Sir Keir Starmer has warned Donald Trump against imposing tariffs on the UK, saying he is “not a fan” of protectionist measures.
The Prime Minister said he was “alive to the danger of tariffs” and stressed the importance of avoiding them to maintain strong trade relations with the US.
During his first appearance in front of the Liaison Committee, Sir Keir was quizzed on how he plans to dissuade the president-elect from pursuing tariffs.
Sir Keir said: “I am not going to speculate as to what he is going to do. It won’t come as any surprise to you that I am not a fan of tariffs and therefore we have to make sure that we avoid tariffs.
“We have got very good trade with the US as we have got very good traded with other countries around the world. I want to improve on that and as you will know I have had a meeting with president Trump in September in New York, I have had a number of phone calls since including one yesterday.”
Questions on growth, the economy, public services and national security are on the agenda for Sir Keir Starmer from a cross party group of MPs.
It is the final Commons act before Parliament breaks for Christmas and the PM will want to end the year on a high note after seeing Labour’s poll ratings plummet in recent months.
Follow below for all the highlights...
PM: 'There is nothing I'd do differently'
16:12 , Rachael BurfordAs a final question the Committee asks Sir Keir if, looking back on his almost six months in power, there is anything he would do differently.
He says there is not.
"I'm very pleased to be delivering from a position of power instead of going round the division lobbies losing every night,” he adds.
'Smashing gangs will deter Channel crossings'
16:10 , Rachael BurfordSir Keir Starmer states the government’s plan to smash people smuggling gangs will act as the biggest deterrent to small boats crossing the Channel.
Tory MP Karen Bradley asks if he believes a deterrent was needed to stop illegal migration.
The PM replies: “Yes, and I think that breaking up the gangs that are running the trade, putting people in boats across the Channel is a very effective deterrent.
“Equally, I think that being returned swiftly if you get here and you have no right to be here is an effective deterrent.”
No Target Date for 2.5% Defence Spending
16:06 , Rachael BurfordThe Prime Minister defends his decision not to set out a date for spending 2.5% of Britain's GDP on defence until a strategic defence review had been completed.
He says: "I do think it's important that we have the strategic review because that is looking into the risks and challenges that we face as a country, what our current capability is and whether we need therefore to make changes to match the risk and challenges to the capability that we have.
"Therefore, what I'm reluctant to do is commit large sums of money to the budget unless and until we know the outcome of that strategic review, because this money needs to be spent well and it will only be spent well if it's spent at the end of that exercise."
Syria Warning
16:00The UK must not make the mistake of assuming the new regime in Syria will be better than what came before, Sir Keir warns.
Asked about what was happening in Syria, the Prime Minister tell the Liaison Committee: "Syria is obviously fast moving, and the speed at which Assad fell was not foreseen by many, but it is a good thing.
"But we mustn't make the mistake of thinking that what comes next is necessarily going to be different and better, because we made that mistake before, in my view."
Sir Keir adds that the Government was "talking to regional leaders" and the UK's international allies about Syria, and "how we collectively ensure that what comes next is better".
He added: "Obviously, that also includes talking to those on the ground, I won't go into the detail of that, but you will understand that those conversations need to be had to ensure that if it is possible we will have a regime that complies with international law, that protects the rights of civilians and minorities, and that this can be a genuine turning point for Syria."
'We need a ceasefire in Gaza'
15:57 , Rachael BurfordThe PM tells the Committee that a ceasefire is "obviously needed right now" in Gaza.
"There are intense conversations going on and I hope they bear fruit," he adds.
But he says there can not be a ceasefire until all of the people taken hostage by Hamas are released.
Emily Thornberry, Labour chair of the Foreign Affairs Select Committee, also asked Sir Keir what the UK would do if Israel formally annexed the West Bank.
The PM says he is “very worried about the West Bank” and adds that there is “terrible settler violence going on that needs to be dealt with”.
HS2 'textbook' example of Tory failure
15:45 , Rachael BurfordThe PM brands HS2 a “textbook example of what the last government got wrong when it came to big infrastructure projects”.
The estimated cost of building the London to Birmingham leg of the high-speed line has increased by £9bn, according to reports.
Sir Keir tells the Liaison Committee: “That doesn’t mean we should abandon infrastructure projects but it does mean we have got to do them differently and we have got to do them better.”
Pensioner Poverty
15:29 , Rachael BurfordThe PM is asked about pensioner poverty after the government cut the Winter Fuel payment, making it means tested.
Debbie Abrahams, Labour chair of the Work and Pensions Select Committee, asks what measures could be introduced to help the elderly who are just above the threshold for claiming pension credit?
Sir Keir insists that “there are allowances in place” and highlights increases in the state pension from April - worth £470.
Housing Crisis
15:12 , Rachael BurfordVauxhall and Camberwell Green MP Flo Eshalomi quizzes the PM on housing.
She asks why if we are in a "housing crisis" the government is freezing housing allowance payments?
The PM insists the people in temporary accommodation are being supported, but refuses to commit to increase the benefit to help cover skyrocketing rents.
He also says the government will be able to hit Labour's target of building 1.5million new homes over the next five years.
“I accept it is difficult. I accept it is stretching. But it is hugely important," he says.
Trump Tariffs
15:05 , Rachael BurfordSir Keir says he’s “not a fan” of tariffs when quizzed about the possibility president elect Donald Trump could impose them on UK goods.
Labour MP Liam Byrne asks how the PM will dissuade Trump from imposing tariffs on Britain.
He said: “I am not going to speculate as to what he is going to do. It won’t come as any surprise to you that I am not a fan of tariffs and therefore we have to make sure that we avoid tariffs.
“We have got very good trade with the US as we have got very good trade with other countries around the world.
“I want to improve on that and, as you will know, I have had a meeting with President Trump in September in New York, I have had a number of phone calls since, including one yesterday.”
Hits to business
14:52 , Rachael BurfordSir Keir is quizzed on the impact of the National Insurance rise for employers, minimum wage hikes and Labour’s workers’ rights reforms.
Labour MP Liam Byrne asks the PM if it was the “world’s best idea” to introduce all three at the same time considering the impact they will have on businesses.
"The first thing I would say is the inheritance was appalling," Sir Keir says.
"The economy was broken and there was a £22billion black hole when we did the audit of the books.
“The Chancellor and I had to take a decision. Do we pretend that is not there or do we fix the foundations? I felt very strongly that we should fix the foundations...in one go in this budget.”
When will we see growth?
14:41 , Rachael BurfordFirst question from chair Dame Meg Hillier is on growth.
When will households actually start seeing the benefits of economic growth and policies announced since Labour came to power in July?
Sir Keir replies that the lowest paid are already seeing a boost because of the Budget.
“There is a pay rise for the three million who are the lowest paid, because of the living wage,” he says.
But he concedes “it will take some time” and it won’t all be fixed “by Christmas”.
The final revelation from Mayor’s question time was the most festive: It’s the City Hall Christmas party tonight (Thursday).
Tory assembly chair Andrew Boff, bringing the meeting to a close, told Mr Khan: “I will see you this evening at the Christmas party.”
Mr Khan replied: “We will not be having a dance as the mayor and chair.”
Mr Boff said: “I feel spurned... I will be doing karaoke. I’m not sure what I will be singing - nothing Christmassy.”
That’s it from City Hall. The next Mayor’s question time is on January 16, 2025. Thanks for reading.
Labour group leader Len Duvall, in the wake of the question about the Elizabeth line, asks: “When can we start talking about Crossrail 2?”
Mr Khan said Crossrail 2 was well down his list of priorities, after the likes of the Bakerloo line extension and the West London Orbital rail link.
He said: “Once the Government has got more confidence in HS2, we are coming back to Crossrail 2.”
Labour assembly member Bassam Mahfouz asks about Ealing Broadway station, where at least three passengers have been hurt due to the size of the gap between the platform and the train.
The problem was first reported in July by BBC London.
Mr Khan said the problem was that Ealing Broadway station was not under the control of Transport for London.
He said the solution was to “raise the platform” level. He suggested talks with Network Rail had been constructive. “Watch this space,” he said.
We are now nearing the end of Mayor’s question time. All the opposition parties have used up their time. The Labour group has about 12 minutes left. The next question is about the Elizabeth line - the busiest single rail line in the country.
Tory assembly member Emma Best continues her habit of asking Sadiq Khan about his six free tickets to a Taylor Swift concert at Wembley Stadium in August.
She asks if he will repay the cost of the tickets - said to be worth £500 each.
Mr Khan does not answer her direcly but refers to gifts apparently received by his predecessor as mayor, Boris Johnson.
Sadiq Khan has pledged to continue providing London primary school children with free school meals.
The annual local government settlement - including the amount of money received by the Greater London Authority - was announced by the Government on Wednesday.
Labour assembly member Krupesh Hirani asked Mr Khan when he would be able to confirm that he would continue to fund free school meals.
“When I make a promise, I keep it,” Mr Khan replied - to mocking laughter from rival assembly members.
“We will carry on providing universal free school meals.”
Assembly chairman Andrew Boff - speaking in his capacity as a Tory member - asks the mayor whether he will be demanding that Jas Athwal, the Labour MP for Ilford South, reveals the name of the managing agent who "let down his tenants so badly".
The BBC reported earlier this year that Mr Athwal - the former leader of Redbridge Council - was renting out flats with black mould and ant infestations. The new MP is Parliament's biggest landlord, as he owns 15 rental flats - and he said that he had sacked the flats' managing agent, following the BBC's report.
Mr Boff argues that the agent's name should be disclosed so London renters know to avoid them, but Mr Khan says he will not be asking "any individual landlord" to divulge details of that nature. He supports the Government's plan to create a National Landlord Register.
First joke of MQT from Reform party member Alex Wilson.
Asking the mayor about the number of phones being stolen in London, he says: “52,000 phones can’t all be in the bottom of Louise Haigh’s desk drawer”.
This is a reference to the incident that resulted in Ms Haigh resigning as transport secretary last month.
One of the longest-awaited City Hall reports will be published “next year”, Sadiq Khan has promised.
When he visited a Los Angeles cannabis factory in May 2022 he also announced the appointment of Lord Falconer to head a London drugs commission, primarily to look into whether cannabis should be decriminalised.
Asked about the “war on drugs” (not the rock band) by Green assembly member Zoe Garbett, Mr Khan admitted he was “disappointed” that the commission had still not produced its report, more than two-and-a-half years after being established.
“It will be out next year,” he said.
He added: “I’m more than happy to talk about the danger of drug harm and the importance of diversion.
“The status quo isn’t working.”
Ms Garbett asked the mayor to meet the Anyone’s Child campaign group, which represents people who have lost their partners or children to drug abuse.
Mr Khan suggested this would be a job for his deputy mayor for crime.
But Assembly chair Andrew Boff told him: “Anyone’s Child is an organisation worth meeting.”
The Lib-Dems begin their allocated time - each group gets a certain amount of minutes depending on their number of assembly members - by asking about feared cuts to the Metropolitan police.
Met commissioner Sir Mark Rowley has warned that 2,300 officers may be lost from the force due to a lack of cash.
Gareth Roberts asks whether this will lead to the loss of the Royal Parks police. He says the 12 officers who patrol Richmond Park and Bushy Park are “instrumental in keeping the parks as safe as possible”.
Mr Roberts says the current plans will result in the “end of 150 years of Royal Parks policing”.
Mr Khan advises him to respond to the consultation on Sir Mark’s plans. He admits that it may be impossible to find the Met all the money it says it needs.
“I’m not sure we can close the gap completely,” says Mr Khan.
The mayor is asked by Tory member Emma Best about his previous stated support for 'Waspi women', after the Chancellor, Rachel Reeves, said this week that improving public services was a higher priority for her than spending £10bn compensating them.
The mayor claims that the Government would like to help the group, but they “simply can’t find the money”, because they have inherited a "£22bn black hole" from the previous Tory administration.
Ms Best says this is "a little far from the truth" as the Chancellor had suggested the issue wasn't about a lack of money, but priorities. The assembly member also casts doubt on the £22bn figure, saying there is "nothing" to "legitimise" it.
Mr Khan stresses that the Government has worked to provide support for victims of the Post Office scandal, the contaminated blood scandal, and the Windrush scandal - all of whom, he says, were neglected as issues by the Conservatives.
Ms Best accuses the mayor of "buying votes essentially", by claiming to support causes like the Waspi women, but not continuing his advocacy for them.
Tory assembly member Keith Prince refers to the problem of London buses getting slower.
Mr Khan drags out one of his favourite lines about his (late) dad being a bus driver (Mr Khan snr drove the 44 bus).
Mr Khan said: “Buses are personal to me. I’m not sure if I’ve mentioned this. My father was a bus driver.”
The first flashpoint comes over crime.
Tory assembly member Susan Hall, who Mr Khan defeated in the May mayoral election, says that 64,000 burglaries were committed in London last year, but only 3,700 were solved - a six per cent clear-up rate.
Ms Hall said: “We have effectively decriminalised large numbers of offences taking place in our city.”
Mr Khan says burglary is down 22 per cent since he became mayor in 2016. He accuses the Tories of crying “crocodile tears” - making Ms Hall furious.
She says: “Don’t you dare say they’re crocodile tears - because we care, we damn well do care. It’s you that doesn’t appear to care, because you are not doing anything about it.”
Mr Khan says the Tories are displaying “mock anger” and blames the previous Tory government’s “austerity” policies for leading to more crime.
Ms Hall replies: “That should be your New Year’s resolution - to make London safer. Because it’s an absolute disaster at the moment.”
The mayor is asked by Tory group leader Neil Garratt what New Year's resolutions he has. He specifically presses him on whether he has resolved to "get a grip of" the sharply rising number of mobile phones stolen in London over recent years.
Mr Khan says he believes mobile phone theft can be "designed out", similar to the way in which the theft of car stereos declined after manufacturers made the devices useless once removed from vehicles. He adds that he established a new Robbery Reduction Partnership earlier this year.
Dismissing the answer as "a load of vague waffle", Mr Garratt then asks about bike theft. The mayor claims "police are bearing down" on the issue, and are being assisted by the fact that bikes are increasingly fitted with GPS.
In other transport news, TfL has confirmed that Kentish Town Tube station will reopen next Monday, December 23 - as reported previously in The Standard.
Mr Khan says there is a “very good reason” why he is hiking Tube fares by 4.6 per cent next year.
This is in return for the promise of a multi-year deal from the Government for Transport for London.
But the deal hasn’t been struck - and is unlikely to be agreed until the spending review next April or May.
Will Mr Khan be feeling so positive aboutr hiking fares if a good deal - TfL needs in excess of £500m a year - doesn’t materialise?
Will the chaos on the Piccadilly line be mentioned? TfL has announced part-closures for the next six months to prepare for a new fleet of trains - and given an update on why the current level of service is so disrupted.
Good morning from City Hall. The assembly chair Andrew Boff is inviting Sadiq Khan to make some opening remarks - the mayor wishes Londoners a “peaceful and joyous Christmas”.
Mr Khan talks about the “scandal” of rough sleeping and homelessness - and pledges to “end rough sleeping for good”.
He is also giving an update on the High Court decision on the Tower Hamlets low traffic neighbourhood earlier this week.
Mr Khan says TfL will “consider the implications” of the judge’s ruling, which supported borough mayor Lutfur Rahman’s plan to axe several LTNs in Columbia Road and Bethnal Green
