Tory leader says the schools bill wrecks a cross-party consensus on academy freedoms that has lasted for decades
Kemi Badenoch welcomes the release of the hostages from Gaza.
She says there are important questions to answer about the Southport killings. She will return to those after the sentencing.
Turning to education, she says the schools bill is “an act of vandalism” because it wrecks a cross-party consensus (on academy freedoms) that lasted for decades.
Starmer says Labour introduced academies, and they will stay.
The bill includes safeguarding measures. The Tories voted against it, he says.
Rebecca Smith (Con) says mortgages have hit a five-year high, borrowing is up, and sales have slumped. Does the PM still think she is doing a good job?
Starmer says he thought Smith was reading out the record of the last Conservative government.
Alison Bennett (Lib Dem) asks about the strike by teachers in sixth form colleges. They have not had the same pay rise as secondary school teachers. Did Starmer intend to set up a two-tier education system.
Starmer says the money has gone into sixth form colleges. It is up to the colleges to decide how they spend it, he says.
Iqbal Mohamed (Ind) says Israeli forces have launched a large offensive in Jenin. At least nine people have been killed. What is the government doing to protect Palestinians, and prevent atrocities in the West Bank.
Starmer says he is “deeply concerned” by what is happening in the West Bank. He has raised this several times with the Israelis, he say.s
Sarah Owen (Lab) asks about violent crime in Luton, and says Bedfordshire police should not be funded as a rural police force.
Starmer says the government is tightening the law on knives. It is unacceptable that knives can be brought with “two clicks”.
Wera Hobhouse (Lib Dem) says the APPG on eating disorders is publishing a report on how to improve treatment for them. Will the government consider it seriously?
Starmer says it will be considered “very seriously”.
Andrew Snowden (Con) says this was supposed to be a honeymoon period for the goverment. Does Starmer accept that he is the root cause of the government’s problems?
Starmer says he had a landslide victory. And the Tories were regularly losing ministers, he says.
Mike Martin (Lib Dem) says Lord Robertson, the former Nato secretary general leading the strategic defence review, told the defence committee that he could not guarantee the review’s recommendations would be fully funded. Will they?
Starmer says the review will be fully funded. He has committed to lifting defence spending to 2.5%, he says.
Bernard Jenkin (Con) says cutting taxes and cutting regulation are the only way to promote growth.
Starmer says forecasters are revising their growth forecasts for the UK upwards.
The Speaker, Lindsay Hoyle, reprimands Chris Philp, the shadow home secretary, for heckling too loudly. Starmer says Philp was “Liz Truss’s righthand man, so we should not expect any better”.
Adrian Ramsay, the Green party co-leader, says Starmer voted against a third runway at Heathrow in 2018. What is his position now?
Starmer says he will not comment on speculation. But he says he won’t take lectures from an MP opposing vital infrastructure (pylons for offshore energy) in his constituency.
