Kemi Badenoch slams 'ludicrous' Andy Burnham for allowing oil drilling off the Falklands but NOT in the North Sea
Kemi Badenoch has marked the "ludicrous" decision that Labour have allowed drilling off the Falklands Islands, but not yet in the North Sea.
Andy Burnham told the Commons this afternoon that a decision on the Rosebank oil field in the North Sea is a "quasi-legal decision, and it will be taken in due course".
Mrs Badenoch fumed back, declaring the UK's lawyers were in international court defending drilling off the coasts of the Falklands rather than approving Rosebank.
The Tory leader also noted how former Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, was against the plans.
Labour approved new gas drilling at the Jackdaw site, also a North Sea project, last month, with Mr Burnham saying he "welcomes" the approval.
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Andy Burnham: Rosebank oil field will be announced in due course
Replying to Kemi Badenoch's question as to when the Rosebank oil field will be announced, Andy Burnham said it is a "quasi-legal decision, and it will be taken in due course".
The Tory leader responds: "He says it's a quasi-judicial decision. It's a political decision."
She also notes the former Energy Secretary, Ed Miliband, was opposed to the plans... and draws attention to the former Labour leader's controversial interview with now convicted rapist Russell Brand.
"[Mr Milibans] called Rosebank climate vandalism. But then he also thought cosying up to Russell Brand would make him prime minister. So I don’t think we need to trust his judgement," she said.
Additionally, she mentions the Chancellor included the plans in his Budget - though it has not been approved as of yet.
PM refuses to confirm when spending review will be announced
Kemi Badenoch declares the "Government is adrift" as she slams the lack of future planning and recent Budget.
"Two weeks ago, we had a do-nothing Budget. It pushed all the big decisions - like funding our defence - into the spending review. But we have no idea when that is."
She asks if the PM can confirm the spending review will be announced by the summer.
Andy Burnham says the Budget was the "most popular in years" and pledges to deliver the Milburn Report next week, to put forward a plan that brings the welfare bill down.
Mrs Badenoch notes, very clearly, how the PM did not confirm when the spending will be. Instead, his reply was "waffle," she says.
Prime Minister: We will deliver 10-year plan before Christmas
Kemi Badenoch now stands to commemorate veterans, to whom Briton owe an "enduring debt of gratitude.
She then says the PM entered No10 promising to end 40 years of neoliberism with a 10-year plan. She asks if he needs the Boston Consultancy Group to write it for him.
Andy Burnham says he vows to give the country "the stability [the Conservatives] failed to provide."
He pledges to deliver his plan for Britain before the Christmas recess.
Andy Burnham kicks off PMQs
The Prime Minister has stood up in the Commons to kick off PMQs.
He starts things off by honouring the courage and bravery of those who have served in the Armed Forces, on Armistice Day.
Andy Burnham mentions veterans who are sleeping rough over the winter break. He urges MPs to work with their councils to ask an offer of accomodation is made to veterans over winter - something he wrote to councils about earlier today.
Defence Secretary joins war veterans at the Cenotaph
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting has joined military veterans at the Cenotaph for Amristice Day.
The nation fell silent to mark 108 years since the gunshots stopped and the World War I came to an end this morning.
November 11 marks not only a commemoration of those who gave their lives for Britain in World War I, but also the hundreds of thousands in the World War II, along with those who have served and dedicated their lives to their country since.
At the Cenotaph, thousands of commemorative poppies lined the streets.
State pension age would have to rise above 70 under Tory triple lock pledge, minister says
People could have to wait until well into their 70s to receive the state pension if a future Conservative government keeps the triple lock unchanged, Treasury minister Torsten Bell has claimed.
Mr Bell argued that maintaining the policy without reform would require faster increases in the state pension age to manage its cost.
Keeping the triple lock in its current form would cost £50billion a year by 2050, according to government estimates.
The state pension age is under review and is already scheduled to rise to 68 between 2044 and 2046.
Mr Bell criticised the Conservatives' pledge to preserve the triple lock while opposing Labour's planned reforms.
Welsh Reform leader stands by MS slapped with speaking ban for 'discriminatory' comments
The leader of Welsh Reform has stood behind the MS who was hit with a speaking ban for "discriminatory" comments.
Reform’s Joe Martin was given the ban after saying British people "will be a minority in our own country". The Llywydd (presiding officer) Huw Irranca-Davies described the comments as "discriminatory" and "offensive," banning the MS.
Helen Jenner of Reform took to social media on Wednesday, declaring: "Reform stands with Joe Martin."
She added: "Freedom of speech must be protected at all costs."
Mr Martin told the Senedd on Tuesday: "Can I have a statement from your Government on the demographic replacement of white British people taking place in the UK?
"Because the scale of change has been breathtaking.
"Mass immigration and differing birth rates mean that, in just 37 years’ time, in 2063, we will be a minority in our own country.
"That change has already taken place in London, Birmingham, Leicester, Slough, Luton and Manchester, and I don’t want it to happen here.
"Indeed, at every opportunity, the majority of the electorate have wanted less immigration so that their nation can be preserved.
"A nation is not an economic zone, it’s not a hotel, and neither is it a charity. It’s a family, which is capable of absorbing people of all races if done at a sensible rate, but not if it’s replaced altogether."
Ed Miliband: Climate change is one of the greatest national security threats we face
Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will today address the COP31 summit in Turkey.
He will be joined by Prime Minister Andy Burnham later this evening, following his Commons jousting session with Kemi Badenoch.
According to The Guardian, Mr Miliband will tell leaders: “National security is the next frontier of the fight for climate action - the scenarios once of science fiction are now regular occurrences in the daily news.
“We should be clear that climate breakdown is one of the greatest national security threats we face: food security, threats to infrastructure, and population movements [are resulting from the climate crisis].
“Those who seek to stick their heads in the sand on climate are putting our national security at risk.”
The Government were accused of “scaremongering” last month, after they unveiled their Be Ready Campaign, urging people to stock up with food and water supplies to last three days, amid growing concerns over the weather and cyber threats.
MPs pay tribute on Armistice Day
MPs have began paying tribute on Armistice Day today, ahead of the nationwide two-minute silence at 11am.
Nigel Farage said: "They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old: Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
"At the going down of the sun and in the morning. We will remember them."
Bridget Phillipson, Minister for Women and Equalities, accompanied a photo of her outside Parliament with the caption: "Planting a tribute in Parliament on behalf of our community, in remembrance of those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom."
Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said: "Today and forever, we will remember all those who gave their lives for our freedom."
Conservatives: Ongoing international threats are very serious
The Conservatives have said they are "concerned" at the ongoing international threats, which are "very serious".
Shadow Defence Secretary James Cartlidge joined GB News this morning, where he discussed the reports yesterday that an American serviceman was arrested by British counter-terror police on suspicion of spying for Russia.
It is coupled with the United States military yesterday removing aircraft from RAF Mildenhall following a reported threat from Iran.
Mr Cartlidge told GB News he was "concerned" over the news from RAF Mildenhall yesterday, though added: "There is no absolute confirmation why they were moved."
The US Air Force said aircraft "rotate between installations and operating locations for a variety of reasons including training and real world requirements."
But Mr Cartlidge admitted the threats were "very serious," and said: "If anyone thinks there isn't a threat... look at how this is all stacking up."
He continued: "We need to strengthen our position and get behind our Armed Forces."
The MP called for the "galvanisation of our defence industry, for people who serve," and additional funding.
A busy few days for the Prime Minister
Today kicks off a remarkably busy few days for Andy Burnham, who will travel to Turkey and Dublin before the end of the week.
It begins at midday today, where he will battle it out with Kemi Badenoch in the Commons at PMQs. The Conservatives unveiled their plans to slash the welfare bill by £36.1billion - around 10 per cent - should they get into No10, so you can imagine that will be on the agenda.
Shortly after this, the PM will travel to Turkey for the COP31 event, where he will land this evening. His main event will be a speech tomorrow morning, so in the meantime, Foreign Secretary Ed Miliband will be Britain's representative.
Immediately following this engagement, Mr Burnham will fly to Dublin. There, he will attend the European Political Community to meet political leaders.
Labour spends FIFTY times more handing out benefits than getting people back to work
Labour spends around 50 times more on benefits than on getting people back to work in several major British cities, a think tank has found.
In the Liverpool City Region, benefits spending is almost 70 times higher than employment support, at $4,569 per resident compared to just £66.
Researchers argue the welfare system is over-centralised and fails to cater to local needs.
Various job-seeker programmes are divided across Government departments, with local leaders given little oversight or control.
Andy Burnham lauds 'major investment in UK renewables' as new wind farms announced
Andy Burnham has hailed a "major investment in UK renewables" as the government has given the green light to two significant offshore wind developments situated off Scotland's eastern coastline.
The twin projects will together generate sufficient electricity to supply approximately three million British households.
An unprecedented £12billion in private sector funding underpins the two developments, a sum the government considers the largest such commitment to renewables anywhere in the UK.
The National Wealth Fund is additionally contributing £1bn to the endeavour.
Work offshore is set to commence in the opening months of 2027, with both wind farms expected to be fully operational by the end of the decade.
More than 2,400 jobs will be sustained through the construction and operation of the farms, delivering a welcome boost to communities along Scotland's coast and the broader British supply chain.
Andy Burnham described the announcement as "a vote of confidence for building in Britain," hailing what he called a "major investment in UK renewables."
"It is great news for billpayers because every turbine we put up is power under British control, not at the mercy of events on the other side of the world," he added.
"With coastal communities from Scotland to East Anglia powering Britain’s future, the places that host this energy benefit from the jobs and opportunities that it brings."
"Our National Wealth Fund means that public investment is working alongside private capital to build homegrown energy and bring a return for the taxpayer. Because, for me, a clean energy future is one that brings down bills."
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