PMQs LIVE: Keir Starmer to face Rishi Sunak in first Commons showdown since election victory – after suspending seven Labour rebels who voted to scrap two-child benefit cap

MailOnline’s political editor James Tapsfield says:

Keir Starmer has often faced brickbats for being a bit boring.

And the new PM’s debut at the despatch box will not linger long in memory.

A demob Rishi Sunak, seemingly now in full-on consensual elder statesman mode, did not help enliven affairs.

He refused to attack the premier over Labour’s infighting or the looming prospect of tax rises, instead using all his questions to stress unity on support for Ukraine.

There was a similarly matey exchange with Ed Davey, in which Sir Keir joked that he was glad the Lib Dem leader had worn a suit rather than swimming trunks – a reference to his water-sport heavy campaign.

Labour backbenchers posed slightly more prickly queries, with Nadia Whittome asking about trans rights and Bedford MP Mohammad Yasin urging an immediate ceasefire in Gaza. Both were easily dealt with by the PM.

Only the SNP’s Pete Wishart delivered any real edge, swiping that Sir Keir’s honeymoon is ‘over before it began’ after the left-wing rebellion on benefits last night.

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle, previously overworked trying to keep order during these sessions, was largely a bystander.

With Labour enjoying a massive majority, PMQs is an important chance for serious scrutiny of an extremely powerful government.

We can only hope MPs use that opportunity better in the months and years to come.

More from Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey’s comments on social care now. say there was a ‘once-in-a-century chance to fix social care’.

He asked Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer: There’s another care crisis that’s probably even bigger and that’s the crisis in social care. I’m sure like me he’s met millions of people around the country, have heard about millions of people for whom this is their biggest issue and has been for decades.

‘After a once in a century election does he not think there’s an opportunity for a once in a century chance to fix social care and thus help our NHS. So can I ask him to set up a cross-party commission on Social Care so we can address this urgent matter?’

Sir Keir replied: ‘He’s right, it is a crisis. I’m sorry to have to report to the House it’s not the only crisis that we’ve inherited. There’s a crisis and a failure absolutely everywhere after 14 years of failure that this Government of service will begin the hard yards of fixing, including on social care.’

Starmer says the last government has not ensured the UK is building the houses, prisons and infrastructure the country needs.

‘We’re not going to listen to the party opposite… the electorate rejected them proudly’.

And that concludes Starmer’s first PMQs.

Starmer is now questioned on violence against women with a questioin on Sky’s investigation into harassment of female paramedics.

The Prime Minister says his government has made a commitment to halve violence against women and girls.

‘It does mean that we will have to deliver in a different way, we will have to roll up our sleeves and make difficult decisions’.

He promises to keep the House apprised of any progress.

Sir Keir Starmer tells the Greens to ‘show some leadership’ on renewable energy and back his measures to introduce more clean power sources.

He says he will introduce legislation to improve the UK’s energy footprint, and ‘invites’ the Greens to vote for it.

Labour’s Jack Abbott says his constituency of Ipswich now has a Premier League team and invites him to visit when Arsenal travel to their stadium next year.

He then asks how Starmer intends to address failing town centres.

Starmer says his government will reform business rates and is committed to tackling inequality across the country.

Rupert Lowe, of Great Yarmouth for Reform, says ‘uncontrolled immigration’ is top of the list of concerns for his constituents.

He claims ‘millions’ of people are welcomed into the UK, stretching resources.

Starmer says: ‘I do think that it’s serious that the previous government lost control of our borders.’

But he adds he does not agree that the figures raised by Lowe are accurate.

He says 50,000 people came to the UK across the Channel during Rishi Sunak’s leadership.

He repeats his mantra to ‘smash the gangs’ with a new border control body.

Sir Keir Starmer addressed his plans for UK energy in the Commons just now.

He went over his plans for a new Great British Energy body, saying it will be ‘owned by and for the British people.’

He says it will invest in future energy to reduce bills, increase jobs and prevent Putin from ‘putting his boot on our neck’.

Sir Keir Starmer says he raised the Gaza conflict with NATO leaders at the recent summit.

He said he supports a Palestinian state and plans to continue speaking to global leaders with the aim of negotiating a ceasefire.

Starmer appears to hit out at ‘protesting on street corners’ implying this has little impact on solving the crisis.

SNP leader Stephen Flynn congratulated Sir Keir Starmer on getting rid of the Conservatives, quipping they are now ‘to close for comfort’ as they now share the opposition bench.

He criticises the lack of a plan to abolish the two-child benefit cap.

Starmer says since the SNP came to power, there are ‘30,000 more children in poverty in Scotland’ and that previous Labour governments brought ‘millions’ out of poverty.

The Prime Minister joked he was glad to see Lib Dem leader Ed Davey ‘in a suit, because we are more used to seeing him in a wetsuit’ – a reference to the party’s unusual, stunt-filled election campaign.

He takes questions from Mr Davey on carers and pledges to review how to improve life for unpaid carers.

Mr Davey says there is a ‘once in a century’ opportunity to fix social care and help the NHS.

Starmer responds social care is in ‘crisis’, adding that it is ‘not the only crisis’ left behind by the Conservatives.

He pledges to look at setting up a National Care Service.

Murdered MP Jo Cox’s sister Kim Leadbeater asks a question making reference to the ninth Jo Cox bike ride in her memory.

Mr Starmer said he is not envious of the challenge faced by the riders and offers his support for the cause.

The whole house misses our dear friend Jo and I know she would have been incredibly proud to see the government in place and she would have played a big role in it.

Sunak says it is important Starmer can use his power to take immediate military action, without the approval of the Commons, if it is deemed necessary.

Starmer says he ‘appreciated’ that Sunak reached out and briefed him on military action taken under the last government, and intends to do the same if a similar situation arises.

Sunak says the government will have his support if they are forced into military action.

Government is looking at how seized Russian assets can be spent, Sir Keir Starmer says.

He adds that he is examining at how to proceed with further effective sanctions on Russia and its elites, saying he will ‘reach across the house’ on this policy.

Sunak asks Starmer if he has discussed sending long-range missiles to Ukraine as other nations have done.

He says he welcomed the message to come out of NATO about Ukraine’s ‘irreversible path’ to joining the organisation.

So far this is far from the biting insults seen during the last parliament – Sunak and Starmer are happily agreeing with one another on the need for more support for Ukraine in the face of the Russian threat.

Rishi Sunak opened PMQs with a joke that gained groans and ‘aah’s in the Commons just now.

Wishing good luck to Team GB, he said he is ‘not the person they want to take tips on winning from.’

MP Nadia Whittome asks a question on behalf of a constituent, a parent of a trans parent, on NHS care for trans children.

Starmer agrees to her request to arrange a meeting between her and relevant ministers.

The first question comes from the Lib Dems, who ask if Starmer will consider scrapping the water regulator Ofwat.

Starmer says the Minister for Water will meet with failing bosses soon.

It falls to this government to fix the mess of the last 14 years.

Sir Keir Starmer starts by saying his thoughts are with the soldier attacked in Gillingham last night and his family.

He also wishes Team GB luck in Paris at the Olympics, starting this weekend.

In the last moments before Sir Keir Starmer enters the chamber, the government is taking questions on Northern Ireland.

Sir Hilary Benn is stood at the dispatch box to a full house as those gathered await PMQs.

PMQs is about to begin as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to take to the dispatch box at 12pm today.

Hundreds of MPs have gathered in the House of Commons to see the first sparring match between Starmer and Sunak – but today, they’ve swapped benches.

With just two minutes to go, the Commons is already full, with some MPs resorting to standing.

Conservative MPs hoping to run for the party leadership will have just two days to secure ten endorsements from fellow MPs in order to appear on the ballot.

With the party reduced to just 121 MPs, it is highly unlikely that all the names floating around Westminster will be able to make the deadline.

Nominations open this evening and close on Friday.

Tory MPs will be watching PMQs closely to see who they think is best suited to challenger Sir Keir.

Today’s first PMQs of this government marks a major moment for all elected parties in the Commons today.

The focus will be on Labour and its massive parliamentary majority – with over 400 MPs, some will likely be forced to stand.

But on the opposition side, the Conservatives will be far quieter than usual, after its heavy defeat at the polls earlier this month.

Meanwhile the Lib Dems will be looking forward to getting its questions in as they adjust to having 72 MPs on the opposition benches.

Watch as one of those tipped to enter the Conservative leadership race, which opens later today, refuses to comment on rumours he will run.

The boss of the train drivers’ union is ‘far more upbeat’ about the prospect of ending a long-running pay dispute following talks with the Labour Government.

Mick Whelan, the general secretary of Aslef, hailed a ‘major step forward’ after a meeting with the Department for Transport (DfT) yesterday.

Aslef members have staged 18 days of strikes since their dispute over wages and conditions started two years ago, causing huge disruption to rail passengers.

The union has claimed train drivers are being asked to accept worse working conditions in exchange for a pay rise.

It previously rejected a ‘risible’ pay offer of 4 per cent a year for two years.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Mr Whelan suggested the new Labour Government had dropped some of the demanded changes to working conditions.

Sir Keir Starmer was seen smiling as he left Downing Street this morning on his way to the House of Commons.

He carried several folders and his red box as he got into a waiting car.

PMQs will kick off at 12pm – and we’ll be bringing you all the key lines throughout lunchtime.

Keir Starmer has just departed Downing Street ahead of PMQs, which will begin at lunchtime.

Former shadow health minister Jonathan Ashworth has said the seven MPs who rebelled to vote for the SNP’s amendment to scrap the two-child benefit cap last night took part in a ‘futile gesture’.

Speaking to the BBC, he said the government has already launched a review of child poverty and the MPs should have engaged with that process instead.

They knew there was no chance of this amendment passing, it was a gesture. That’s not how you change policy.

As the first PMQs since the King’s Speech, today’s session in the Commons is sure to focus on pledges that were in – and left out – of Starmer’s parliamentary agenda.

Some of the pledges were:

• Plans to allow police to use counter-terror powers to tackle smuggling gangs
• Bills to speed up housebuilding and development, ban so-called no fault evictions and curb ground rent for leaseholders
• Measures to gradually renationalise most rail services as private contracts expire
• Education reforms including breakfast clubs in all primary schools in England

The former Cabinet minister is expected to throw her hat into the ring to succeed Rishi Sunak as nominations open this evening.

She could be one of the main contenders in what is looking like a crowded field, with another half-dozen considering a tilt at the party’s top job.

However, with just 121 Conservative MPs left after the election disaster and 10 nominations required to be a candidate, it is highly unlikely they will all make the first ballot.

Other potential contenders include Robert Jenrick, Kemi Badenoch, Suella Braverman, Mel Stride and Tom Tugendhat.

Luke Akehurst, newly elected Labour MP for North Durham, has called for discipline in the party to avoid a return to ‘moral destruction’ and chaos seen under Jeremy Corbyn.

He called on colleagues and activists to remain ‘incredibly disciplined and organised’ so that ‘people around Jeremy Corbyn’ never again take the party on a path towards ‘moral and electoral destruction’, Jewish News reports.

Mr Akehurst was speaking at an event for the Progressive Britain Organisation on the same night seven MPs rebelled on the child benefit cap.

If Sir Keir Starmer hoped for an easy first few weeks in the top job, he will be sorely disappointed.

The Prime Minister has already delivered a King’s Speech, suspended the whip from seven rebels and has advice and policy suggestions being throw from all directions.

The latest to step into the ring is health advisor Alan Milburn, who said last night that millions of people on long-term sick should face sanctions if not looking for work.

Mr Milburn, who was health secretary under Tony Blair, said that policymakers and employers must ‘wean themselves off the easy solution of importing more workers from overseas’ and shift their focus to ‘getting more out-of-work Brits into work’.

Under plans drawn up by the 1922 Committee of Tory MPs and the party board, nominations for the new party leader will open on Wednesday evening and close in the afternoon on July 29.

The parliamentary party will then narrow the field down to four, who will make their case at the Conservative Party Conference, which runs from September 29 to October 2.

The final two, picked by the parliamentary party, will then be voted on by Conservative Party members in an online ballot that will close on October 31. The result will be announced on November 2.

Bob Blackman (pictured), chairman of the 1922 Committee, said he was determined that the leadership debate be ‘respectful and thorough’ and warned against the contest descending into ‘personal attacks’.

One of the seven Labour MPs suspended for rebelling over the two-child benefit cap last night has suggested she was the victim of a ‘macho virility test’.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stripped Zarah Sultana and six others of the whip for backing an SNP motion which would have amended the King’s Speech Bill to abolish the welfare limit.

On Wednesday, Sir Keir faces his first Prime Minister’s Questions since entering No 10, amid backbench unease over the move.

Ms Sultana said she ‘slept well knowing that I took a stand against child poverty’ after being handed the six-month suspension.

Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell, ex-business secretary Rebecca Long-Bailey, Apsana Begum, Richard Burgon, Ian Byrne and Imran Hussain have also been kicked out of the Parliamentary Labour Party.

James Cleverly, the first Tory leadership hopeful to declare his candidacy, has said that the party needs to expand its base of support and shake off the impression that it is more focused on infighting than serving the public.

There will potentially be a crowded field in the contest as nominations open on Wednesday in the race to replace Rishi Sunak, with a winner to be announced on November 2.

Former home secretary Mr Cleverly told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme that his party has been ‘the most successful political movement, I think, in human history.’

But recent achievements, which he listed as including stabilising the economy and supporting Ukraine, were overshadowed by ‘a number of negatives’, he said.

‘I think one of the reasons why the criticisms landed, and the good work didn’t get cut-through, is we’d spent too much time rowing amongst ourselves, which gave the impression – the wrong impression – but gave the impression that we were more focused on ourselves than serving the British people. So we have to get out of that habit.’

Keir Starmer is already struggling to keep a lid on furious Labour infighting today as he faces his maiden PMQs grilling.

Sir Keir will take to the despatch box at noon having been defied by seven MPs in a vote on the two-child cap on benefits, just a fortnight after securing his historic landslide.

But the premier’s brutal response of suspending the group – including prominent left-wingers John McDonnell, Richard Burgon and Rebecca Long Bailey – sparked an outcry in his own ranks.

Sir Keir Starmer is to face his first PMQs as Prime Minister in the House of Commons this lunch time.

The Labour Leader will take part in the weekly session from the government benches for the first time after his party’s landslide victory in the election on July 4.

He will face former PM Rishi Sunak at the dispatch box, hours after shadow Home Secretary James Cleverly became the first to publicly declare he is running for his boss’s job.

Good morning and welcome to MailOnline’s politics live blog. We’ll be bringing you all the action from the House of Commons and Conservative leadership race throughout the day.