London politics latest LIVE: Rishi Sunak accused at PMQs of Suella Braverman ‘grubby deal’ as fracking ban reinstated

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of doing “a grubby deal trading national security” in order to buy Suella Braverman’s support in the Tory leadership election.

The Labour leader made Ms Braverman’s reappointment by the new Prime Minister as Home Secretary his main point of attack as they clashed at Mr Sunak’s first PMQs on Wednesday.

Mr Sunak insisted the security breach which led to Ms Braverman’s sacking by former PM Liz Truss was a “mistake”, as No 10 did not deny claims officials advised against reappointing her Home Secretary days after she was forced out.

Sir Keir asked the PM: “Was his Home Secretary right to resign last week for a breach of security?”

Mr Sunak replied: “The Home Secretary made an error of judgment but she recognised that, she raised the matter and she accepted her mistake.

“That is why I was delighted to welcome her back into a united cabinet that brings experience and stability to the heart of Government.”

A Downing Street spokesman later announced that the moratorium on fracking in England has been restored by Mr Sunak - only weeks after it was abandoned by Ms Truss.

Earlier on Wednesday, it was announced that Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s fiscal statement, which had been due on October 31, will now be delivered on November 17.

Mr Hunt said it was “prudent” to delay the statement, which is now an “upgraded” full Autumn statement, to allow for the most up-to-date economic forecasts. He said the plans would show debt falling in the medium term.

Who is who in Rishi Sunak’s new Cabinet?

07:06 , Josh Salisbury

Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of today’s political developments.

Rishi Sunak has appointed a new-look Cabinet, restoring Suella Braverman, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove to the Cabinet while keeping Jeremy Hunt on as Chancellor.

So who is who in the new Cabinet which meets for the first time at 9.30am?

Among those who were sacked or resigned were Jacob Rees-Mogg, an old ally of Boris Johnson and Ms Truss who once branded Mr Sunak a “socialist”, who resigned. He has been replaced as Business Secretary by Grant Shapps.

Brandon Lewis also resigned as Justice Secretary and was replaced by Dominic Raab, who previously held the post.

Kit Malthouse was dismissed from his post as Education Secretary, and was replaced by Gillian Keegan, the sixth person to hold the job in just 13 months.

Levelling Up Secretary Simon Clarke was sacked and was replaced by Tory big name Michael Gove.

Environment Secretary Ranil Jayawardena was fired, to be replaced by Dr Thérèse Coffey, the former Health Secretary. Meanwhile, Steve Barclay has returned to the post of Health Secretary.

Read our full list of who is in and out here.

Cabinet to meet for first time at 9.30am

07:13 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak’s new Cabinet is set to meet for the first time at 9.30am, Downing Street has confirmed.

It comes a day after the new Prime Minister culled nearly a dozen of Liz Truss’s top-tier ministers, including Jacob Rees-Mogg, while reviving the careers of a host of big names, including Suella Braverman, Dominic Raab and Michael Gove.

Foreign Secretary defends Suella Braverman

07:21 , Josh Salisbury

James Cleverly, who kept his post as Foreign Secretary, is representing the Goverment’s media round.

Asked on Sky News whether Ms Braverman should have been reappointed as Home Secretary despite resigning from the post under Liz Truss over a breach of the ministerial code, he said: “Suella made a mistake. She has said herself that she made a mistake. She has apologised for that mistake and she stood down at the time.

“But ultimately she has got very, very clear ideas about how we improve the performance of the Home Office."

Mr Sunak will face pressure over choosing to bring back Ms Braverman so quickly into the fold.

James Cleverly defends Sunak for reappointing Suella Braverman

07:26 , Josh Salisbury

James Cleverly has also defended Rishi Sunak for re-appointing Ms Braverman, less than a week after she resigned over a ministerial code breach.

Mr Cleverly denied claims that the Home Secretary is in the post because she threw her weight behind Rishi Sunak during the leadership contest.

“If you look at the parliamentary numbers, it was clear and clear really very early on that Rishi was going to have the majority and as it went onto be clear the overwhelming majority of the support of the parliamentary party,” he said.

“Frankly I don't think he needed the endorsement of any one MP. That is the way to look at it because the numbers speak for themselves.”

Former No10 chief of staff: I wouldn’t have made Braverman Home Secretary

07:28 , Josh Salisbury

Former Downing Street chief of staff Gavin Barwell has said he would not have given Suella Braverman the role of Home Secretary.

Asked if her reappointment undermines Rishi Sunak’s claim to be a Prime Minister of integrity, Lord Barwell told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “I can entirely understand why he wanted to include her.

“She’s clearly the sort of champion of the ERG [European Research Group] group of MPs, but I think given the events behind her very recent dismissal, personally I wouldn’t have put her back in quite a senior job.

“So, looking at the day as a whole yesterday, and I think it was a pretty good start, the speech I think struck the right tone, that appointment of Suella is probably the one sort of contentious note.”

Cleverly says he cannot confirm fiscal statement date

07:36 , Josh Salisbury

Speaking on Sky News, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he was not able to confirm that the Government’s medium term fiscal plan would go ahead on October 31.

According to some newspaper reports this morning, Mr Sunak is considering delaying the statement by a few days.

Mr Cleverly told Sky News that he had not “had specific confirmation of dates”.

Pressed on whether this means a delay, he said: “But we know it needs to come soon. We know people want certainty, we know people want a clear idea of the Government’s plans.

“Whether it happens exactly on that date I am not able to confirm at the moment.”

Labour: Reappointing Braverman ‘tells us what we need to know about Government'

07:39 , Josh Salisbury

Labour’s shadow education secretary Bridget Phillipson said the reappointment of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary “tells you everything that you need to know about this Government”.

She told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “One moment Rishi Sunak is telling us he will lead a Government of integrity, and then another minute he’s appointing someone back into the Cabinet who’d been sacked only the week before for a serious breach of security and a potential breach of the ministerial code.

“It was a grubby deal that he struck in order to get over the line and become Prime Minister.

“We end up in this bizarre position where all we’re talking about is what’s right for the Conservative Party and how they keep themselves united.

“I want us to be thinking about how we deliver a better Britain for the country. This should be about the future of our country, not the future of the Conservative Party.”

Cleverly says Government must be ‘dynamic’ when asked about 2019 manifesto

07:56 , Josh Salisbury

James Cleverly has said the Government must make “dynamic decisions” when asked about Rishi Sunak’s pledge to deliver on the promise of the Conservatives’ 2019 manifesto.

When it was put to him that people did not vote for austerity at the last general election, the Foreign Secretary told Sky News: “You always have to make dynamic decisions in government. You can’t set out a manifesto and assume that nothing significant is going to happen in the four or five years of a parliament.

“There was no global pandemic in the 2019 manifesto. There was no invasion of Ukraine in the 2019 manifesto.

“We have got to respond to the world as we find it, not the one we wish it to be.”

Foreign Secretary further hints fiscal statement could be pushed back from October 31

08:04 , Josh Salisbury

Continuing on his broadcast round, James Cleverly has said Rishi Sunak “will want some time with his Chancellor to make sure that the fiscal statement matches his priorities.”

He told BBC Breakfast: “Now, I don’t know whether that means that date is going to slip but, as you suggested, the current date is only a couple of days away.

“The Prime Minister and the Chancellor know they need to work quickly on this but they also want to get it right, so we’ll see what happens to that date.”

When it was put to him that a delay would bring more uncertainty, Mr Cleverly said that “a short delay, in order to make sure that we get this right, I think that is not necessarily a bad thing at all”.

Foreign Secretary: I haven’t spoken to Qatar over ‘arrest’ of LGBT rights campaigner

08:19 , Josh Salisbury

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he has not spoken with the Qatari government about campaigner Peter Tatchell, who said he was arrested after staging an LGBT protest in the country in the run-up to the World Cup.

Mr Cleverly told LBC: “I haven’t spoken with the government of Qatar in direct response to Peter Tatchell, but my understanding is that he was questioned, that he was supported by the FCDO’s consular team.

“I have spoken to the Qatari authorities in the past about gay football fans going to watch the World Cup and how they will treat our fans and international fans.

“They want to make sure that football fans are safe, secure and enjoy themselves, and they know that that means they are going to have to make some compromises in terms of what is an Islamic country with a very different set of cultural norms to our own.”

Mr Tatchell said he was arrested staging a one-man LGBT rights protest on Tuesday, but a Qatari government spokesperson insisted he was not arrested.

Asked whether he will go to the World Cup after Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer signalled he will not, Mr Cleverly said: “If I am able to go, I should go because it is a major international event. There’ll be lots of my international interlocutors there and also there’ll be a whole load of Brits overseas.”

Labour voices ‘alarm’ over potential change of fiscal statement date

08:42 , Josh Salisbury

Labour’s shadow education secretary, Bridget Phillipson, said she is “surprised” at suggestions of a potential delay to the Government’s fiscal statement.

The statement is due on Monday, October 31. However, speaking on a broadcast round earlier, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly said he could not confirm the date and hinted it may change.

Ms Phillipson said in response: “I’m both surprised and alarmed to hear James Cleverly saying that because we have been waiting on this forecast, in particular from the Office for Budget Responsibility for a very long time.

“We don’t yet know the full scale of the damage that the Conservatives have caused our economy.

“I think we do need to see it as soon as possible. This is just this never-ending chaos that we see at the heart of Government.”

Braverman appointed for her ‘experience’, Foreign Secretary insists

08:50 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak reinstalled Suella Braverman at the helm of the Home Office because he wants an "experienced" Home Secretary, James Cleverly has said.

The assertion comes despite her having been in the post for only six weeks before she was forced to quit over a breach of the ministerial code.

The Foreign Secretary told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The Prime Minister clearly wants to make sure that he has experience at the top of the Home Office. That's why he's reappointed her."

Asked if Ms Braverman displayed "integrity, professionalism and accountability," Mr Cleverly said: "So yes, by saying that she made a mistake, by apologising for that mistake, for standing down, she did.

"The Prime Minister has taken her apology and he has decided that what he wants is an experienced Home Secretary that has got recent - very, very recent - experience at the Home Office."

Hunt silent as he arrives at No10 for Cabinet

08:54 , Josh Salisbury

Jeremy Hunt did not answer questions from journalists as he entered 10 Downing Street ahead of a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday morning.

The Chancellor remained silent as he walked past reporters and photographers on his way into the building.

Suella Braverman also arrives for Cabinet

09:13 , Josh Salisbury

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has arrived at 10 Downing Street ahead of Rishi Sunak's first Cabinet meeting as Prime Minister.

She did not respond to journalists as she walked past and entered the building.

Ms Braverman arrived just moments after Education Secretary Gillian Keegan, who said "good morning" as she passed the crowd of reporters and photographers.

Raab arrives at Cabinet

09:27 , Josh Salisbury

Dominic Raab smiled at journalists but did not respond to greetings and questions as he entered Downing Street for Cabinet.

Mr Raab was appointed Justice Secretary and Deputy Prime Minister in the Cabinet reshuffle.

He was followed in short order by a number of other ministers, including Minister without Portfolio in the Cabinet Office Nadhim Zahawi and Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride.

Cabinet ministers arrive for first meeting with Sunak as PM

09:45 , Josh Salisbury

Other Cabinet ministers have arrived at 10 Downing Street for the first Cabinet meeting with Rishi Sunak as PM.

Among them was former Tory leadership hopeful and Commons leader Penny Mordaunt, who remained silent and did not respond when asked by reporters if the new Prime Minister had her full backing.

Ministers leave Cabinet meeting as first picture released

10:20 , Josh Salisbury

Ministers have begun leaving Rishi Sunak’s first Cabinet meeting as Prime Minister.

Members of the Cabinet walked out of 10 Downing Street, past reporters and photographers.

A number said “good morning” while Nadhim Zahawi told journalists the party was “very, very united” as he departed.

Labour demands inquiry into Suella Braverman amid controversy over re-appointment

10:33 , Josh Salisbury

Labour has written to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case demanding an investigation into Home Secretary Suella Braverman after she breached the ministerial code.

Ms Braverman resigned from the post under Liz Truss over using her private email to share Government documents less than a week ago before being re-appointed by new PM Rishi Sunak on Tuesday.

According to a report in the Times paper, Mr Case was said to be “livid” about the appointment.

In her letter, shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper wrote: “If a full investigation has not yet taken place into the extent of this and other possible security breaches, I am urging you and the Home Office to now urgently undertake such an investigation as the public has a right to know that there are proper secure information procedures in place to cover the person who has been given charge of our national security.

“It must include the extent of the Home Secretary’s use of private email accounts to circulate Government papers and the extent to which official documents have been sent outside Government, as well as any other concerns that have been raised about possible serious information and security breaches by Suella Braverman.”

Braverman re-appointment causes controversy for Rishi Sunak

11:01 , Josh Salisbury

Home Secretary Suella Braverman said "good morning" in response to greetings from journalists as she left 10 Downing Street following Rishi Sunak's first Cabinet meeting as Prime Minister.

She walked briskly between groups of photographers and reporters as she passed through arches opposite the front door of Number 10.

Her re-appointment has caused controversy for Mr Sunak, as she was forced to resign over a breach of the ministerial code less than a week ago.

Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, on a morning broadcast round Wednesday morning, denied that Ms Braverman was in office as part of a deal for backing Rishi Sunak in the leadership campaign.

Labour has also written to Cabinet Secretary Simon Case demanding an investigation into the Home Secretary.

Labour granted urgent question on Braverman appointment

11:06 , Josh Salisbury

Labour has been granted an urgent question in the Commons later on Wednesday, with the party due to ask Home Secretary Suella Braverman to make a statement on her resignation and reappointment.

It will take place after Rishi Sunak’s first appearance at Prime Minister’s Questions, which takes place at noon.

Fiscal statement delayed by 17 days

11:12 , Josh Salisbury

The much-awaited fiscal statement, which had been due to take place on October 31, has been delayed until November 17.

The Treasury said the move was agreed between Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Chancellor Jeremy Hunt. The statement will contain a full Office for Budget Responsibility forecast, it said.

“It will contain the UK’s medium term fiscal plan to put public spending on a sustainable footing, get debt falling & restore stability,” it said in a statement.

Jeremy Hunt: Priority is ‘economic stability’ with fiscal statement delay

11:19 , Josh Salisbury

The Chancellor Jeremy Hunt told broadcasters that the priority was “economic stability” as he confirmed that the fiscal statement will be delayed until November 17.

“Our number one priority is economic stability and restoring confidence that the United Kingdom is a country that pays its way,” Mr Hunt said.

“For that reason the medium term fiscal plan is extremely important, and I want to confirm that it will demonstrate debt falling over the medium term which is very important for people to understand.

“But it’s also extremely important that that statement is based on the most accurate possible economic forecasts and forecasts of public finances.

“And for that reason the Prime Minister and I have decided it is prudent to make that statement on the 17th of November when it will be upgraded to a full Autumn statement. I discussed this last night with the Governor of the Bank of England”.

Hunt: I’m willing to make ‘politically embarrassing choices’ in delaying fiscal statement

11:30 , Josh Salisbury

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he is willing to make “politically embarrassing” choices and insisted a “short two-and-a-half week delay” to his statement is the best course of action.

Mr Hunt told broadcasters: “I’ve demonstrated in the short time that I’ve been Chancellor that I’m willing to take decisions very quickly and I’m willing to make choices that are politically embarrassing if they’re the right thing to do for the country, if they’re in the national interest.

“Now we have a new Prime Minister and the prospect of much longer-term stability for the economy and the country.

“In that context a short two-and-a-half week delay is the best way we will make sure that it is the right decisions we take.”

Hunt defends Braverman appointment

11:36 , Josh Salisbury

Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has defended Rishi Sunak appointing Suella Braverman as Home Secretary a week after she was forced out of the role by Liz Truss.

Asked if he is happy with the reappointment and whether he trusts Ms Braverman, Mr Hunt told broadcasters: “She apologised for her mistakes. She's been fully accountable for those mistakes, she stepped down as Home Secretary.

"But from the point of view of people at home, who want stability in the economy, they also need to see a united Conservative Party and that's why the Prime Minister has put together a Cabinet of all the talents."

Rishi Sunak leaves No10 ahead of PMQs

11:38 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has left 10 Downing Street following his first Cabinet meeting as Prime Minister, ahead of Prime Minister’s Questions.

Mr Sunak walked out of the front door and did not respond to calls from reporters before entering a waiting Range Rover.

The Prime Minister then left Downing Street with a police escort.

Lib Dems hit out at fiscal statement delay

11:47 , Josh Salisbury

The Liberal Democrats hit out at the delay to the planned fiscal event to November 17, arguing that it will create further “uncertainty”.

The party’s Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said: “This delay risks leaving mortgage borrowers, pensioners and struggling families under a damaging cloud of uncertainty.

“Rishi Sunak must confirm now that benefits and pensions will be uprated in line with inflation and there will be no cuts to our NHS and other crucial public services.

“Sunak was installed by Conservative MPs into Number 10 without anyone voting for him and without telling anyone about his plans for the country.

“The public deserve to know immediately what lies in store and that they will not be made to pay for the Conservative Party trashing our economy.”

Sunak cheered as he enters Commons for PMQs

12:00 , Josh Salisbury

New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was cheered by Conservative MPs as he arrived in the House of Commons ahead of his first Prime Minister’s Questions.

Sunak: I will focus on energy security

12:05 , Josh Salisbury

Responding to his first question as PM, Mr Sunak did not repeat a vow to ban on-shore wind farms, saying that he would focus on long-term energy supply, including renewable energy, and nuclear power.

Sunak defends Braverman

12:11 , Josh Salisbury

Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer has asked his first question to Rishi Sunak, asking whether Suella Braverman was right to resign as Home Secretary for a breach of the ministerial code.

Ms Braverman was re-appointed to the role, prompting controversy from opposition parties.

Mr Sunak responded: “The Home Secretary made an error of judgement, but she recognised that ... She will be focussed on cracking down on criminals, defending our borders, while the party opposite remain soft on crime and in favour of unlimited immigration.”

Starmer responds by saying he is not soft on crime, as he run the Crown Prosecution Service for five years.

Sunak dodges question on whether officials raised concerns over Braverman

12:14 , Josh Salisbury

Labour has returned to the appointment of Suella Braverman, with Sir Keir asking whether officials had raised any concerns about Ms Braverman’s appointment.

Rishi Sunak does not directly answer that question, saying that on the topic of crime, there are 15,000 new police officers on the streets.

He said: “The Home Secretary will be supporting them to tackle burglaries, while the party opposite will be backing the lunatic protesting fringe that are stopping people going about their ordinary lives”.

Sunak insists he will protect vulnerable

12:19 , Josh Salisbury

Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of putting party before country in appointing Ms Braverman and asks whether he agrees the richest should pay more to support the most vulnerable.

Mr Sunak responded with a jibe about Starmer supporting Jeremy Corbyn when he was Labour party leader as an example of him putting party before country.

He says: “My record is clear, when times are difficult in this country I will always protect the most vulnerable. That’s a value of our compassionate party, we did it in Covid and we did it again.”

Starmer says if that’s the case the Conseratives should get rid of non-dom tax status - an allusion to the tax status Mr Sunak’s wife had, which she gave up after a controversy earlier this year.

Starmer grills Sunak over levelling up funding

12:25 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak is asked about a recording which surfaced during his first leadership bid in which he appeared to talk of funding being taken from deprived areas and given to more affluent ones.

He responds by saying that he will be a prime minister for the whole country and that he is “honest” about the challenges facing the country.

He said: “He mentioned the last few weeks. I am the first to admit that mistakes were made and that’s the reason I’m standing here.

“But that’s the difference between him and me. This summer, I was honest, I was talking about the difficulties we were facing. But when he ran for leader, he promised his party he would borrow billions and billions of pounds.

“I told the truth for the good of the country, he told his party what it wanted to hear.”

Starmer: New PM should call an election

12:31 , Josh Salisbury

Sir Keir asks the new Prime Minister why he doesn’t call an election.

“The only time he ran in a competitive election, he got trounced by the former Prime Minister, who herself got beaten by a lettuce”, he said.

“Why doesn’t he put it to the test, let working people have their say, and call a general election?”

Mr Sunak responded with a jibe about Keir Starmer’s views on Brexit, saying: “He talks about mandates, votes, elections, it’s a bit rich coming from the person who tried to overturn the biggest democratic vote in our country’s history.”

He says the mandate is based on the 2019 manifesto and that election victory, and that he will deliver that mandate for the British people.

Sunak does not commit to raising benefits with inflation

12:38 , Josh Salisbury

Asked by the SNP’s Ian Blackford whether he will raise benefits in line with inflation in his upcoming budget, Mr Sunak does not answer directly, but says his “record is clear”.

In May this year, while serving as chancellor under Boris Johnson, the prime minister promised that benefits would increase at the same rate as inflation. This pledge that was thrown into doubt by Liz Truss.

He says he has “always acted” to protect the most vulnerable. “We will continue to act like that in the weeks ahead”, he said.

Sunak appears to rule out return of fracking

12:42 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has appeared to rule out the return of fracking in response to a question by Green MP, Caroline Lucas.

Asked by Ms Lucas whether he will uphold the 2019 manifesto and reverse a green light given to fracking under Liz Truss.

He said that he “stands by the manifesto on that” and adds: “I’m proud that this Government has passed a landmark environment act ... and we will deliver on those ambitions”.

Suella Braverman does not turn up to answer urgent question on appointment

12:58 , Josh Salisbury

Labour has tabled an urgent question asking for the Home Secretary to make a statement on her resignation last week for sending Government documents by personal email.

Suella Braverman was then re-appointed by Rishi Sunak to the role on Tuesday.

Ms Braverman has not turned up to answer the question or give a statement, with the response instead being given by Cabinet office minister, Jeremy Quin, who says Ms Braverman made a mistake and accepted it.

He says the Prime Minister will work to uphold standards, and that he expected all ministers to follow it. “After consideration, the PM decided given the apology given by the Home Secretary, to reappoint her to Government,” he said. “They are now working together to make our streets safer and control our borders”.

Labour accuses Government of ‘running away from accountability’ in Braverman appointment

13:04 , Josh Salisbury

Labour’s shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper, has criticised Suella Braverman for not responding in person to questions about her appointment.

She said: “My question was about security breaches and the protection of our national security. They are questions to the Home Secretary, who was here five minutes ago, but who left.”

She accuses the Government of “running away from basic accountability” despite a promise from Rishi Sunak to uphold standards.

Ms Cooper asks if there are any investigations into any security breaches from Ms Braverman, and asks whether she has access to sensitive documents.

Cabinet office minister Jeremy Quin declines to comment on the specifics. He says she made a mistake, and the Prime Minister looked again at her role in the wake of her apology.

Sunak intends to appoint ethics adviser - minister

13:06 , Josh Salisbury

It is Rishi Sunak’s intention to appoint an independent ethics adviser but events of the last administrations will “probably not be part” of his remit, a Cabinet Office minister has said.

After being asked by SNP home affairs spokesman Stuart C McDonald if the Prime Minister will finally appoint an independent ethics adviser, Jeremy Quin said: “He’ll be reassured that I know it is absolutely the Prime Minister’s intention to appoint an independent adviser.”

Later on, Labour former minister Dame Angela Eagle said: “Can he give this House an assurance that when that appointment is made - and we expect it to be soon - that there will be a proper investigation into the behaviour of the Home Secretary in her last iteration before she had six days off?”

Mr Quin replied: “I have to say events of the last administration would probably not be part of the remit of the new independent adviser.”

Irish premier congratulates Sunak on appointment as PM

13:20 , Josh Salisbury

Ireland’s premier has congratulated new UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the Irish parliament.

Micheal Martin said: “I congratulate the new British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on his election and I look forward to having the opportunity to engage with him later today.”

The Taoiseach and Mr Sunak are due to speak this evening.

“What has sustained this house over the last difficult period since Brexit happened has been the unity of purpose in terms of Ireland’s fundamental aims and objectives,” Mr Martin said.

“We were never supporters of Brexit but we respect the decision of the British people to decide to leave the European Union.”

Fracking ban restored, Downing Street confirms

13:26 , Josh Salisbury

The moratorium on fracking has been restored by Rishi Sunak, Downing Street has confirmed.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman confirmed that Mr Sunak was committed to the effective ban on fracking set out in the 2019 general election manifesto.

It comes after Mr Sunak hinted at a return to the ban, which was eased by Liz Truss, in Prime Minister’s Questions.

No10 refuses to comment on reports of officials’ concern over Braverman

13:27 , Josh Salisbury

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, according to a report in the Times newspaper.

“I don’t recognise reports to that end that have been published this morning,” the Prime Minister’s official spokesman 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 and family to move into No10 Downing Street

13:31 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak and his family plan to move into the flat above No 10 Downing Street.

The Prime Minister’s press secretary said: “They will be moving into the No 10 flat, where they used to live.”

Asked whether they will redecorate, she said: “Not that I’m aware of.”

Asked why No 10 and not the bigger No 11 flat, she said: “They were very happy there.”

No10 refuses to commit to 3% defence spending by 2030

13:43 , Josh Salisbury

Downing Street has declined to commit to increasing defence spending to 3% of GDP by 2030.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “That is something that would need to be set out by the Chancellor at a future fiscal event.

“It will be for the autumn statement.

“No decisions have been made on defence spending or significant spending as is custom ahead of a fiscal event.”

He did confirm that energy bill support will continue through the winter as previously set out.

The spokesman said: “Yes, the energy price guarantee will continue through the winter.”

Labour: We want substantive answer on Braverman appointment

13:50 , Josh Salisbury

Sir Keir Starmer’s spokesman said that Labour wants the Cabinet Secretary to offer a substantive response to its letter about Suella Braverman.

Shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper earlier 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,” said the spokesman.

“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.”

Sunak junks Liz Truss’s supply-side reforms

13:52 , Josh Salisbury

Rishi Sunak has abandoned Liz Truss's supply-side reform plans.

The Prime Minister's official spokesman said: “There are no plans for supply-side reforms as we previously discussed.

“That's not to say there won't be elements the Chancellor may or may not wish to come forward with in his autumn statement."

‘Come back to us when Labour’s had a woman PM'

14:10 , Miriam Burrell

Former home secretary Sajid Javid has praised the Conservative Party for its diversity after Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet was criticised for being male-dominated.

Labour’s shadow women and equalities secretary Anneliese Dodds said just one in five ministers were women.

To which Mr Javid replied: “Come back to us when Labour’s had a Jewish PM, woman PM and Asian PM.”

‘Endless hokey cokey’ from Tories

14:16 , Miriam Burrell

Liberal Democrat work and pensions spokesperson Wendy Chamberlain said: “Rishi Sunak stood on the steps of Downing Street yesterday pledging to rebuild trust and stick to the promises made in the Conservative manifesto.

“But already he’s preparing to tear up his party’s promise on the pensions triple lock while slashing welfare support for the most vulnerable.

“This endless hokey cokey from the Conservatives is leaving pensioners and struggling families in a desperate limbo.”

Tories ‘cannot be trusted’ on fracking

14:37 , Miriam Burrell

Labour said the Tories cannot be trusted on fracking, after Downing Street confirmed that Rishi Sunak has reinstated his party’s original ban.

Shadow climate secretary Ed Miliband said: “Whatever their latest position, the truth is that the Tories have shown that they cannot be trusted on the issue of fracking. The only way to guarantee that fracking will be banned for good is to elect a Labour government.

“And by doubling down today on the onshore wind ban, Rishi Sunak is showing that he offers more of the same after 12 years of failed Conservative energy policy, which has made energy bills too high for families and weakened Britain’s energy security.”

Michael Gove: ‘Boring’ Government is back

15:03 , Josh Salisbury

Michael Gove has said that “boring is back” during a speech in central London.

Mr Gove, who made a return to Cabinet yesterday as Levelling Up Secretary, spoke at the London Press Club Awards about how he believed the arrival of Rishi Sunak as Prime Minister would bring to an end the chaos of recent months.

In his speech, he said he was “grateful” for the fact that Mr Sunak on Tuesday stressed “that after 12 months of turbulence, after a rolling news buffet, an all-you-can eat story extravaganza, that boring is back”.

Reflecting on the often non-stop political drama over the last year, he told the room: “Now is the time I think for, certainly on the part of Government, nerves to settle. For us to get back to the business of Government in a quiet way.”

He would, he joked, apologise to the media for the Government’s “utter determination to try to be as dull as possible”.

Johnson backer pledges ‘full support’ to PM as he returns to back benches

16:59 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Boris Johnson backer Sir James Duddridge is “disappointed” to lose his job as trade minister as Rishi Sunak continues his Government reshuffle.

Sir James – who had announced that former prime minister Mr Johnson was flying back from the Caribbean to enter the Tory leadership race with a text saying “I’m flying back, Dudders” – has confirmed this afternoon that he is out.

He said he has told Mr Sunak he “would support the Government loyally from the backbenches”.

Sir James tweeted: “I am disappointed to be asked to leave my role as Minister for International Trade. Now is the time for us all to come together as a party. As I return to the back benches, I will be giving the Prime Minister my full support.”

Braverman reappointment ‘political move’ but within PM’s remit, says Lord McDonald

17:44 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Former senior civil servant Lord McDonald said the reappointment of Suella Braverman as Home Secretary was a “political” move by Rishi Sunak, but one that was within his gift as Prime Minister.

The ex-permanent undersecretary in the Foreign Office agreed that Ms Braverman had been handed a short sentence on the backbenches for her security breach, but said it was “not at all” dishonourable for Mr Sunak to ensure all factions were represented in his Cabinet.

Put to him that six days was a short sentence for a breach of any kind, in civil service terms, he told BBC Radio 4’s PM programme: “It is, and six weeks is a rather short time to claim that that person had acquired massive and irreplaceable experience.

“So it looks political, it is political, but this is within the Prime Minister’s judgement and gift.”

Kevin Foster out as rail minister as reshuffle continues

17:45 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Kevin Foster is out as rail minister at the Department of Transport, making him the latest casualty of Rishi Sunak’s ongoing Government reshuffle.

In a letter to the Prime Minister, he said: “I write following our phone call earlier and whilst disappointing to not be carrying on in a post I enjoyed, it is right you are able to bring a new team into Government as you take this nation forward.”

Majority of Sunak’s Cabinet educated at fee-paying schools

18:29 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak has continued the trend set by Boris Johnson and Liz Truss of filling a majority of Cabinet positions with people educated at fee-paying schools, new analysis shows.

Some 61% of the new Cabinet attended an independent school, including Mr Sunak, who went to Winchester College, along with his three most senior colleagues: Chancellor Jeremy Hunt, Foreign Secretary James Cleverly, and Home Secretary Suella Braverman.

The proportion is less than Ms Truss’s cabinet (68%) and Mr Johnson’s first cabinet (64%), but much higher than the level in Theresa May’s 2016 cabinet (30%).

It is also up on the figure for David Cameron’s 2015 cabinet (50%) and well above the 32% in Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s cabinets, though close to the 62% in the Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition in 2010.

The analysis has been published by social mobility charity The Sutton Trust. It also shows nearly a quarter (23%) of Mr Sunak’s Cabinet went to a comprehensive school while 13% attended a grammar school.

Read more here.

Sir Keir Starmer meets with Bill Gates

18:45 , Robert Dex

Away from Prime Minister’s Questions it was revealed Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer met Bill Gates in Parliament on Wednesday.

The Microsoft co-founder and billionaire and Sir Keir discussed a range of issues including climate change and global health.

Mr Gates, whose Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is one of the largest philanthropic bodies of its kind, led a global funding drive in response to the Covid-19 pandemic.

He has also been vocal in his concerns about climate change.

A Labour spokesperson said: “Keir Starmer was pleased to meet with Bill Gates today and discuss a number of issues of mutual concern including how the UK best supports global health and equitable development, and how we use the goal of net zero to invest in science and technology to deliver the jobs and growth of the future.”

Sadiq Khan says it is a “source of pride” that Rishi Sunak is the country’s first British-Asian PM

19:29 , Robert Dex

London mayor Sadiq Khan said it is a “source of pride” for many that Rishi Sunak is the country’s first British-Asian Prime Minister.

The Labour mayor, a Muslim of Pakistani heritage, said people must “put aside party politics” when such milestones come around, as there will be other opportunities to challenge Mr Sunak on his policies.

Speaking during a visit to Shree Swaminarayan Mandir in Kingsbury, north London, to meet the local community and join the Diwali and Hindu new year celebrations, he said the appointment of the new PM shows Britain celebrates diversity.

“I’m really proud. I’m somebody who’s a British-Asian, I’m somebody born and raised here,” he told the PA news agency.

“These sorts of times you’ve got to put aside party politics.

“I think it’s a source of pride to many of us that Rishi Sunak’s the Prime Minister of our country. It demonstrates that, you know, if you work hard, you can achieve almost anything.

“Which other country can say we’ve got a Christian King, a Hindu Prime Minister, and a mayor of Islamic faith?

“And that just shows that in this country, we don’t just, you know, tolerate diversity – we respect it, we celebrate it and we embrace it.”

Sunak joins Diwali celebrations at No10

19:54 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

Rishi Sunak has shared a Diwali message, saying he is determined to “build a Britain where our children and grandchildren” can “look to the future with hope”.

Mr Sunak, the UK’s first Hindu Prime Minister, wrote on Twitter: “Brilliant to drop into tonight’s Diwali reception in No10. I will do everything I can in this job to build a Britain where our children and our grandchildren can light their Diyas and look to the future with hope. Happy #Diwali everyone!”

Diyas are oil lamps lit during the Hindu festival of Diwali.

Another busy day in politics draws to a close

21:07 , Lydia Chantler-Hicks

And so ends another eventful day in Westminster, as we bring our politics live blog to a close for today.

Thanks for following along with us. Goodnight.