Katie Williams
Live reporter

With PM Keir Starmer away at the G7 summit, deputies were up at PMQs today.

David Lammy defended the government's policy on energy and defence, as shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho accused Labour of prioritising spending on other issues over security. See our round-up of the back-and-forth.

Coutinho also claimed the government was on "life support" - less than 24 hours before polls open in what is seen as a by-election that could ultimately throw Starmer into a leadership challenge.

The Makerfield by-election was triggered when Labour MP Josh Simons stepped down to give Andy Burnham a chance to return to Westminster.

Speaking from the G7 summit, Starmer has warned Burnham against launching an immediate challenge to his leadership if he wins the seat, encouraging him to focus instead on the election of a new Manchester mayor.

Meanwhile, former Health Secretary Wes Streeting has said he is prepared to trigger a contest as early as next week.

You can read more about the upcoming by-election, all of the candidates and their manifestos here.

We're ending our coverage of PMQs now, but you can catch up with the latest political stories of the week on the BBC News site:

• Under-16s will be banned from social media from early 2027
• UK forces face operational cuts without more cash, defence chief warns
• PM warns Burnham against immediate leadership challenge if he wins by-election

Image source, House of Commons

Standing at the Commons' dispatch box during deputy PMQs earlier, David Lammy was challenged on energy policy and defence. He was deputising for Keir Starmer, who's currently in France at the G7 Summit.

Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho, standing in for Kemi Badenoch, accused the government of undermining the oil and gas sector and energy security with its net zero strategy.

Why is Labour happy to get its oil and gas from Russia or Qatar, but not from Aberdeen? she asked.

Lammy was adamant that Labour is "not turning off the taps" and that oil and gas remain part of a mixed economy.

He also hit back at the accusation Labour is prioritising other issues over defence, calling it the government's "number one priority".

It comes almost a week after John Healey quit as defence secretary in a row over military spending.

Healey watched on from a prominent position in the Commons, our political correspondent reports.

Questions to the deputy prime minister have now concluded but we can bring you a bit more from this week's session.

The government on Monday announced that a social media ban will be introduced for under-16s from early 2027, a move South East Cornwall MP Anna Geldert has praised.

But she asks what more the government is doing to strengthen accountability and protect young people online.

Lammy responds by saying the ban is a "landmark moment" to ensure young people are better protected and the government will hold platforms to account.

He adds that they have asked Ofcom to review their capability to enforce the social media ban and publish a clear enforcement strategy.

Oldham East and Saddleworth MP Debbie Abrahams also pays tribute to late Labour MP Jo Cox.

Reminding colleagues of her mantra, that people have more in common than that which divides us, Abrahams asks what we should all do so that Cox's beliefs and legacy are always remembered.

Lammy says: "We all miss Jo, a dear friend and valued colleague."

He says that three years ago he had the privilege of opening the Jo Cox More In Common Centre in Huddersfield alongside Cox's sister Kim Leadbeater, who is sitting on the Labour benches behind him, and Cox's parents.

"It was one of the great honours of my life," he says and adds that "we all have a duty to live up to the values Jo stood for".

Earlier during PMQs, shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho also acknowledged the anniversary of Cox's death.

Matt Chorley
Reporting from the Commons

Image source, Yui Mok/PA Wire

MPs across the Commons are wearing white roses in memory of Jo Cox, the Labour MP for Batley and Spen, who was murdered 10 years ago.

Her family, including her husband Brendan and their children, are watching from the public gallery.

David Lammy, the deputy prime minister, has led tributes to her.

Back to defence, Liberal Democrats deputy leader Daisy Cooper says it's becoming clear the Treasury's refusal to find ways to fund defence is "undermining" national security.

She asks if the government will access new defence bonds to fund the defence of the UK.

Lammy replies saying the UK "should work with our allies to join up defence procurement and funding".

"And of course it's a topic of discussion for the prime minister at the G7," he says.

Claire Hanna, leader of the Social Democratic and Labour Party in Northern Ireland, follows Claire Coutinho with a question referencing last week's disorder in Belfast.

She says "extremism" spilled onto the streets of Northern Ireland last week, describing it as a "pogrom...families burned out based on the colour of their skin, health workers stopped for ID by masked thugs, small businesses ordered to close".

Hanna asks the deputy prime minister whether the government will commit to reviewing how the Northern Ireland executive is " failing to grip" paramilartism and whether it will ensure public money "never reaches individuals or groups which benefit from paramilartism".

Lammy responds by "utterly condemning the violence" in Belfast and says those responsible "will face the full force of the law".

"We are focused on bringing people together and that includes providing a further £24m to help tackle paramilartism, acting to tackle those inciting hatred online, and our social cohesion plan is about bringing our communities together," he adds.

Image source, House of Commons

Coutinho goes on to ask Lammy "if everything is fine" then why is he here instead of the PM.

• As a reminder, Prime Minister Keir Starmer is currently in France attending the G7 Summit with the leaders of France, Germany, Italy, the US, Japan and Canada

She claims the government is on "life support", saying they should focus on cutting welfare, funding defence, making energy cheap and backing the North Sea.

Lammy replies saying he is standing in for the PM and is proud of what the government is doing before listing a number of its accomplishments, including the "biggest boost in defence since the cold war".

He says the Tories don't want to talk about the economy because it is growing, don't want to talk about the NHS because waiting lists are falling, and don't want to talk immigration because they "lost control" of the UK's borders.

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

As the debate moves to defence, former defence secretary John Healey is standing very prominently at the bar of the Commons, watching on.

The former junior defence minister Al Carns is on the back row of the Labour benches.

• For context: Both Healey and Carns stepped down last week citing concerns a yet-to-be-published defence investment plan failed to deliver on the UK's defence needs "at this dangerous time"

Image source, House of Commons

Coutinho asks why "half the defence team" quit last week "if everything is hunky dory".

She says the government "won't find the money" to keep the country safe, but will find the money for other things like "solar farms in Congo". Meanwhile, she accuses the government of turning down North Sea tax revenue.

"Is any of that more important than defending the country?" she asks.

Lammy says more spending on defence is the government's "number one priority" in this spending review and the next.

He then lists a number of Conservative ministers who resigned from the previous government. He says he is proud of Labour's record on wages, childcare and energy and says "we've got a PM securing jobs and investment in the G7".

Image source, House of Commons

Coutinho is met with laughter as she says that half of the front bench could get a pay cut if the Mayor of Manchester (Labour's Andy Burnham) "gets his way".

She says the "world is getting more dangerous" and claims Energy Secretary Ed Miliband refused to meet the PM on a matter of national security. She asks why he has not been sacked.

Lammy says she should stop reading the papers and when the defence investment plan is published it will set out how every government department is funded.

Coutinho says green jobs pay half as much, and asks how he would feel "if the government forced him to take a 50% pay cut?"

Lammy responds by saying oil and gas is coming out of North Sea "24/7".

He adds "we are not turning off the taps" and that it's part of a mixed economy.

"We do want to create more jobs, and that's why we'll continue to invest in renewables."

Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutihno questions the Labour government's decision to ban new oil and gas licences in the North Sea.

She describes the policy as "pointless virtue signalling" that is "destroying well-paid jobs", before asking David Lammy how many jobs have been lost in Aberdeen since Labour came to power.

Lammy responds by referring to Coutinho's own record as energy secretary again, saying he can remember when she "championed net zero".

"The Tories used to believe this three years ago, now she's forgotten because they're desperately chasing Reform," Lammy continues.

He adds that 700 jobs were lost under the last Tory government and that the Labour government had secured £900bn of investment "to support more jobs by taking control with renewables".

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

The Conservatives accuse the government of undermining the oil and gas sector and energy security.

The government says it is transitioning to net zero, but that oil and gas remain an important part of the UK’s security mix.

At the moment, David Lammy and Claire Coutinho are trading arguments on whether the government strategy is right - and whether the Conservatives have changed their minds in opposition.

Lammy replies by welcoming Coutinho to the dispatch box, before criticising her record as energy secretary.

• For context: Coutinho served as energy secretary from August 2023 until July 2024

He adds that the prime minister and the energy secretary have discussed cutting bills by £100, saying Labour is delivering "clean energy security".

Image source, House of Commons

Shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho starts by saying it is a "great privilege to be standing here with one of few survivors of Labour's original cabinet who hasn't resigned on principle or been sacked in disgrace".

Coutinho does indeed kick off her questions with queries about oil and gas, asking Lammy: why is Labour happy for Britain to get its oil and gas from Russia or Qatar but not from Aberdeen?

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

With the prime minister away at the G7, the deputy prime minister David Lammy is standing in.

The Conservatives are putting up Claire Coutinho, the shadow energy secretary.

The Tories are putting a lot of work into the by-election in Aberdeen South, which is tomorrow.

Oil has been a big issue - with questions over the future of the industry in the North Sea. Might that come up today?

• You can read more on which candidates are hoping to represent Aberdeen South here

Image source, House of Commons

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy is at the dispatch box and PMQs is under way.

As a reminder you can watch live at the top of the page.

Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy and shadow energy secretary Claire Coutinho are now both in the Commons ready to face off for PMQs.

We'll be bringing you their top lines and analysis here. You can also watch live at the top of the page from.

Keir Starmer has warned Andy Burnham against launching an immediate challenge to his leadership if he becomes an MP after Thursday's Makerfield by-election.

Speaking from the G7 summit, the PM urges Burnham and Labour to focus instead on the election for the new Manchester mayor - as Burnham will have to step down from this role if he becomes an MP.

Starmer says a leadership contest would be a "bad thing" for the country and that he intends to fight any challenge, but adds that he hopes Burnham wins the seat. He also indicates he would offer him a cabinet job.

It comes one day after Wes Streeting said he was prepared to trigger a leadership contest as early as next week.

The former health secretary told BBC Newsnight that "uncertainty and paralysis" in the Labour leadership would have to be resolved if the party wins Makerfield.

• A full list of the candidates standing in the Makerfield by-election can be found here