9 months ago
49
Got a TV Licence?
You need one to watch live TV on any channel or device, and BBC programmes on iPlayer. It’s the law.
Live Reporting
Edited by Owen Amos and Johanna Chisholm
All times stated are UK
'Brighter days are ahead', says Sunak as inflation falls
As we reported earlier, UK inflation has fallen again - and is now very close to the Bank of England's 2% target. Speaking earlier this morning, Rishi Sunak said:
Quote Message: Today marks a major moment for the economy, with inflation back to normal. This is proof that the plan is working and that the difficult decisions we have taken are paying off.
Today marks a major moment for the economy, with inflation back to normal. This is proof that the plan is working and that the difficult decisions we have taken are paying off.
Quote Message: Brighter days are ahead, but only if we stick to the plan to improve economic security and opportunity for everyone."
Brighter days are ahead, but only if we stick to the plan to improve economic security and opportunity for everyone."
Copyright: .
How are the parties faring in the polls?
Daniel Wainwright
Data journalist
Copyright: .
The Conservative average in our opinion poll tracker is the lowest that we’ve seen since October 2022, just as Liz Truss was leaving Downing Street.
About 23% of voters in Great Britain would back the party were a general election held tomorrow, the polls show. That excludes those who are undecided or wouldn’t vote at all.
Labour has a 21 percentage point lead.
Things aren’t moving a lot in the polls but look a little further down the chart and the Greens are at about 7%, which is the highest we have seen them at since 2021.
Reform UK is polling at an average of 11% but has come down a bit from its peak in early April.
The latest averages are calculated from polls by 12 different companies in the two weeks up to 20 May.
You can explore how things have changed over the past year and since 2020 in our interactive poll tracker.
Welcome to our live coverage of Prime Minister's Questions
Image caption: Rishi Sunak, pictured this morningCopyright: Reuters
Wednesday is here again - welcome to our live coverage of Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons.
Rishi Sunak has already hailed the fall in inflatoion this morning - from 3.2% to 2.3% - as a "major milestone for the UK", and he is likely to trumpet it as many times as he can.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is likely to sound unimpressed. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said earlier: "After 14 years of Conservative chaos, families are worse off. Prices in the shops have soared, mortgage bills have risen and taxes are at a 70-year high."
Away from the front benches, a highlight should come when Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay returns to Parliament for the first time since losing his hands and feet to sepsis.
His wife Kati and daughter will watch his appearance at PMQs from the public gallery. It is also likely to be marked by Sunak, Starmer, and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
