Reform MPs turn up late to first meeting of new parliament

Sir Keir Starmer has said he is committed to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence, but that he could not set a timeline to reach the target before carrying out a review.

Speaking before his departure to the Nato summit in Washington, the Prime Minister said: "The most important thing is to, at this Nato summit, recommit to our solidarity with and stand with Ukraine and discuss the practical plans for further action we can take together in relation to Russian aggression."

He added: "In relation to defence more generally, we will carry out our strategic review to look at the challenges, the capabilities, and on the back of that make further plans.

"I am committed to that 2.5% within our fiscal rules. That strategic review needs to come first. But today, tomorrow and the next day is all about standing together with our allies, discussing practically how we provide further support to Ukraine, and send a very, very clear message to Putin that we will stand against Russian aggression wherever it is in the world."

Bob Blackman has won a convincing majority in the 1922 committee chairman election.

With 98 votes cast, Mr Blackman secured 61 backers to Sir Geoffrey's 37.

Speaking after his victory, Mr Blackman said he's delighted they can start rebuilding the parliamentary party, to ensure the next election can deliver the Conservative Party in Government.

There's a chaotic scene at the 1922 committee as Mark Francois turns up, only to burst out of the room shortly after and decry the election as "bent"

It transpires that while the 1922 convenor Martin Vickers sent a text correctly setting out the 17:30 deadline, a subsequent text from the party whips wrongly said voting closed at 18:00.

Sir Edward Leigh, Mr Francois and even shadow chancellor Jeremy Hunt all missed the deadline as a result.

Mr Francois fumed that the election was "bent", adding "The competency of the 1922 committee has hit a new low".

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown has just spoken to journalists ahead of the 1922 committee chairman husting, in which he set out his pitch as a ‘listening chairman’.

While he wouldn’t give away too much, he did explain that despite concerns it is too early to hold the election as new intake Tory MPs may not know the candidates well enough, constitutionally he thinks it’s right to conduct it now so the new chairman can get the ball rolling on the leadership election and provide more certainty over the future of the party.

Asked about his preferred timetable, Sir Geoffrey expressed an interest in have a longer campaign, so the party conference in October can be used as a hustings opportunity.

He added that some MPs want the election to go on even longer, to allow candidates full time to be tested and heard by members.

The hopeful, going up against Bob Blackman, wouldn’t be nailed down on his views over the thorny issue of the 1922 confidence threshold.

At present, 15% of Tory MPs are required to submit a letter of no confidence to spark a vote in the leader.

However with the party’s meagre 121 MPs, that would require just 18 MPs to destabilise the leader.

Sir Graham Brady has just been seen entering the committee room in parliament ahead of today's 1922 chairman election - despite him standing down at the election.

MPs are allowed to continue coming into parliament as they pack up their offices, but Sir Graham will be here to play a more advisory role.

Tory MPs will shortly head to the Committee Corridor for a mega debate and vote to select the new chairman of the influential 1922 committee.

Sir Graham Brady stood down at the election, with two of his deputies now standing for the top backbench role.

Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown and Bob Blackman are both standing.

The selection is very important, as once in post the party will be able to decide the length and rules of the forthcoming leadership contest.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle is now being formally sworn in in the House of Lords.

Having been unanimously voted for by MPs, the speaker-elect processed up the corridor to the House of Lords to be accepted by the King's commission.

Nigel Farage's first ever Commons speech sparked groans and jeers as he used it to back Lindsay Hoyle for speaker, and blast his predecessor John Bercow.

Mr Farage called Mr Bercow: "a little man who did his best to overturn the biggest democratic vote in this country’s history".

Sir Ed Davey sour’s the mood with a swipe at the Tory Party in his speech.

MPs groaned as Sir Ed made a jibe at the former ruling party.

Sir Keir paid tribute to former Conservative MP Craig Mackinlay and congratulated the new Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh.

He said: “Mr Speaker-elect you preside over a new Parliament, the most diverse Parliament by race and gender this country has ever seen.

“And I’m proud of the part that my party has played, proud of the part that every party has played in that. Including, in this intake, the largest cohort of LGBT+ MPs of any parliament in the world.

“And given all that diversity, Mr Speaker-elect, I hope you will not begrudge me for a slight departure from convention to also pay tribute to the new Mother of the House, Diane Abbott who has done so much in her career over so many years to fight for a parliament that truly represents modern Britain. We welcome her back to her place.”

Sir Lindsay Hoyle will be a “great friend” to all the new MPs, Labour MP Cat Smith said, as she proposed he be re-elected as speaker of the House

Ms Smith said Sir Lindsay is a speaker “who champions the voices of his backbenchers”, adding: “Our speaker is fair, impartial, and independent. Newly elected members will find a great friend in our speaker, I know I have.”

She added: “Over the years, he has been a great source of advice and guidance, some of which I took, and some of which I chose to ignore. But all I can say is that the advice that I ignored, I regret ignoring and live to tell the consequences.

“So despite being annoyingly right about many things – which is a good Lancashire trait by the way – he will ensure that your door is open to all members at times of need, and I can vouch that he does a good brew, Yorkshire tea though.”

Sir Keir Starmer has spoken in the Commons for the first time as Prime Minister.

He paid tribute to Diane Abbott as Mother of the House - trying to draw a line under the row over her selection as a Labour MP

Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s speech was littered with light-hearted moments and reflections as he referred to the “Rees-Mogg conga”, in a nod to the queuing system set up for votes by former Commons leader Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg during the pandemic.

He added: “It was of course an honour to represent this House at the lying in state of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth, to present the address to the new King in Westminster Hall, to attend his coronation.

“Needless to say in this role you need staying power. I’ve already been the speaker during the tenure of three prime ministers, two monarchs and one Jim Shannon.”

Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been re-elected as the Speaker of the Commons.

He said he would continue to be “fair, impartial and independent” as speaker.

Sir Lindsay said it was an “honour” to serve his constituents in Chorley and also remembered his father Doug, who died in April.

He told the Commons: “It’s been an absolute privilege to serve this House as the 158th speaker. I’ve got to say that four and a half years have flown.

“With the authority of the chair comes great responsibility, which is something that I’ve never taken lightly or for granted.

“I know from experience that decisions have consequences, but with experience comes wisdom and if re-elected I will be guided by that as I continue to be fair, impartial and independent.”

The commons only accommodates around 400 of the 650 MPs, meaning dozens of newly elected Labour MPs have been forced to abandon the floor of the house entirely and sit in the public gallery

Caroline Nokes appears to have bagged a seat on the new Tory naughty corner…

The area on the backs of the green benches the speaker can’t see and so you can get away with the most heckling and noise.

Asked if it’s a sign of things to come, a source close to Ms Nokes insisted she is not just sitting in the naughty corner, she is the leader of it!

Sir Lindsay Hoyle, who is set to be re-elected as Speaker, is welcoming new MPs to the chamber.

He thanked his constituents and family before honouring the FGather of the House - Sir Edward Leigh - and the Mother of the House Diane Abbott.

They are the longest serving male and female MPs respectively.

The Commons is packed with MPs as they gather to elect the new speaker.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey has taken SNP’s Stephen Flynn’s position after winning more seats.

Keir Starmer has taken the PM’s spot, while Rishi Sunak is on the opposition benches

Father of the House Sir Edward Leigh has led a small delegation of MPs to the House of Lords ahead of the election of the speaker.

Sir Lindsay Hoyle is expected to be re-elected as speaker before the process of swearing in MPs begins.

Potential Tory leadership rivals Tom Tugendhat and Kemi Badenoch sat next to each other on the opposition front bench having a good chinwag.

A Golden Retriever next to the opposition benches belongs to Torbay’s Lib Dem MP Steve Darling, who is registered blind.

Nigel Farage, sat midway along the rear opposition back bench, appears to be enjoying himself.

Reform’s MPs appear to have turned up too late to get a seat.

They have squeezed in Mr Farage but the rest are going to have to stand.

Standing room only for left-wing firebrand Jeremy Corbyn too.

Commons Serjeant-at-Arms Ugbana Oyet addressed MPs shortly before the first sitting after the election, reminding them about “orderly” behaviour.

Standing at the despatch box, he said: “Welcome to the House. We are going to have the sitting soon. It is unusual for me to speak from here.”

After applause and shouts of “more” from MPs, he added: “I know there’s a lot of new faces for us to learn. I can see my constituency MP looking at me.”

He reminded members not to clap or take photographs in the chamber.

Huge cheers and a standing ovation for Keir Starmer as he enters a packed and buzzing commons.

Jeremy Hunt pats his own leg as Rishi Sunak entered the chamber.

Parliament is about to return for the first time under Sir Keir Starmer's Government.

Both Rishi Sunak and the Prime Minister will be at the despacth box.

Commons speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle is also expected to be re-elected followed by MPs being sworn in.

Join us for our live coverage throughout the afternoon.