PMQs - live: Angela Rayner set to clash with Oliver Dowden amid council house row

Angela Rayner Oliver Dowden pmqs

LIVE – Updated at 10:47

Angela Rayner faces Oliver Dowden in what is likely to be a fiery session of PMQs as Labour’s deputy leader continues to face questions about the sale of her former council house.

With Rishi Sunak out of the country, Wednesday’s session is a battle of the deputies, with Mr Dowden likely to press Ms Rayner on the row.

Allies of Ms Rayner, who will have prepared some of her own barbs for the crunch encounter, insist that she has done nothing wrong and will eventually be cleared by the police investigation.

Elsewhere, Mr Sunak is on a visit to Germany. The PM and Olaf Scholz, the German chancellor, will pledge during talks in Berlin to deepen the allies’ defence and security ties.

The two countries will open a “new chapter” in their partnership, Mr Sunak said ahead of the visit.

Key Points

• Rayner v Dowden at PMQs
• Labour deputy likely to be pressed on council house sale
• Rayner to say kitchen renovations offset tax on council house sale
• Sunak visits Berlin to strengthen military ties with Germany
• ‘Conditions are right’ to increase defence spending – Shapps
• UK will increase defence spending to 2.5% by 2030

Former Labour minister Frank Field dies aged 81 after cancer battle

10:06 , Matt Mathers

Former Labour minister and crossbench peer Frank Field has died aged 81, his family has announced.

Lord Field had been diagnosed with terminal cancer.

Former Labour minister Frank Field dies aged 81 after cancer battle

ICYMI: Rayner told kitchen renovations offset tax on council house sale

09:58 , Matt Mathers

Angela Rayner is expected to claim that she did not have to pay capital gains tax when she sold her former house due to a kitchen renovation, as the row over her housing affairs rumbles on.

The deputy Labour leader is likely to argue that enhancements she made to her former council house have offset the tax she would have paid had it not been her primary property, according to The Times.

Full report:

Angela Rayner told kitchen renovations offset tax on council house sale

‘Conditions are right’ to increase defence spending – defence secretary

09:55 , Matt Mathers

Defence secretary Grant Shapps told GB News has said that inflation falling and the current conflicts across the world have led to the government’s decision to increase defence spending.

“The conditions are right now, but not only that, the situation in the world. You’ve seen what’s been happening in Ukraine, with (Vladimir) Putin continuing to prosecute his illegal war.

“You’ve seen what’s happening in the Middle East with Iran firing on Israel with 100s of projectiles. I think it’s very important for Britain to play its leadership part.”

Mr Shapps said the funding will go towards a lot of “different things” including munitions, accommodation and new technology.

“Most of all I hope it leverages the countries to come forward and spend their money properly. It’s really important that we show dictators everywhere, people like Putin, that we will not be walked over.

Mr Shapps added that the government will be “cutting the bureaucracy” in defence to help fund the package.

“We have about 60,000 people in MoD, but we’re saying by 2028 we think we can manage with 50,000 people.

“We want people on the front line, not in the offices.” More comments from Mr Shapps below:

ICYMI: Britain to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2030, Rishi Sunak announces

09:45 , Matt Mathers

Rishi Sunak has promised to boost Britain’s defence spending to 2.5 per cent of GDP by 2030 – despite critics raising concerns about how he will pay for the promise.

At a press conference alongside Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg, the prime minister promised an extra £75bn in defence spending over the next six years.

Full report:

Britain to spend 2.5 per cent of GDP on defence by 2030, Rishi Sunak announces

Sunak and Scholz to announce joint development of artillery systems in Berlin

09:42 , Matt Mathers

Sunak’s first visit to the German capital since entering No 10 comes after he faced pressure to visit senior politicians from one of the UK’s most powerful European allies.

The UK and Germany are closely aligned on matters including support for Ukraine and are the two biggest suppliers of military aid to the country after the US, but have so far opted to co-operate through Nato and G7 forums instead of through strengthening bilateral ties.

Full report:

Sunak and Scholz to announce joint development of artillery systems in Berlin

Recap: Why are police investigating sale of Labour deputy leader’s council house?

09:40 , Matt Mathers

Police have launched an investigation into Labour’s deputy leader Angela Rayner as speculation over whether she broke electoral law continues.

The investigation opened upon “reassessment of information” given to the police by deputy chairman of the Conservative Party, James Daly, about information she gave about her living situation a decade ago.

Here’s everything we know about the row:

Angela Rayner’s council house tax row explained

09:36 , Matt Mathers

Good morning and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.

Today we are covering Prime Minister’s Questions and other stories from Westminster and elsewhere.

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