.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
My Surrey Heath constituent Christopher was discharged from the RAF in 1966 solely for being gay.
But despite the government committing to restoring the medals, the berets and indeed acknowledging the injustice of those discharged from our armed forces prior to 1967, his case has been dismissed out of hand with only a letter that contained the track changes from the template that the MOD issued.
Sir, can I ask the Prime Minister to take a personal interest in this case to ensure that it's resolved swiftly and to allow Christopher to march on Remembrance Day as he wishes to with his medals and his beret and his dignity restored?
I will do everything I can to ensure that that happens, which is absolutely what should happen.
This was an absolute scandal, the gays in the military ban, and it's absolutely right that it was overturned, but we must follow through on that and I'll do everything I can to make sure that we deliver on what he's asked me to deliver on.
unidentified
Last week the government launched a consultation on establishing a growth development corporation for Cambridge.
In the meantime, Peter Freeman, the chairman of the Cambridge Growth Company, has on the record as saying we should aim to be the most liveable city in Europe.
That's a fantastic ambition, one which I entirely agree with.
And I'd ask the Prime Minister, given that this will be good for growth, not just for Cambridge, but for the region and the wider economy, what more can the government do to help us, not least to help that generation of young people who can barely afford a home?
Well, his constituency is already home to brilliant research, innovation and economic growth.
And through a greater Cambridge Development Corporation, we'll put in the powers and resources to unlock its full potential.
I want to let local people have their say.
We'll make sure that we create a fair plan with attractive, well-connected and thriving new neighbourhoods.
unidentified
Tom Tugendar.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
Would the Prime Minister share with me the concern that while some ambassadors retiring in disgrace get tens of thousands of pounds in payoff, many other civil servants are failing to get the retirement that they are due and are expected to turn to their old departments for bridging loans?
This is clearly a scandal.
Would he put all of his effort behind making sure that those who have served with integrity are treated with the dignity that they deserve?
Yes, we are taking steps and he's right we should take further steps and I think that will be agreed across the House.
unidentified
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
The announcement that pubs and music venues would receive a much-welcomed reduction in business rate is a positive step.
However, in our manifesto we did promise root and branch reform of business rates.
Hospitality and leisure businesses in my Starbridge constituency are facing a projected £20,000 increase in business rates over the next three years along with employment cost increases and energy costs.
Hospitality and leisure play a vital role for our communities providing jobs and spaces to socialise.
So will the Prime Minister consider a similar rates relief package for hospitality and leisure?
She's right that we need the conditions for flourishing high streets and it underscores the importance of six interest rate cuts, the £5.8 billion that we put into Pride in Place and the work to put money in people's pockets.
I'm pleased we've delivered a 15% cut and a two-year freeze for pubs and live music venues.
That comes on top of the £4.3 billion to support businesses and permanently lower rates for retail, hospitality and leisure properties.
unidentified
Thank you Mr. Speaker and I thank the Prime Minister for raising the stabbing at Kingsbury High School yesterday.
It is absolutely right that we allow the police to get on with their job of investigating this terrible atrocity and indeed the police are out there now providing reassurance to parents and people in the community.
And indeed I'm sure I speak for the whole House when our thoughts and prayers are with the victims, their families and also those that witness this atrocity.
But will the Prime Minister now look at what needs to be done to combat knife crime across the country?
It is absolutely wrong that people are carrying knives in the first place when they don't need to and indeed they're drawn into this terrible atrocity.
Can I thank him for raising this case and it's one of the most powerful and important things that we do as MPs in this place, particularly when there's such awful cases.
And he's absolutely right.
We must do everything we can to reduce knife crime.
There are initiatives and steps we've taken to remove the accessibility of knives where they can be bought.
We need to do much more work with our schools and young people to ensure that people don't carry knives and we need to work with the police and law enforcement to make sure that these incidents are investigated as quickly and as effectively as possible.
And I think that's a shared endeavour across the House.
unidentified
Sarah Edwards.
Thank you Mr. Speaker.
In my constituency the beautiful Grade 2 listed Chetwind Bridge on the A513 between Edingale and Alwass has been restricted to cars and light vans since October of 2023.
So farmers are facing a 25-mile diversion and with severe flooding now hitting Edingale multiple times a year, this vital route risks being cut off for emergency response times as well.
Bridges like this with a clear economic impact on communities should be the focus of the government's new structures fund, which I welcome.
So can I ask the Prime Minister to encourage his ministers to meet with me so that we can find a solution to this issue for my rural constituents in town?
Well can I thank her for raising this issue and just hearing her makes it absolutely clear that we need to find a solution to this so I'll make sure that she gets the meeting that she is requesting with the relevant minister so we can move as quickly as possible.
unidentified
Ab Khan, final question.
Mr. Speaker, rubbish is building up right beneath my very nose.
It's becoming.
It's just it's becoming a serious problem in Birmingham.
In Birmingham, bin strikes are now running over close to two years.
So can I ask gently the Prime Minister to intervene and perhaps speak to the leader of Birmingham City Council to see if he can re-enter negotiations with Unite the Union?
Yeah, he's right to raise this, and we're doing everything we can to resolve the situation which absolutely needs resolving.
unidentified
That completes Primacy's questions.
Coming up Monday morning, author and presidential historian Lindsay Chervinski on the role of the presidency and President Trump's use of executive power.
And then Matt Briney, Chief Communications and Marketing Officer for the Theodore Roosevelt Presidential Library, will talk about the building of the new presidential library and plans for a July 4th opening.
And later, PBS Frontline's Juan Ravel will talk about his new documentary on the aftermath in Venezuela following the U.S. capture of Nicolas Maduro.
C-SPAN's Washington Journal.
Join the conversation live at 7 Eastern Monday morning on C-SPAN, C-SPAN Now, our free mobile app, or online at cspan.org.
Join us on Monday to mark President's Day.
At 10 a.m. Eastern, we'll be at George Washington's Mount Vernon for a wreathlaying ceremony at Washington's tomb.
That's at 10 a.m. Eastern.
In the evening, at 6.30 p.m., New York Historical hosts a discussion on American democracy and key lessons in U.S. history.
All of this on C-SPAN and part of our coverage of America's 250th birthday.
A live look now at the U.S. Capitol, where the partial government shutdown continues due to a lapse in Homeland Security funding.
The day before the Friday midnight deadline, the Senate blocked House-passed legislation to fund DHS through September 30th.
However, The Timeline Was Short00:00:54
unidentified
Following the failed vote, Alabama Republican Senator Katie Britt and Connecticut Democratic Senator Chris Murphy debated a two-week continuing resolution proposal to fund the department while negotiations are still underway.
This is now the third shutdown of President Trump's second term.
Mr. President, I rise today to pass this legislation by unanimous consent and offer a two-week continuing resolution so that we can assure the DHS is fully funded while we continue to negotiate.
Two weeks ago, we agreed to extend funding while we talked and tried to find a pathway forward.
However, the timeline we knew was going to be short.
It took the Democrats until Saturday evening to actually produce legislative text.
Within the next four days, we were able to exchange dialogue and text again.