What time is PMQs today? Rishi Sunak to face Sir Keir after more economic gloom
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will face Labour’s Keir Starmer at this week’s Prime Minister’s Question (PMQs). The latest face-off comes after recent figures revealed the UK economy shrunk further than expected in July.
The latest data from ONS show the economy contracted by 0.5 per cent, where economists had forecast a 0.2 per cent decline.
The ONS points to strikes and wet weather as contributing factors to the data.
The economy will be a key political battleground ahead of the next general election, especially as inflation remains high and people struggle with the cost of living crisis.
What time is PMQs today?
PMQs starts at its usual time of 12 noon and will last for around 30 minutes.
You can watch it live on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.
What should we expect from PMQs?
The economy will likely be the focus of today’s session, following the ONS figures and ahead of the Autumn Statement in November.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has warned that tax cuts and spending hikes are “unlikely” at the Autumn statement, as he faces confirmation of an extra £2bn bill for the state pension.
Both the PM and Labour deputy leader Angela Rayner are refusing to guarantee the state pension triple lock will be part of their parties’ next election manifestos, as concerns grow that older people are receiving disproportionate levels of government support.
The state pension is set to rise by 8.5 per cent in April 2024 – the second largest jump ever recorded – on the back of new earnings figures