As the week begins, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has chaired his Cabinet meeting under the weight of foreign policy crises and fresh questions around the collapsed China spying case. Ministers continue to insist the PM was not involved, but the fallout from the case still dominates attention.
No. 10’s domestic priorities, from this week’s regional investment summit in Birmingham to the rollout of “V-levels” and Technical Excellence Colleges, are likely to struggle for airtime while issues involving Beijing, Israel, and Ukraine continue to take centre stage.
In Parliament, focus returns to the Chagos Islands Bill this afternoon. The Tories have written to Cabinet Secretary Chris Wormald, echoing Kemi Badenoch’s earlier letter, to argue against what they see as government deference to China. Stephen Doughty will oppose Tory attempts to delay payments to Mauritius, while Nigel Farage has also signalled interest, questioning whether Jonathan Powell is “selling us out to China.” Speaker Lindsay Hoyle is reportedly considering tighter controls on Chinese access to Parliament, taking inspiration from the European Parliament’s recent Huawei ban.
Looking abroad, Xi Jinping and China’s leadership meet this week to map out their next five-year plan, while attention in Europe and the Middle East remains dominated by ongoing crises in Ukraine and Gaza.
Back in the UK, expect the usual mix of domestic news and policy announcements to compete for attention. Chancellor Rachel Reeves will push forward on her regional investment summit in Birmingham, while Defence Secretary John Healey announces new powers for troops to counter drone threats. Teachers, meanwhile, are preparing to explain the new “V-levels”, or vocational courses, to a very sceptical teenage audience.
Headlines
- Trump is cutting foreign aid. He's not the online one – Politico
- European leaders near deal to use frozen Russian assets for Ukraine – The Guardian
- Labour sheds support from impatient Britons – Financial Times
What’s on in Parliament
Monday 20th October
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Education (including Topical Questions)
- Committee and Remaining Stages: Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill
House of Lords
- Oral questions: Actions to increase HIV testing rates, and re-engagement with the estimated 12,000 people living with HIV who are currently lost to care
- Urgent Question Repeat: Alleged breach of Official Secrets Act on behalf of China
Tuesday 21st October
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Health and Social Care (including Topical Questions)
- Westminster Hall Debate: Progress on ending homelessness
- Westminster Hall Debate: Mandatory digital ID
House of Lords
- Oral questions: Progress towards government targets of building 1.5 million new homes
- Legislation: Public Authorities (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - report stage (day 2)
Wednesday 22nd October
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Scotland
- Prime Minister’s Question
- Westminster Hall Debate: Financial inclusion
- Westminster Hall Debate: Trade union access to workplaces
House of Lords
- Oral questions: Reduction of the drink drive limit
- Oral questions: Rules on duty-free goods for those flying from Belfast to the European Union
- Legislation: Planning and Infrastructure Bill - report stage (day 2)
Thursday 23rd October
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Cabinet Office
- Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House
- Westminster Hall Debate: The impact of NHS workforce levels on cancer patients
- Westminster Hall Debate: The performance of the Building Safety Regulator
House of Lords
- Oral questions: Staffing levels within Job Centres
- Oral questions: Detention, suspension and exclusion of autistic children in state schools
- Legislation: Public Accounts (Fraud, Error and Recovery) Bill - third reading
Friday 24th October
House of Commons is not sitting.
House of Lords
- Legislation: Absent Voting (Elections in Scotland and Wales) Bill - third reading
- Legislation: Licensing Hours Extensions Bill - second reading
- Legislation: Unauthorised Entry to Football Matches - second reading
Consultations
- Decommissioning offshore installations: guidance and associated policy proposals – closes 14th November
- Vets market investigation: consultation on provisional decision – closes 12th November
- Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment (WEEE) compliance fee for 2025 – closes 10th November