Politics latest: Tories challenge Labour over North Sea oil and rising energy prices as Lammy fills in for Starmer

David Lammy hit back at Clare Coutinho’s question on the government’s policy on drilling in the North Sea as he’s grilled in the Commons.

The deputy prime minister was asked why the government “was happy to buy oil from Russia and Qatar but not Aberdeen,” to which he replied: “Don’t believe everything you read in the paper.”

He insisted the government was not “turning off the taps” and accused Ms Coutinho’s of “getting her facts wrong”.

David Lammy paid tribute to late MP Jo Cox and wished the England team luck as he faces questions in the Commons.

The deputy prime minister is standing in for Sir Keir Starmer today, as the prime minister continues to meet international partners at the G7 summit.

“We remember our beloved colleague Jo Cox and honour her memory for working to bring our communities together,” he said.

Standing in the chamber, Mr Lammy congratulated Scotland on their first World Cup win in over 30 years.

He added: “Can I wish England the best of luck for their first match this evening.”

David Lammy has stepped to the dispatch box with PMQs now underway.

Deputy prime minister David Lammy is set to face shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho at today’s PMQs.

Sir Keir Starmer is currently at the G7 summit in France.

As usual when the prime minister is absent, the leader of the opposition also makes way for another member of the shadow cabinet.

This will be the final PMQs before Andy Burnham’s crucial by-election in Makerfield, which could see Sir Keir facing a leadership challenge.

The Defence Investment Plan should be judged when it is released, a senior minister has said.

Asked about comments by the chief of the defence staff that the military could “dial back” its activity without more money, Cabinet Office minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told Sky News discussions about the plan were “ongoing”.

He said: “We’ve already exceeded our manifesto target of 2.5% on defence, and we did that with difficult decisions, shifting money from the overseas development budget to defence.

“We are now engaged in the process to secure, to finalise the Defence Investment Plan.

“My simple point is this: that will be published in its final form for the Nato summit that’s going to take place in Turkey.

“My point is simply it should be judged at that point.”

On Thursday, the people of Makerfield will head to the polls in what could be the most important by-election in recent history.

If the mayor of Greater Manchester claims victory, it is widely believed he’ll return to parliament to launch an official challenge for Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership.

A senior minister will argue that Brexit has done “damage” to Britain’s standing in the world in an attack on political rivals including Nigel Farage and the Conservatives.

In a speech on Wednesday, Attorney General Lord Richard Hermer will say key figures in the Leave campaign appear to be distancing themselves from “the promises they made”.

A debate over the future of the UK-EU relationship has reignited after Sir Keir Starmer made closer ties with Brussels a key pillar of his “reset” in the wake of Labour’s seismic May election losses.

Leadership hopeful Wes Streeting has since said leaving the bloc was a “catastrophic mistake”, while potential challenger Andy Burnham has sought to play down the prospect of reversing the 2016 referendum as he contests the Leave-voting seat of Makerfield in a parliamentary by-election.

The Attorney General, who is widely seen as one of the Prime Minister’s key allies in Government, will say the politicians who brought the country Brexit have left his Labour administration “cleaning up their mess”.

He is also expected to warn those seeking to make the case for Europe should not repeat mistakes of the 2016 referendum and be seen as defenders of the status quo.

Sources close to Mr Miliband have denied the cabinet minister refused to take Sir Keir’s calls amid a row over departmental cuts to fund defence spending.

No 10 were said to be “blindsided” by John Healey’s resignation as defence secretary last week as they were instead concerned that Mr Miliband would quit over spending cuts.

Read the full article from Athena Stavrou here:

UK inflation unexpectedly flatlined last month as a slowdown in food price rises offset pressure from airfares, according to official figures.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation was recorded at 2.8 per cent in May, the same rate as in April.

It was lower than expected by economists, who had predicted an uptick in inflation to 3 per cent.

It means the price of goods and services is still increasing, but at the same speed as in April.

Household energy prices have remained depressed after a lower Ofgem energy price cap came into force in April.

However, the fresh data showed further upward pressure on fuel costs.

The average price of petrol rose by 0.6 pence per litre between April and May, rising to 157.4p per litre for the month.

This marked the highest price November 2022, when fuel prices were pushed sharply higher following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Analysis by Kate Devlin, Whitehall Editor

Less than 24 hours before polls open in the Makerfield by-election, Keir Starmer’s attempts to keep his job have shifted up a gear.

He has now suggested he will offer Andy Burnham a seat in his cabinet if the Greater Manchester mayor wins on Thursday and returns to Parliament.

But the move is likely to be too little, too late.

Depending on the size of his victory, Burnham’s supporters are pushing for a coronation of their man.

Failing that, they want a Labour leadership contest – to replace Sir Keir.

If he leaves No 10 this summer, the PM might be forgiven for wondering what would have happened if he had made the same offer to Mr Burnham at the start of this year, instead of, at that stage, blocking his return to Westminster.

That would have left Mr Burnham fighting a more difficult by-election. He would have faced opposition from both Reform and the Greens, instead of just Reform as he does now.

And he could potentially have lost. After all, it was the Greens that ultimately won Gorton and Denton.

Either way it would have cut his chances of arriving back in London a conquering hero. Which is exactly how some of his backers think he could be seen come Friday morning.