If the Government found last week’s return to Westminster headache-inducing, week two looks no easier with events on the international stage consistently eclipsing the domestic agenda.
The moment likely to dominate SW1 today centres around the future of X in the UK. Tech Secretary Liz Kendall is expected to update the Commons after ministers expressed fury at the prominence of sexualised deepfakes generated by X’s AI chatbot, Grok. MPs will be watching closely to see whether tough rhetoric is matched by concrete action from the government and regulator-come-enforcer Ofcom.
Ministers insist “all options remain on the table” in dealing with X under the Online Safety Act, including court-backed service blocking for persistent non-compliance - a power currently held by Ofcom. Kendall has pledged full government backing should the regulator act and is expecting an urgent assessment update within days. While blocking X would be seen as the nuclear option, Ofcom also has the ability to levy substantial fines or mandate specific corrective steps - any of which would represent a major escalation in the UK’s standoff with Elon Musk.
Domestic issues risk being surpassed by persistent instability oversees. Reports from Iran have been especially grim, with the BBC citing footage showing 180 bodies in a Tehran morgue following public protests and journalists describing streets “full of blood”. Iranian authorities have imposed an internet shutdown since Thursday, making it hard to obtain information during this fast-evolving situation. UK officials are monitoring the US’ response closely with Trump saying he’s considering ‘very strong options’ warning ‘we’ll start shooting too’ if Iranian forces attacked protesters.
Reverting to another domestic issue driving the day, there is a renewed push led by the Conservatives for an Australia-style ban on social media for under-16s. Badenoch is making the case publicly today, with support emerging from across the political spectrum, including Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, teaching unions and even some Labour MPs. Musk is of course publicly attacking the UK government online and allies of the Trump administration warning strongly against a ban.
Also this week, the Lib Dems are planning to make noise about the government’s ‘stealth taxes’, tabling an amendment to the Finance Bill to force the minister to write to every taxpayer affected by the income tax threshold freeze spelling out how much more they will pay. The OBR estimates freezing the thresholds will drag around 10.6 million people up to a tax bracket by 2030-31.
Headlines
- Trump says he’s considering action and that Iran wants meeting after hundreds of protesters reported killed – BBC News
- London’s homicide rate drops to lowest in more than a decade – The Guardian
- Sack West Midlands police chief, MPs tell home secretary – The Times
What’s on in Parliament
Monday 12th January
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Housing, Communities and Local Government
- Legislation: Finance (No.2) Bill Day One Committee of the whole House
- Adjournment Debate: Government support for higher education
- Oral questions: Legislation giving effect to the recommendations of the Independent Water Commission
- Oral questions: Progress made by the Defending Democracy Taskforce on protecting democratic institutions
- Oral questions: Level of sexual harassment and inappropriate behaviour experience by women and girls in educational settings
House of Commons
- Ten Minute Rule Motion: Emergency And Life-saving Skills (Schools)
- Legislation: Finance (No.2) Bill Day Two Committee of the whole House
- Westminster Hall Debate: Potential merits of statutory duty of care for universities
- Oral questions: Ensuring meat labelling states whether the animal was stunned before being killed
- Oral questions: Measuring success of the Youth Guarantee scheme, specifically employment and training outcomes and long-term labour market impacts
- Legislation: Crime and Policing Bill – committee stage (day 9) – part one
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Scotland
- Prime Minister’s Question Time
- Adjournment Debate: Future of the Lindsey Oil Refinery and the wider UK oil refining sector
- Oral questions: Impact of investment in early years education on children’s long-term outcomes, including attainment, employability, and wellbeing
- Oral questions: Extent of large-scale waste crime
- Legislation: Children’s Wellbeing and School Bill – report stage (day 1)
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Culture, Media and Sport
- Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House
- Westminster Hall Debate: The impact of gambling harms in children and young people
- Oral questions: Pandemic preparedness from Exercise Pegasus 2025
- Oral questions: Implementing protections from children from harmful in-game purchases, including loot boxes
- Legislation: Crime and Policing Bill – committee stage (day 10)
House of Commons
- The House of Commons is not sitting. The House will next sit on 19 January 2026.
- Legislation: Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches Bill – third reading
- Legislation: Rare Cancers Bill – second reading
- Legislation: Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill – committee stage (day 6)
Consultations
- Reforming the customs treatment of low value imports into the United Kingdom – closes 06 March
- Local transport authorities and the licensing of taxis and private hire vehicles – closes 01 April
- Policy paper: Changes to agricultural property relief and business property relief – changes to take effect from 06 April
Statistics
- Dry weather and drought in England: summary reports - updated 09 January
- Connecting rural women to global value chains via home-based work - updated 08 January
- Energy Trends: UK renewables - updated 08 January