Summary
Here’s a roundup of the key developments from the day:
James Cleverly answered questions on the conflict in Israel and Gaza in the Commons. The minister was asked about the prospects of a two-state solution. He said: “Despite the terrible circumstances that we are experiencing there is a renewed desire to have a meaningful resolution.”
The SNP foreign affairs spokesperson, Brendan O’Hara, asked James Cleverly if he had seen any evidence or had been made aware of any evidence that Israel has breached international humanitarian law in its response to the Hamas atrocities on 7 October. The foreign secretary said it was not his role “to make an assessment on the interpretation of events which are unfolding as we speak”.
Downing Street looked to “clarify” after a Treasury minister said as many as six British nationals are among the Hamas hostages. The financial secretary to the treasury, Victoria Atkins, told Sky News on Tuesday that the “latest figure” she had been given was that “there are suspected to be six British nationals” being held in Gaza.
Labour called on British ministers to say whether they intended to maintain military support for Ukraine at the current level of £2.3bn a year, arguing they feared the UK’s support for Kyiv was flagging. John Healey, the shadow defence spokesperson, complained that the prime minister, Rishi Sunak, had yet to announce any additional funding of military aid for Ukraine beyond next March.
More than 1 million children experienced destitution last year – meaning their families could not afford to adequately feed, clothe or clean them, or keep them warm – according to a major study which reveals an explosion of extreme poverty in the UK. A government spokesperson said: “Our number one priority is driving down inflation because that will help everyone’s money go further.”
An MP was stopped before boarding a flight to Canada “because his name was Mohammad”, parliament has heard. The Labour MP for Bedford, Mohammad Yasin, was due to fly to Canada with a group of other MPs from the Commons levelling up, housing and communities committee when he was delayed for extra questioning.
The prime minister has wished the cabinet secretary a “speedy recovery” as he takes time off from leading the civil service. The Cabinet Office this week confirmed that Simon Case had stepped back from his role due to a “private medical matter”.
We are closing this liveblog shortly. Thanks so much for joining us.
Our blog on the Israel-Hamas war is still live:
No 10 has insisted that a decision to scrap a cap on bankers’ bonuses was a matter for financial regulators.
The government appeared to distance itself from the decision, which has faced criticism, as the official spokesman for the prime minister said that ministers did not want to “cut across” the independence of regulators.
He told journalists:
The government’s position is that regulatory independence is important and we don’t intend to cut across that independence.
Obviously, the [Prudential Regulation Authority] themselves have consulted on this. They took that independent decision, followed a four-month consultation, which received responses from experts in the field and vast majority, as I understand it, supported that decision.
He said it was “very much a decision” for regulators.
Updated
