The Speaker has granted Kemi Badenoch an Urgent Question to drag defence ministers to the Commons to discuss the Defence Investment Plan:
“To ask the Secretary of State for Defence if he will make a statement on the impact of the time taken to publish the Defence Investment Plan on the ability of the armed forces to defend the UK.”
No sign of Jarvis there. A diary clash?
Downing Street says Jarvis won’t get any more money than Healey was offered. Farce…
UPDATE: Defence minister Luke Pollard says he is only still in post because John Healey asked him not to resign.
“It’s no secret that I worked in lockstep with the former Defence Secretary. He is a friend and mentor.
I was his deputy and I am still standing here because he asked me to stay, and because we need continuity in this complex and difficult operational environment.”
Speaking at his speech on how to achieve “progressive capitalism” Wes Streeting fired a dig and Andy Burnham:
“Bond markets are not bond villains and fiscal rules matter.”