Rishi Sunak has reintroduced a ban on fracking in England, Downing Street has confirmed.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson gave the confirmation after Mr Sunak was pressed on the issue at his first Prime Minister’s Questions.
The PM told the Commons he “stands by” the 2019 Conservative Party manifesto and insisted his Government will deliver on what was agreed at the UN Cop26 Glasgow climate talks.
Earlier, a minister suggested Suella Braverman would not be investigated over alleged security breaches and violations of the ministerial code.
Cabinet Office minister Will Quin told parliament that even if Rishi Sunak appoints a new independent adviser, it would “not be proper” for them to probe “events in the last administration”.
It came after Mr Sunak went head-to-head with Sir Keir Starmer at his first PMQs as prime minister.
Sir Keir grilled Mr Sunak about his appointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary, accusing him of doing a “grubby deal” with her to secure her support.
Cleverly under fire for urging LGBT fans to ‘respect’ Qatar at World Cup
Foreign secretary James Cleverly has come under fire for suggesting that LGBT football fans heading to the World Cup in Qatar should be “respectful of the host nation”.
It came after veteran campaigner Peter Tatchell said he was arrested after staging the first LGBT protest in the country to highlight its human rights abuses in the run-up to the sporting event.
Mr Cleverly urged fans to show “a little bit of flex and compromise” and to “respect the culture of your host nation”, before Downing Street distanced itself from his comments.
But Mr Tatchell hit back at the remarks, saying the foreign secretary should instead “highlight the abuses being carried out by the regime”.
Going to the World Cup, as Mr Cleverly has said he will, is “colluding with a homophobic, sexist and racist regime”, the activist said.
Critics also described the cabinet minister’s comments as “abhorrent” and “shockingly tone deaf”.
December election looms in Northern Ireland as minister holds last-ditch talks to restore Stormont
Rishi Sunak’s Northern Ireland secretary is holding last-ditch talks with party leaders at Stormont as a deadline for calling a December election in the region approaches.
Chris Heaton-Harris, re-appointed to his role this week amid Tory turmoil, has warned that he will call a fresh poll if Friday’s deadline passes without an executive being formed.
Our politics correspondent Adam Forrest reports:
Pounds slips against dollar as Rishi Sunak delays Budget
The cost of government borrowing also rose marginally after the U-turn on the statement, which Rishi Sunak said involves “difficult decisions” that he hopes will stabilise the UK’s “economic crisis”.
My colleague Thomas Kingsley reports:
Labour wants substantive response from Cabinet Office on Braverman appointment
Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said that Labour wants the cabinet secretary to offer a substantive response to its letter about Suella Braverman after shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper wrote to Simon Case demanding an investigation “into the extent of this and other possible security breaches”.
“Clearly, if there is content of the inquiry that has to be retained, that is understandable,” he said.
“If there was advice that went to the prime minister that there was a raised eyebrow within the civil service about this appointment, then absolutely that is something that should be in the public domain.
“It is perfectly possible to do that whilst preserving any operational matters that could be compromised in doing so.”
No 10 ‘doesn’t recognise’ reports that officials raised concerns about Braverman
Downing Street has declined to get into reports that officials were concerned over the re-appointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary.
Cabinet secretary Simon Case, the most senior civil servant, is reportedly “livid” over her swift return and “very concerned” about the breach that led to her sacking.
“I don’t recognise reports to that end that have been published this morning,” the prime minister’s official spokesperson said on Wednesday.
Asked if officials had raised concerns about the matter, he said: “I don’t as standard get into discussing the advice that ministers nor prime ministers receive from their officials, that would not be proper, but certainly I don’t recognise reports as regards the cabinet secretary.”
Sunak commits to banning fracking
Green MP Caroline Lucas says she is “delighted” to have secured “confirmation” from Sunak that he will uphold a promise to ban fracking.
Ms Lucas said: “I’m delighted that the new prime minister has just committed to maintain the moratorium on climate-wrecking fracking.
“Fracking has long been deeply unpopular, not only with the Tory Party itself, but with the public too.
“It wouldn’t reduce household bills, as the gas would get sold on international markets; and since global emissions would still increase, the planet has always been firmly against it too.”
Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch attacks LGBT magazine in parliament
Equalities minister Kemi Badenoch has used her first parliamentary appearance in the role to attack the editor of an LGBT+ magazine.
Speaking in the Commons on her first full day in the job Ms Badenoch accused the founder of PinkNews of wanting to “insult or accuse” her.
Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:
Sunak hints at raising benefits in line with inflation
During PMQs, Sunak indicated he wants to raise benefits in line with inflation.
He also suggested he was still committted to levelling up, Boris Johnson’s flagship policy.
Mr Sunak hinted that he would reverse Liz Truss’s plan to lift the ban on fracking.
Our deputy politics editor Rob Merrick has more on fracking below:
Suella Braverman ‘runs away’ from parliament as minister confirms she will not be investigated
Suella Braverman will not be investigated over alleged security breaches and violations of the ministerial code.
A minister told parliament that even if Rishi Sunak appoints a new independent adviser, it would “not be proper” for them to probe “events in the last administration”.
The newly reappointed home secretary was accused of “running away” from an urgent question on her appointment, leaving the House of Commons chamber minutes before it began.
Our home affairs editor Lizzie Dearden reports:
PMQs verdict: ‘They brought their A-game’
The early verdicts are in for Rishi Sunak’s first PMQs as prime minister.
Sky’s Beth Rigby thinks that both Mr Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer brought their A-game to the House of Commons.
The Guardian’s Pippa Crerar believes that Mr Sunak will have to face more questions on his appointment of Suella Braverman as home secretary.
The Telegraph’s Ben Riley-Smith says Tory MPs were enjoying listening to a “pumped up” Rishi Sunak.
But The Mirror’s Kevin Maguire reckons it was a win for the Labour leader.
