PMQs latest: Burnham proposes removing standing charges from energy bills after Jackdaw green light

Political reporter Athena Stavrou writes:

The leader of the Liberal Democrats used his first question at today’s PMQs to ask Andy Burnham about his plans to grow closer to the EU.

The prime minister has suggested another referendum to rejoin the bloc could be included in Labour’s next manifesto, but has so far committed to not ditching the party’s ‘red lines’ which include not rejoining the single market or customs union.

But Ed Davey asked the prime minister to speak about a “single thing” he could do to “fix growth” by taking the UK back into the European single market.

He asked Mr Burnham after “all he has rightly said about the damage that Brexit has done to our economy” whether he is still going to wait until after the next election to consider re-entering the single market.

The prime minister pointed to the upcoming UK-EU summit, calling it “an opportunity for this house to come together and get a good deal for food producers, for farmers in this country, and a good deal for Northern Ireland in relation to energy costs in Northern Ireland.”

Political correspondent Millie Cooke writes:

Kemi Badenoch has taken aim at Andy Burnham for increasing interest rates and inflation, accusing him of borrowing too much.

Addressing the Commons, she said: “He’s talking about big decisions. He hasn’t made any big decisions on social care – talking about it is not making a decision.

“He is going to keep spending more, and that means he is going to keep borrowing more. We know where that leads.

“This morning, inflation rose to 3.5 per cent – the third rise in a row.

“Families are paying higher bills and more for their weekly shop, and its leading to higher mortgage rates. Does the prime minister accept that his failure to control borrowing is contributing to higher inflation?”

Hitting back, Mr Burnham said: “I don’t think she was listening to what I said. I did take a difficult decision to lay a path to the national care service, and it involves a change to the triple lock and I’m happy to stand at this despatch box and defend that, because I am confident that we should support older people financially but with better social care support in later life. That is my decision.”

Our political reporter Athena Stavrou reports:

Andy Burnham has told Kemi Badenoch that he needs “no lectures” from the Conservatives on making big decisions following the publication of the latest Covid Inquiry report on Tuesday.

The highlighted how the Conservative government’s failures resulted in delays in protecting the care sector, allowing the virus to “spread like wildfire”.

Mrs Badenoch asked Mr Burnham whether he will cut the welfare bill, to which he said he had cut spending by scrapping the Digital ID programme.“But she asks about the big decisions,” he said.

“I’m not going to apologise for doing the small things that help people.”

He then asked the Tory leader if she had read this week’s Covid Inquiry report, which he said set out “the appalling state of social care as it went into the pandemic”.

“I need no lectures from the other side on taking tough decisions on social care,” he said.“I suggest to come away from PMQs, read that report. and have a period of reflection.”

Whitehall editor Kate Devlin writes:

The PM made the announcement as he came under pressure from the Tories over today’s Jackdaw go-ahead.In a surprise move, he told MPs the decision would allow ministers “to do more to help people with bills”.

He added: “I can tell the House today that I have asked the chancellor and the energy secretary to look at whether we can remove standing charges from gas bills and to report back to this House at the earliest opportunity.”

Standing charges are a fixed daily fee added to energy bills and paid regardless of how much energy a household uses.

Ofgem estimates the average gas daily standing charge for those who pay by direct debit is currently 29.68p.

Andy Burnham has said he is considering removing standard charges from energy bills as he faces scrutiny over the government’s approval of the Jackdaw project.

He told the Commons that he had asked the chancellor and energy secretary to look at removing standing charges from gas bills.

In response to criticism from Kemi Badenoch, who accused Labour of “dithering” over approval of Jackdaw, the prime minister said: “That’s why there was the delay, because they didn’t do the process properly. And we’ve made a pragmatic decision, Mr Speaker, that will allow us to do two things.

“Firstly, build a bridge to a renewable future because the resources that come in now from this decision will allow us to invest in renewables, bring forward clean energy and in this [arliament, substantially delink gas and electricity prices so that we can bring bills down.“It will also allow us, Mr Speaker, to do more to help people with bills.

“I can tell the House today that I have asked the chancellor and the energy secretary to look at whether we can remove standing charges from gas bills and to report back to this House at the earliest opportunity.”

Our political editor David Maddox reports:

Andy Burnham has upset the left of his party by giving the green light for drilling in the Jackdaw oil and gas field in the North Sea.

But his answer to Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has made clear that he is planning to go further.He blames the last Tory government for not doing the legal process properly in 2022 for the delay in Jackdaw being drilled for gas.

But he went on to note that the energy secretary Miata Fahnbulleh had “looked at the decision in relation to our climate obligations” and “will be doing the same with similar decisions going forward”.

This is in reference to the Rosebank oil and gas field in the North Sea. It is clear he wants drilling to go on there.

This is not least because he agrees with Ms Badenoch that every barrel of oil the UK gets from the North Sea is one less Europe does not need to buy from Vladimir Putin.

Despite a jibe from Ms Badenoch that she thought she was listening to Mr Burnham’s predecessor, we are already seeing some changes with the Starmer government in the confidence Mr Burnham is approaching making big decisions.

Andy Burnham opened PMQs by marking the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster, paying tribute to the “strength and spirit of a community that has stood together through adversity all of these years”.

An entire generation was almost wiped out when 150,000 tonnes of coal waste slid down the hillside before engulfing Pantglas Junior School in Wales on October 21 1966, killing 116 children and 28 adults.

Addressing the Commons, the prime minister said: “Today also marks the 60th anniversary of the Aberfan disaster and I’m sure the thoughts of the whole house will be with the community today and with the people of Wales.

“I visited on Monday and heard how the injustices the people suffered at the time and in the aftermath of the tragedy at the hands of the state still hurt.

“This is a day to recognise that, say sorry for it, but also celebrate the strength and spirit of a community that has stood together through adversity all of these years.”

Kemi Badenoch has hit out at Labour’s “dithering” over the Jackdaw project.

“The Conservatives first approved Jackdaw in 2022. Rather than fighting the leftie activists that tried to fight it, Labour appointed one of them as energy secretary,” she told the Commons.

“So many jobs lost, so much time and money wasted.

“Britain cannot be a serious player on the world stage if the government dithers over approving a single license.”

The government has been “very clear” that new oil and gas will not take a penny of bills, energy minister has said.

Michael Shanks told MPs that the project will “do other things” for the public.

“I think we need to be really clear. The vast majority of British homes are heated by gas and so while we have to electrify the economy and move away from gas as home heating – that is not going to happen overnight.

“And so our supply does matter. And if we can get it from the continental shelf, that’s important. That’s the judgment the energy secretary has made on this particular project.

“It’s also important for jobs and it’s also important for a source of revenue that we’re going to fund into the transition.”