Starmer Faces PMQs Amid Northern Ireland Unrest
Prime Minister Keir Starmer is set to face Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister's Questions at midday, following a night of chaos in Belfast. Masked individuals forced residents to flee their homes, and multiple vehicles and properties were set ablaze in the disorder that erupted after a knife attack in the north of the city on Monday.
Starmer condemned the violence as "shocking and completely unacceptable", stating: "It is clear that people were targeted last night because of their background and I will not tolerate it."
Knife Attack Sparks Violence
The unrest followed a brutal knife attack, with graphic footage circulating on social media. A 30-year-old Sudanese man, granted leave to remain in the UK until 2028, has been charged with attempted murder and is due in court today.
Kemi Badenoch expressed horror at the incident, saying: "I'm absolutely horrified. It is a horrific incident."
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticized the leave-to-remain system, claiming permits are handed out "like Smarties", and described the assault as "shocking, barbaric, ghastly."
Live Coverage Updates
This is a live blog. Follow for the latest updates.
10:24 - Matthew Dooley: Welcome to our live coverage. Good morning. Thanks for joining our Politics Live Blog today as Keir Starmer faces what is sure to be a fiery PMQs. The embattled Prime Minister is likely to face a grilling over the situation in Northern Ireland, and it's also the last PMQs before the Makerfield by-election next week. Elsewhere in politics, Andy Burnham and Robert Kenyon are on the campaign trail in Makerfield, where Reform UK leader Nigel Farage is set to hold a press conference at 3pm.
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