Boris Johnson to face Sir Keir Starmer in first PMQs since summer recess

2 September 2020, 08:10 | Updated: 2 September 2020, 11:30

Boris Johnson v Keir Starmer in Prime Minister's Questions | Watch live on LBC

Ewan Quayle

By Ewan Quayle

Watch LIVE: Boris Johnson and Sir Keir Starmer will go head to head at Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) for the first time since summer recess.

It is the first time the Government will face the opposition in the House of Commons since a number of controversial U-turns.

It is expected the Labour leader will quiz the Prime Minister over school safety, following criticism from teaching unions over Covid-19 guidelines issued last week.

It is also the first PMQs since Sir Ed Davey was elected Liberal Democrat leader last week.

Since the last session, the Government has come under fire over its handling of a number of Coronavirus-related issues, such as exam results, the Test and Trace system and local lockdowns.

Education Secretary Gavin Williamson confirmed ministers are looking at pushing A-Levels and GCSEs back to allow pupils more time to catch up after classes were cancelled because of the pandemic.

The two main parties - Labour and the Conservatives - tied in the polls at 40% each for the first time in over 12 months this week.

As Conservative Party leader, Mr Johnson is facing pressure from his own backbench MPs who are reportedly "tired of the U-turns", according to a senior party figure.

Another labelled the Government's handling of the virus over summer as a "megadisaster from one day to the next" and said many backbench Conservative are demanding reassurances from ministers.

Conservative MPs along the 'red wall' - seats based in former industrial towns in the North of England which are usually won by Labour - are reportedly growing impatient and are concerned that lower support for the Government will result in them losing gained seats at the next election.

Most of Mr Johnson's party, however, remain publicly supportive and backed the Prime Minister in the first sitting of the House of Commons yesterday.

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Exclusive
Anneliese Dodds said Labour would make sure local people have 'skin in the game' with tackling inequality

'Rebuild has to start from ground up,' Labour's Anneliese Dodds says, and 'local people must have skin in the game'

Mohamed Mansour has been awarded a knighthood

Conservatives accused of 'cronyism' after donor who gave £5 million awarded knighthood in surprise honours list

Exclusive
Justin Welby recalled his experience of coping with his father's drinking as a teenager.

‘It was utterly isolating’: Archbishop of Canterbury recalls harrowing experience of growing up with his alcoholic father

More than 2 million drivers are set to hit the road on Good Friday.

Easter Carmageddon: Over two million drivers to hit the road on Good Friday after Storm Nelson travel chaos

Michael Gove has slammed the water firm as a 'disgrace'.

Thames Water bosses branded a ‘disgrace’ as Michael Gove tells firm ‘not to punish consumers’ for its failings

South Africa Bus Crash

Girl, 8, the sole survivor as 45 die in bus crash off South Africa bridge

A spokesman has denied reports the sausage dog could be banned.

The wurst news is over: Germany denies claims of sausage dog ban

Israel Palestinians Britain Aid

UN top court orders Israel to open more land crossings into Gaza

Greece Confidence Vote

Greece’s government survives no-confidence motion called over rail disaster

A council has had to apologise following the incident.

Fury as parents offered version of school class photo without complex needs pupils

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Conjoined twin who shot to fame with sister on The Oprah Winfrey Show marries army veteran in private ceremony

Israel Palestinians UN Security Council

Russia ‘abolishes’ monitoring of sanctions on North Korea with UN veto

Firefighters at the scene of a bus crash in Limpopo

Bus falls from bridge in South Africa and erupts into flames, killing at least 45 and leaving child, 8, as lone survivor

Music-Green Day UN

Green Day to headline UN-backed global climate concert

Exclusive
Starmer has vowed to resurrect Boris Johnson's 'Levelling Up' policy

Failure to ‘level up’ Britain would be ‘catastrophic’, Wes Streeting admits, as Starmer vows to resurrect Johnson policy

Border Force staff will walk out from April 11

Hundreds of Border Force officers at Heathrow Airport to stage four-day strike