Daily update – 8th September

Politics Live

7:45pm – Govt wins Commons vote on new social care tax, by 319 v 248

7:00pm – Decision due soon

6:03pm – Dehenna Davison announces she will abstain

It doesn’t appear that there will be a mass rebellion as with previous controversial matters, but another Tory MP has announced she will not vote with the government on tonight’s bill.

5:20pm – Government drops key climate change commitments to pass Australia deal

Leaked government emails to Sky News have revealed that ministers bowed to pressure to drop key climate commitments from the UK-Australia trade deal in order to get it over the line.

The Conservative chair of the climate change committee, Lord Deben, said that it appears the UK is “not taking the lead at all” on climate change.

4:35pm – WATCH: Jesse Norman opens social care debate

Watch the clip below as Jesse Norman, financial secretary to the treasury, opened the social care debate in the Commons today.

2:50pm – Tory rebel to vote against government

Jake Berry, Conservative MP for Rossendale and Darwen, has said he will vote against the National Insurance rise tonight.

“Throwing other people’s money down a bottomless pit does not become a good idea because you put an NHS logo on it.” Berry says.

2:20pm – Tory words “count for absolutely nothing at all”

Rachel Reeves gives Labour’s opening speech at the social care debate in the Commons before the vote later today.

1:50pm – Social care debate to begin soon

The big debate of the day is due to begin. Hold onto your horses…

1:22pm – Gavin Williamson in Rashford blunder

Earlier today Gavin Williamson was asked if he had met footballer Marcus Rashford.

The secretary of state for education said: “We met over Zoom and he seemed incredibly engaged, compassionate and charming.”

But later Williamson’s team revealed that he had actually met the rugby player Maro Itoje, not Rashford.

The prime minister’s press secretary was later asked if it was racist to mix up two men who do not look alike and have little in common other than being black. They responded that they hadn’t seen the comments.

Rashford seemed to see the funny side of the gaffe, and then highlighted an earlier tweet which read: “Instead of removing support through social security, we should be focusing efforts on developing a sustainable long-term roadmap out of this child hunger pandemic…”

12:47pm – PMQs highlights

Click below for a range of videos showing some of the highlights from today’s PMQs, with a heavy focus on the National Insurance rise.

Keir Starmer began his attack by saying those with the “broadest shoulders” should pay their fair share.

Johnson later highlighted that Labour had previously called for an NI rise to pay for social care, and Starmer responded with a previous quote from the PM arguing against a rise.

Starmer took apart the social care plan and then labelled it evidence of “the same old Tory party”

And the SNP’s Ian Blackford took a swipe at what the bill would do for Scottish families, labelling it a “regressive Tory poll tax”

11:53am – First PMQs since restrictions end coming up

The first prime ministers questions since restrictions have ended in the Commons is due to begin in less than 10 minutes. Expect some fireworks with plenty to discuss.

11:15am – Former footballers discuss online abuse

Speaking to the parliamentary home affairs committee, former professional footballers Anton Ferdinand and Marvin Sordell discussed racist abuse received online.

Watch the clip below.

10:25am – Parliamentary preview

House of Commons

  • 12pm – Prime minister’s questions
    1pm – Social care final debate
    Evening – Vote on social care

Committee highlights

  • 9:30am – Impact covid has had on new parents
    10am – Online harms
    2:30pm – Environmental audit

House of Lords

  • Plans to retain the nursing workforce in the NHS
    Introduction of safe standing at football grounds in England
    Environment Bill – report stage (day 2)

Westminster Hall

  • Humanitarian situation in Tigray
    Ending rough sleeping
    Reducing plastic waste

9:00am – Key headlines

  • Health and Social Care Levy vote this evening
  • Rumours of cabinet reshuffle
  • Evidence session on the £20 Universal Credit uplift

8:30am – Newspaper roundup

  • Daily Mail: “Now make the care worth the cost, Boris.”
  • Daily Mirror: “Careless.”
  • Financial Times: “Johnson defies rebels and unveils £12bn tax rise for health and care.”
  • i: “New era of tax hikes to pay for NHS and social care.”
  • Daily Telegraph: “Highest taxes since the War.”
  • Guardian: “PM stakes reputation on £12bn health plan — But will it deliver?”
  • The Times: “Tax burden will rise to highest in 70 years.”

8:00am – Good morning

Welcome to today’s edition of Politics Live. With a snap vote on the new Health and Social Care Levy, it promises to be another busy day in Whitehall.