2 of April 2025.

Live reporting from Isabel Thompson in London.

Welcome to today’s Prime Minister’s Questions live blog.

Summary Points:

• US Tariffs
• Pensions
• Conservatives criticise Labour’s “Jobs Tax”
• Council Tax and Birmingham
• Water Industry
• Childcare
• Healthcare

12pm GMT

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, House Speaker, has begun the session with announcing his recent visit to Ukraine. He attended a memorial service to mark the third anniversary of the Bucha massacre, delivering messages of solidarity to the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, from the UK Parliament.

12.03pm GMT – Sir Keir Starmer on US Tariffs

Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has acknowledged Mr Hoyle’s comments. He has focused his opening statement on President Trump’s upcoming announcement regarding US tariffs and is stressing the importance of avoiding a “trade war”.

Starmer said: “Let me be clear with the House, a trade war is in nobody’s interests, and the country deserves, and we will take, a calm, pragmatic approach.”

He has also acknowledged the recent earthquake in Myanmar.

12.04pm GMT – Labour MP, John Grady, on Pensions

John Grady, the Labour MP from Glasgow East, asked: “Does the Prime Minister agree with me that this rise [in the full state pension] is only possible because of Labour’s plans for change and our commitment to the triple lock?”

Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, has agreed that Labour can commit to the triple lock after the Conservatives “crashed” the economy.

“Next week, 12 million pensioners will receive up to £470 more, that’s an extra £1,900 over this Parliament, including one million pensioners in Scotland,” Sir Keir said.

He has accused the Shadow Chancellor, Sir Mel Stride, of calling the triple lock “unsustainable” and Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, of wanting to “cut” the state pension.

12.05pm GMT – Kemi Badenoch on Labour’s “Jobs Tax”

Ms Badenoch has said that from Sunday 6 April, when it is enforced, Labour’s “jobs tax” would negatively impact British businesses.

She has said they will have to cut wages, put up their prices or sack their staff.

Sir Keir has responded that Labour are clearing up the “mess” that the  Conservatives left.

“Yesterday, I was pleased to announce the national living wage increasing by £1,400. That’s a pay rise for millions of workers,” Sir Keir said.

He has then said that under the Conservatives, public services were “left on their knees”.

12.07pm GMT – Labour’s Economic Record

Ms Badenoch has further criticised Labour’s economic policies and said that their “job tax” will leave working families “£3,500 poorer”.

Sir Keir has then accused the Conservatives of creating the current economic challenges and pointed to Labour’s policies that aim to support workers.

He has argued that Ms Badenoch is not able to oppose Labour’s plans that she “actually agrees with”.

12.09pm GMT – Council Tax and Birmingham

Ms Badenoch has raised the issue of rising council tax, particularly in Birmingham, where waste management issues have caused significant problems.

“Before the election, he pledged to freeze council tax. Instead, it’s going up everywhere. Even in Birmingham, where there’s 17,000 tons of rubbish being left on the streets,” Ms Badenoch said.

She has added that he “has obviously failed”.

Sir Keir has responded by defending Labour’s approach.

“The last government put up council tax for 12 years in a row,” Sir Keir added.

12.10pm GMT – Birmingham continued

Ms Badenoch has referenced Birmingham again, accusing Starmer of trying to avoid the subject, which was met with boos and jeers from the opposition bench.

“Normally, a state of emergency is called for natural disasters, not Labour ones,” Ms Badenoch said.

She has added that the government’s decisions had left the UK economy to be “dangerously fragile”.

Sir Keir has said that he supported Birmingham council in calling an emergency, and that the government plans to offer them any additional support.

12.12pm GMT – The UK economy

Ms Badenoch has said that the Labour government was given the fastest growing economy in the G7 nine months ago when the Conservatives left office.

She has accused Labour of making the UK economy “dangerously vulnerable”.

Sir Keir responded by accusing Ms Badenoch of not realising the damage that the Conservatives did to the British economy while in power.

12.13pm GMT – Trade Negotiations and the British Car Industry

Ms Badenoch has asked the Prime Minister what he is doing to protect the British car industry.

Sir Keir responded that they are taking a “calm, pragmatic approach” and having discussions with the US about tariffs.

He has said that Ms Badenoch cannot criticise the Labour government, and added that when she was Trade Secretary, she did not negotiate a trade deal with the US.

12.15pm GMT – US Tariffs

Claire Hanna, Liberal Democrat MP for Belfast South and Mid Down, has referenced the US tariffs that President Trump and his administration are planning to announce later today.

Ms Hanna said: “Would the Prime Minister agree with me that the wrong approach would be to pander to [President Trump]’s bullying tactics and tech millionaires in his imperial court by cutting the digital services tax?

Can he assure the public that the poorest won’t get cuts while the richest get a free ride?”

Sir Keir has acknowledged there were different situations with Northern Ireland that needed to be considered “carefully”.

“We will always put the national interest first, and that’s why I’m pleased that talks are ongoing, and that they are constructive talks,” he said.

12.18pm GMT – Economic Coalition Against Trump’s Tariffs

Sir Ed Davey, leader of the Liberal Democrats, addresses the remarks of Sir Keir regarding the Myanmar earthquake.

“Will the Prime Minister now provide similar leadership with an ‘economic coalition of the willing’ against Trump’s tariffs, for free trade, so we can avoid a global trade war and economic recession?” Sir Ed asked.

Sir Keir has said that this would be a “false choice” between US relations and those with other countries.

“I think that’s the wrong choice on defence, on security intelligence, for reasons that we’ve rehearsed across this chamber. I also think it’s wrong on trade and the economy.

“We have a good deal of trade, a balanced trade relationship with the US, and I believe our interests are best served by calmly trying to secure a deal which is in our national interest,” Sir Keir added.

12.20pm GMT – Water Industry and Sewage Concerns

Sir Ed has raised concerns about the US private equity and global investment firm, KKR, taking a stake in Northumbria Water, and has said that across the north-east, water bills have increased.

He has said that KKR are now poised to take a stake into Thames Water and there are concerns with them repeating these actions in the south.

Sir Keir has echoed Sir Ed’s statements that the Conservatives had an “appalling record” with water, and that passing the Water Act will allow them to take further action.

12.26pm GMT – Tariffs and Northern Ireland

DUP leader, Gavin Robinson, MP for Belfast East, has asked about the potential impact of tariffs on Northern Ireland post-Brexit.

Sir Keir has said that this was a “very serious issue”.

“We are looking very carefully at the details of any retaliatory tariffs announced by the EU, and what impact they may have on businesses”, Sir Keir said.

12.28pm GMT – Hospital Funding in North Devon

Ian Roome, Liberal Democrat MP for North Devon, has raised concerns about North Devon hospital and its funding.

Sir Keir has said that the Conservatives should “apologise” to Roome’s constituents for not funding the hospital and has promised that a minister will be visiting for necessary discussions.

12.30pm GMT – Breakfast Clubs and Childcare Support

Jack Abbott, Labour MP for Ipswich, has said that a special school in Ipswich will be one of the first in the country to benefit from a new breakfast club this month.

“Can the Prime Minister outline the steps he will be taking to further breakdown the opportunities for all children as part of our plan for change?”

Sir Keir’s response was that the first 750 breakfast clubs will open this month, April 2025.

“That will put £450 a year back in the pockets of working people,” he said.

He has then added that today, the Labour government have awarded £37 million to 300 schools to create approximately 4,000 nursery places from September, making it “easier” for working families to access government-funded childcare.

12.32pm GMT – GP Services and Healthcare Investment

Luke Murphy, Labour MP for Basingstoke, has asked about GP services and the struggles that GPs are facing to meet demand.

Sir Keir has said that the government will be bringing back the “family doctor”, introducing online appointment booking and investing in community pharmacies to “free-up” GP time.

12.34pm GMT – NHS Waiting Lists in Scotland

Imogen Walker, Labour MP for the Hamilton and Clyde Valley, has said “one in six Scots are on a waiting list”, for NHS treatment, but in England, waiting lists have been “coming down”.

“Does the Prime Minister agree with me that the SNP-led government should stop blaming everyone else for their failures?”

Agreeing, Sir Keir points out that waiting lists in Scotland have risen by 46% in the past year, calling it a “staggering” figure.

He has said that Scotland’s NHS is in “desperate need of reform” but that the SNP have “no strategy, no plans and no ideas”.

12.36pm GMT – Jobs Tax and Business Concerns

Greg Smith, Conservative MP for Mid-Buckinghamshire, has asked about the impact of Labour’s “jobs tax” and that it has led to businesses in his constituency laying off staff.

Sir Keir has responded by saying that he would be happy to explain to Smith’s constituents how the Conservatives left a £22 billion hole in the nation’s economy and “ruined our public services”.

12.38pm GMT – Crime and Punishment

Alberto Costa, Conservative MP for South Leicestershire, has said that the convicted rapist and murderer, Colin Pitchfork is up for parole for the fifth time.

He has asked if Sir Keir believes that men who rape and kill young women should spend most of their life in prison.

Sir Keir has thanked Costa for raising this and that he knows the impact that cases like that involving Colin Pitchfork can have on families.

And that brings Prime Minister’s Questions to a close.

We’ll see you next week for more live coverage. Thanks for following along.