Politics latest news: No 'firm date' for stopping the boats, says Sunak

Rishi Sunak said there was not a “firm date” for delivering on his pledge to stop small boat Channel crossings.

The Prime Minister told the Liaison Committee that the Government had “made progress”, with the number of arrivals having fallen “by a third” this year.

He was pressed repeatedly by Dame Diana Johnson, the Labour chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, on when he would deliver on the promise he made in January to “stop the boats”.

Mr Sunak said: “There isn’t a firm date on this because I have always been clear from the beginning...”

Told by Dame Diana that he had pledged to stop the boats, Mr Sunak said: “And we will keep going until we do but this is not one of these things where there is a precise date estimate on it.”

You can follow the latest updates below and join the conversation in the comments section here. 

04:00 PM GMT

That is all for today...

Thank you for joining me for today’s politics live blog.

03:15 PM GMT

New 45pc tax band for higher earners announced in Scottish Budget

A new tax band of 45p in the pound will be created in Scotland, the Deputy First Minister has announced.

Shona Robison said in her Budget statement at Holyrood this afternoon that the “advanced” band will apply to those earning between £75,000 and £125,140.

The top rate of tax, levied against those earning above this figure, will rise by one per cent next year to 48p in the pound.

In other areas of tax, the three lowest rates will see no increase to their rates while the starter and basic rate bands will increase by the level of inflation.

The changes will bring in another £1.5 billion to Scotland’s finances next year, Ms Robison said.

03:13 PM GMT

Doctors’ strikes will leave NHS fully functioning just four days over three weeks

Doctors’ strikes mean there are just four days when the NHS will be fully functioning in the next three weeks, health chiefs have warned.

Junior doctors will walk out from Wednesday until Saturday, just ahead of Christmas, and return to picket lines for their longest strike yet in the new year.

The prolonged action surrounding the holidays means hospitals will be forced to scale back most routine care and focus on emergencies for three weeks.

You can read the full story here.

02:57 PM GMT

Tory MP Craig Mackinlay has ‘extreme surgery’ after sepsis

Craig Mackinlay, the Conservative MP, has disclosed that he has had “extreme surgery” after contracting sepsis and is “lucky to be alive”.

Mr Mackinlay, 57, the MP for South Thanet, has been fighting for his life since the end of September.

You can read the full story here.

02:33 PM GMT

Sunak: Government has shown 'considerable reasonableness' in junior doctor pay row

Rishi Sunak said it was “very disappointing” that junior doctors continue to take strike action and he believed the Government had demonstrated “considerable reasonableness” in the pay offers which had been put forward.

The Prime Minister told the Liaison Committee it was “very disappointing that the junior doctors have rejected the offer... we have now reached resolution with every other part of the public sector and every other part of the NHS”.

Asked how the Government intended to resolve the long-running dispute, Mr Sunak said: “The Government has demonstrated its considerable reasonableness and the proof is in the fact that it has reached resolution with every other workforce, not just in the NHS but in the public sector more broadly.

“The question more is for the junior doctors as to why they are refusing to accept something that everyone else has now accepted on top of having a pay increase which is more generous than anyone else’s, set by the independent body going into this.”

02:26 PM GMT

Rail strikes 'damaging sustainability' of network, says PM

Ongoing industrial action on the railways risk “damaging the sustainability” of the network in the long term, Rishi Sunak told the Liaison Committee.

The Prime Minister said: “We call very strongly on those unions, not all of them because many of them have reached settlement with their operators which is very welcome, but obviously there are some that are still going on strike and that is damaging the sustainability of the rail network that we have in this country.”

02:18 PM GMT

Sunak won't be drawn on bringing back tax-free shopping for tourists

The Prime Minister said there were a “range of different views” about whether tax-free shopping for overseas visitors should be brought back.

Dame Caroline Dinenage, the Tory chair of the Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee, raised the issue as the Prime Minister answered questions in front of the Liaison Committee this afternoon.

Mr Sunak said he could not comment on a specific tax policy because it was a “matter for the Chancellor”.

02:13 PM GMT

Farmers must be paid 'fair price' for produce, says PM

Rishi Sunak said farmers must be paid a fair price for the goods they produce as he was grilled about food inflation.

Sir Robert Goodwill, the Tory chair of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee, said that when the price of crude oil falls it is reflected on petrol station forecourts but the same could not be said for food prices - both in terms of what consumers have to pay in shops and what farmers are paid.

The Prime Minister replied: “Farmers should absolutely be paid a fair price for their produce...”

01:59 PM GMT

Sunak says he wants food bank usage to fall

Rishi Sunak said he wanted food bank usage to fall as he thanked the people who run such facilities.

Sir Stephen Timms, the Labour chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, told the Prime Minister that a recent charity report had found increased levels of demand for food banks.

The Prime Minister replied during an appearance in front of the Liaison Committee: “Of course I want food bank usage [to fall], as I have consistently said, you would prefer for people not to have to use food banks.

“But as I have previously as well, I am grateful to all those people who are involved in providing them because they provide support to people.”

01:48 PM GMT

Sunak insists he is 'serious' about tackling global warming

The Prime Minister defended the Government’s record on the drive to net zero emissions by 2050.

Asked if he was “serious about global warming”, Rishi Sunak told the Liaison Committee: “Yes, I am serious about tackling it and I am proud of the UK’s record.”

Turning to energy bills and energy company profits, the PM was asked if he was giving a “blank cheque” to firms to make profits by failing to do more to stop household bills going up.

Mr Sunak replied: “I do think the impact on household finance is important which is why my approach to net zero... is one which is pragmatic because I care about the impact on family finances.”

01:42 PM GMT

PM defends transparency surrounding Rwanda deal

Rishi Sunak defended the Government’s decision not to reveal now how much money precisely is being put towards the Rwanda deportation scheme in the years ahead.

Officials have said the next set of numbers in terms of exact funding would be set out in the Home Office’s annual accounts which will be published next year.

Mr Sunak told the Liaison Committee this afternoon: “There is a balance to be struck, there is annual transparency of these numbers to Parliament. I think that strikes the right balance.”

01:35 PM GMT

No 'firm date' for stopping the boats, says Sunak

Rishi Sunak said there was not a “firm date” for delivering on his pledge to stop small boat Channel crossings.

The Prime Minister told the Liaison Committee that the Government had “made progress” with the number of arrivals having fallen “by a third” this year.

He was pressed repeatedly by Dame Diana Johnson, the Labour chair of the Home Affairs Select Committee, when he will deliver on the promise he made in January to “stop the boats”.

Mr Sunak said: “There isn’t a firm date on this because I have always been clear from the beginning...”

Told by Dame Diana that he had pledged to stop the crossings, Mr Sunak said: “And we will keep going until we do but this is not one of these things where there is a precise date estimate on it.”

01:27 PM GMT

UK 'working day and night' to secure release of Gaza hostages

Rishi Sunak said there was a “limit to what I can say publicly” about the Government’s efforts to secure the release of British citizens held hostage in Gaza.

The Prime Minister said the Government was “working day and night to secure their safe release”.

On the possibility of securing a “sustainable” ceasefire in the war between Israel and Hamas, Mr Sunak said a “ceasefire is clearly not going to last if hostages are still being held” in Gaza and if Hamas is still operating there.

01:17 PM GMT

Sunak defends cuts to international aid spending

Rishi Sunak said “others will make that determination” after he was asked if he considered himself to be leading on the world stage on key issues.

The Prime Minister defended cuts to UK international aid spending. He said cuts were the “right thing” to do given the fiscal situation the country faced in the aftermath of the pandemic.

“We remain one of the largest aid spenders anywhere in the world,” Mr Sunak told the Liaison Committee.

He added: “On all these questions of aid, I appreciate that you and others will disagree, but I thought it was the right thing given the fiscal and economic situation that the UK faced that we temporarily reduced the aid budget from 0.7 to 0.5. Obviously that is going to have implications for lots of different projects.”

01:11 PM GMT

Announcement on future support for Ukraine 'in due course', says PM

Rishi Sunak said the Government will make an announcement “in due course” about how much money and military aid the UK will be providing to Ukraine next year.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, the chairman of the Liaison Committee, pointed out that the Autumn Statement had not contained the details of aid for Ukraine for 2024/25.

Asked when the figures will be set out, Mr Sunak said: “It will be made in due course. We are having active dialogue with the Ukrainians...”

01:08 PM GMT

UK faces 'increasingly complex and hostile international environment', says Sunak

Rishi Sunak was asked what he believed was the “greatest strategic challenge facing the United Kingdom”.

The Prime Minister said the “increasingly complex and hostile international environment” had in the past year “occupied more of my time than one might have anticipated”.

He said the Russia-Ukraine war was “uppermost” in the Government’s list of challenges.

Mr Sunak said that a “strong deterrent” message needed to be sent to Russia that violating the territory of other nations “won’t be tolerated”.

01:05 PM GMT

Sunak grilled over scrutiny of Lord Cameron by MPs

Rishi Sunak is now answering questions in front of the Liaison Committee.

The first subject is “global issues”.

Tory MP Karen Bradley, the chair of the Procedure Committee, asked Mr Sunak about the appointment of Lord Cameron as Foreign Secretary and about concerns over how MPs will be able to scrutinise his performance given he sits in the House of Lords and not the House of Commons.

The Prime Minister said that there was an “established process for scrutiny which has been in operation for a long time”, pointing to appearances in front of select committees.

He also stressed that the Foreign Office also has in Andrew Mitchell another senior minister who also attends Cabinet.

12:47 PM GMT

Rishi Sunak set to face Liaison Committee

Rishi Sunak will appear in front of the Liaison Committee from 1pm.

I will do my best to guide you through the key developments as the Prime Minister is grilled on the final day in Parliament ahead of the Christmas break.

12:26 PM GMT

Lord Cameron hails talks with Emmanuel Macron in Paris

12:19 PM GMT

Council planning departments to be ranked in new league tables, says Gove

Michael Gove said the Government will publish league tables for local planning authorities to highlight both good and bad performance.

The Housing Secretary said: “We will publish league tables revealing the real performance of local planning authorities...”

He said the tables will rank councils on things like speed of processing, level of approvals and delivery against targets.

“Local authorities must have a plan in place, must deliver against it and must demonstrate fast and effective performance,” he said.

12:15 PM GMT

Gove: Councils have 'no excuse' for not having house-building plans

Councils now have “no excuse” not to have an up-to-date house-building plan, Michael Gove said.

The Housing Secretary said councils have no excuse not to deliver homes “swiftly and efficiently”.

“No excuse for leaving communities and the next generation without the homes they need,” he said.

12:13 PM GMT

Planning reforms 'not a route to the evasion of responsibilities', says Gove

Michael Gove warned local councils will not be able to evade their housing responsibilities under the Government’s planning reforms.

Delivering a speech in central London, the Housing Secretary said: “Local authorities have the comfort of knowing that they need not redraw the green belt or sacrifice protected landscapes to meet housing numbers.

“But let me be clear. While this is a more robust assertion of previous principles and protections, it is not a route to the evasion of responsibilities.”

Mr Gove said councils will have to provide “rigorous evidence” if they intend to move away from their housing targets.

12:08 PM GMT

'A sense of place matters'

Michael Gove said that creating a neighbourhood was key to building successful new housing developments.

The Housing Secretary said in a speech in central London that “a sense of place matters, we do not live in units, we live in homes” and people want to be “part of a community”.

“That is why planning is so important,” he said.

He said that town planners play a key role in bringing “harmony to development”.

12:04 PM GMT

Gove: 'Resistance' to new development in 'many parts of the country'

The Government’s new planning reforms are “designed to deal with concerns, objects and obstacles which have stood in the way of the development we need in the places that we need it”, Michael Gove said.

The Housing Secretary said that new houses had not been built in the “numbers that we need to see” and there had been “progress, but not enough”.

Mr Gove said that in “many parts of the country there is a resistance to new development” and that is why more homes have not been built.

But he argued that some people have been justified in their opposition to new development as he cited concerns about ugly homes and poor infrastructure.

11:58 AM GMT

Gove says UK must 'embrace a better future'

Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, is now delivering a speech on planning reform in central London.

Mr Gove said that the Victorians had “looked to the future with hope” and during that time London had expanded greatly, making it the “greatest city on the globe”.

The Cabinet minister said London was joined by the expansion of other great cities like Manchester and Birmingham.

He said: “All testament to a future facing embrace of development and growth. It seems to me that in that spirit we can embrace a better future.”

11:53 AM GMT

Britain pins hopes on Trump trade deal after Biden scraps talks

Britain has pinned its hopes on Donald Trump for a US trade deal after Joe Biden scrapped early stage talks.

Whitehall sources told The Telegraph ministers hoped a post-Brexit free trade agreement (FTA) could be revived under a second Trump administration after next November’s US election.

Mr Biden has been reluctant to discuss a deal with the UK after launching a series of protectionist “Bidenomics” policies, and the chance of an FTA under his administration is now thought to be “zero”.

You can read the full story here.

11:34 AM GMT

Sir Tony Blair and JK Rowling among attendees at Alistair Darling memorial service

Sir Tony Blair and JK Rowling were among the attendees at a memorial service for Alistair Darling, the former Labour chancellor, held in Edinburgh this morning.

Mr Darling, who served as chancellor between 2007 and 2010, died in November at the age of 70.

11:16 AM GMT

Union boss: Trans guidance 'leaves a lot of questions unanswered'

Headteachers will continue to be placed in a difficult position as the Government’s transgender guidance leaves many “questions unanswered”, a school leaders’ union has warned.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “The ongoing delays to this guidance due to political wrangling have been a source of significant frustration, and it is far from ideal for it to be published right at the end of term, after some schools have already broken up for Christmas.

“NAHT will be reviewing these draft proposals to ensure they provide useful information and support for school leaders and will submit a response to the Government’s consultation on behalf of our members.

“Upon an initial look, it would appear this guidance leaves a lot of questions unanswered, meaning school leaders will continue to be placed in an incredibly difficult position.”

11:05 AM GMT

'Views of parents should carry great weight'

The views of parents “should carry great weight” when a school assesses a child’s request to socially transition, the Government’s draft trans guidance states.

But it suggests parents should not necessarily have the final say in all cases.

The guidance states: “The view of parents: It is important that the views of the child’s parents should carry great weight and be properly considered. We would expect parental consent to be required in the vast majority of cases.”

10:58 AM GMT

The five principles underpinning the draft trans guidance for schools

The Government’s new trans guidance for schools is underpinned by five general principles. They are:

10:40 AM GMT

Liz Truss: Trans guidance for schools 'does not go far enough'

Liz Truss said the Government’s draft guidance for schools on trans issues “does not go far enough”.

In an early indication of unease among some Tory MPs about the measures, the former prime minister said: “During the many months we have been waiting for its publication, it has become increasingly clear that non-statutory guidance will provide insufficient protection and clarity, and that a change in the law of the land is required.”

Ms Truss added: “I fear that activists and others will be able to exploit loopholes in the guidance and the existing legal framework to pursue their agenda, leaving children at risk of making irreversible changes and with single-sex spaces not sufficiently protected.”

10:33 AM GMT

Government publishes draft guidance for schools on trans issues

The Department for Education (DfE) has just published its long-awaited draft guidance for schools and colleges on pupils who question their gender.

Schools in England have been told there is “no general duty” to allow children to “socially transition” and change their gender identity.

It states: “If a school or college decides to accommodate a request, a cautious approach should be taken that complies with legal duties. Some forms of social transition will not be compatible with schools’ and colleges’ statutory responsibilities.”

The non-statutory guidance also states that parents “should not be excluded” from decisions taken by a school or college relating to requests for a child to “socially transition” – when pupils change their names, pronouns and clothing.

The draft guidance will now be subject to consultation, ending on March 12 next year.

10:27 AM GMT

Pictured: Cleverly and Shapps arrive for final Cabinet meeting of 2023

10:21 AM GMT

UK ‘gazumped’ by Italy in bid to negotiate Rwanda-style migrant deal with Albania

Britain was “gazumped” by Italy in its efforts to negotiate a Rwanda-style offshore migrant deal with Albania, according to government sources.

Earlier this year, ministers revived the idea of an agreement with Albania under which it would accept Channel migrants from the UK for their asylum applications to be processed in the Balkan state.

But sources said the idea cooled when Foreign Office and British embassy in Tirana advised them it was a “red line” for the Albanians.

However, the Government was then blindsided when Rome unveiled its own deal for Albania to accept and process asylum seekers landing on Italy’s Mediterranean coast.

You can read the full story here.

10:02 AM GMT

Poll: Expectations of Labour election victory at 12 month high

Expectations of a Labour victory at the next general election are now at the highest level since November last year, according to a new poll.

A Redfield & Wilton Strategies survey found 56 per cent of people believe a Labour government would be the most likely outcome if an election was held within six months.

A quarter - 25 per cent - said they thought the most likely outcome would be a Conservative government.

The Labour number was up by four points and the Tory one was down by three points when compared to the company’s previous poll on December 10.

The Labour number was broken down into 42 per cent of respondents who thought there would be a Labour majority government and 14 per cent who said a Labour-led minority administration. Some 17 per cent said they expected a Tory majority and eight per cent said a Tory-led minority government.

Redfield & Wilton Strategies said it was the highest percentage to predict a Labour government since November 6, 2022, when it was also 56 per cent.

09:45 AM GMT

Lord Cameron visits Paris and Rome for talks with counterparts

Lord Cameron, the Foreign Secretary, is visiting Paris and Rome today as he seeks a united European approach on the Israel-Hamas war, Ukraine and efforts to tackle illegal migration.

The former premier will meet with the leaders of France and Italy, Emmanuel Macron and Giorgia Meloni, as well as his foreign ministerial counterparts, during the trip.

09:29 AM GMT

Rishi Sunak to face grilling by Liaison Committee this afternoon

Rishi Sunak will answer questions in front of the Liaison Committee this afternoon.

The Prime Minister’s session will start at 1pm and it usually lasts for 90 minutes.

He is due to be grilled on global issues, economic issues and energy/climate change issues.

09:08 AM GMT

Reader poll: Should the Equality Act be scrapped?

Do you agree with Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg’s suggestion (see the post below at 08.08) that the Equality Act should be repealed?

You can have your say in our reader poll below:

09:00 AM GMT

Tories ‘still have a way to go’ to hit house-building target

Housing minister Lee Rowley told Sky News the number of planning applications this year had been lower because of the “economic circumstances”.

“But if you look over a longer period of time, there is a substantial amount of planning applications that have gone in, a substantial amount of approvals have been made and a lot of houses that could still be built with those approvals that have been made,” he said.

But he admitted “we still have a way to go” to meet the Tory goal of building 300,000 homes a year.

He said: “We have made substantial progress towards it, we have built the best part of 2.5 million houses over the past 13 years.”

08:45 AM GMT

Labour close out 2023 with 18 point poll lead over Tories

Labour hold an 18 point lead over the Tories in a new end of year survey published by Redfield & Wilton Strategies.

The Labour lead is one point higher than it was at the end of 2022.

The poll, conducted on December 17, put Labour on 42 per cent and the Conservatives on 24 per cent.

Both parties were down by one point when compared to the previous poll conducted on December 10.

08:35 AM GMT

Minister rejects claim of Tories not taking house-building seriously

Lee Rowley rejected a claim that the Tories do not take house-building seriously.

It was pointed out that he was the 16th Conservative housing minister since 2010 and it was suggested to him that that was evidence of the party not taking the issue seriously.

But Mr Rowley told Times Radio: “In what way were we not taking seriously when we have literally built more houses than the Labour party in the previous 13 years, where we are working with councils to make sure we build more, where we are saying there are challenging economic circumstances but we want to make sure more houses continue to be built.

“That is a record of absolutely taking it seriously. Look at the record. Don’t focus on personalities. Don’t focus on whether it is me or somebody else, focus on the actual record.”

08:24 AM GMT

Ministers committed to building ‘significant numbers of houses’

The Government remains committed to building “significant numbers of houses” despite a new planning overhaul, the housing minister said this morning.

New reforms will mean councils will not have to build on the green belt to meet housing targets in a move which could reduce house-building numbers.

Lee Rowley told Times Radio: “The Secretary of State is going to set out the details of our changes later but broadly we remain committed to building significant numbers of houses. We are on track, for example, to build one million houses this parliament, we have already built about 90 per cent of them.

“The amount of house-building has gone up in recent years. But it is absolutely vital that we work with local councils, we work with local communities to make sure those go in the right places, that are designed well, that they fit in with the local area.

“Because if you can do that you can take people along with you in communities to make sure that house building has that twin benefit of both allowing people to own their own homes… but works with communities to do that.”

08:13 AM GMT

Councils without housing plans could be stripped of planning powers ‘in extremis’

Councils could be stripped of their planning powers “in extremis” if they fail to put in place plans to build enough houses, the housing minister said this morning.

Lee Rowley said “there are too many councils that aren’t doing the right thing” and they needed to change course “pretty quickly”.

He made the comments ahead of a major speech by Michael Gove, the Housing Secretary, later this morning in which he will set out a series of planning reforms.

Asked if councils could be “stripped of their powers” if they fail on housing, Mr Rowley told Times Radio: “In extremis they could be. We obviously don’t want that to happen, we think that councils are the best way to deliver new houses but also because they know their communities well.

“But there are too many councils that aren’t doing the right thing which doesn’t help those councils which are and have taken a difficult decision.

“So we are saying to councils today, a small number of councils at this stage, that if you haven’t put in place your plan, you don’t have a plan to do that, you don’t have a plan to get the plan in place, you don’t have a schedule, then you need to do that pretty quickly.”

08:08 AM GMT

Equality Act should be scrapped to tackle workplace 'wokery', says Rees-Mogg

Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg said the Equality Act should be scrapped to tackle “wokery” and restore common sense to the workplace.

The former business secretary described the Equality Act as “wokery in legislative form” and argued Esther McVey will not be able to fully succeed in her role as the Government’s minister for common sense unless the legislation is repealed.

He told GB News: “So, the minister for common sense was brought in to make sure that employees can spend their time doing the jobs for which they’re paid, not worrying about who’s tender sensitivities they may offend nor complying with ever emerging Newspeak nor filling a gender or race diversity quota.

“And this is the great aim for Esther. I wish her success, I want her to succeed: it is fundamentally important, it will lead to a better, more efficient state. But there is a difficulty and the difficulty is the Equality Act which creates the public sector equality duty, which has put wokery into legislative form.

“Before she can really win her battle, this Bill will need to be repealed and that way taxpayer value can be restored.”

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