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Protesters stormed the House of Lords on Thursday, 20 March, demanding that the unelected chamber be abolished.Demonstrators began with chants of “Lords out, people in” before throwing yellow leaflets around the room.The leaflets, apparently modelled on a Sex Pistols album, had written on them: “Never mind the Lords here’s the House of People.”Protesters said they were acting on behalf of Assemble, an organisation that campaigns for the Lords to be abolished and replaced by a citizens’ assembly.A debate was adjourned as the protesters were escorted out. More

Sir Keir Starmer made a rare secret visit to one of Britain’s nuclear submarines ahead of a crucial meeting of military figures in the UK to discuss peacekeeping in Ukraine.The prime minister maintains that Vladimir Putin fears Britain’s nuclear weapons, saying that Trident continues to be a crucial deterrent as Russia resists efforts for peace in Ukraine.Sir Keir secretly joined submariners returning home to loved ones, boarding the boat as it returned to UK waters in what is known as “a Day Zero.” He is the first Prime Minister to do so in more than a decade. More

Sir Keir Starmer hit out at Nigel Farage during Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, saying he “can’t even lead a party that fits in the back of a taxi”.The prime minister was responding to a question from Reform UK MP Lee Anderson, who asked how much the earth’s temperature would decrease if Britain reached net zero tomorrow.Answering his question, Sir Keir said: “Net zero is of course not easy, but it’s a huge opportunity to boost our growth, our jobs our economy. And so he knows my views on that.“But, they’d have better ideas if they stopped fawning over Putin. And I understand the member for Clacton [Farage] wants to be prime minister, but he can’t even lead a party that fits in the back of a taxi.” More

Sir Keir Starmer was asked “What is the point” of Labour if it cuts disability benefits during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, 19 March.Colum Eastwood, an MP from Labour’s sister party SDLP in Northern Ireland, outlined the case of a local constituent who will lose their financial support.It comes as the government faced condemnation from unions, charities and some Labour MPs for making “cruel” and “immoral” cuts and seeking to balance the public finances on the backs of some of the poorest people in society.The Resolution Foundation said the tightening of Pip eligibility would mean between 800,000 and 1.2 million people losing support of between £4,200 and £6,300-per-year by the end of the decade. More

A former Tory minister has refused to accept the economy went into recession when Rishi Sunak was prime minister.Ex-pensions minister Mel Stride was asked multiple times to acknowledge that there was a recession under the Conservatives after criticising a lack of growth under Labour so far.“The important thing is, we went through a cost of living crisis,” Mr Stride said as he repeatedly attempted to bat away Sky News presenter Wilfred Frost.“Excuse me, sorry, was there a recession under Rishi Sunak, and has there been a recession under this government,” an exasperated Mr Frost interrupted, before adding that “the non-answer speaks volumes”. More

Diane Abbott has strongly condemned the government’s plans to cut benefits, arguing that reducing financial support is not the answer to helping people move off welfare. The veteran Labour MP made her remarks on the Today programme (17 March) ahead of an expected announcement on changes to the welfare system. Abbott’s criticism follows a growing backlash within her party, with fellow Labour MPs, including John McDonnell and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, also voicing opposition to the proposed cuts. She emphatically stated: “Cutting the money for disabled people is not a Labour thing to do.” More

Wes Streeting was confronted over accusations that Labour is “changing into the Tories” due to the government’s welfare reforms.Speaking to Trevor Phillips on Sunday, 16 March, the health secretary rejected this argument, insisting: “I don’t think that it is a Labour argument to say that we would want people consigned to a life on benefit.”What we are absolutely doing is trying to reform the state so that it’s more effective.”It comes as Liz Kendall, the work and pensions secretary, is due to unveil measures to cut welfare spending before Rachel Reeves’ Spring Statement. More