Live: Starmer faces MPs who grill him on poverty

Live: Starmer faces MPs who grill him on poverty

Sir Keir Starmer faces questions from the chairs of 13 Commons select committees, who grill the prime minister on growth, international affairs and defence, and welfare reforms and health.

The PM:

‘Boosting living standards is Government’s central focus’ / ‘I want people to feel better off’

Starmer agrees that children coming out of care “go off a cliff edge” from having support when they’re in care to then having almost none.

Starmer sets out four priorities for his government, adding: “I want people to feel better off”.

It’s the job of this group of MPs to take the PM to task on public policy.

Today marks Starmer’s third appearance before the committee since becoming prime minister just over a year ago.

It’s all perfectly cordial so far, but the prime minister is now sitting face-to-face with some of the MPs who forced a U-turn on his welfare reforms just a weeks ago.

Meg Hillier, who is chairing the Liaison Committee, put forward the amendment that sparked the rebellion.

Florence Eshalomi, who is also asking the PM questions, was a rebel too.