Angela Rayner to face PMQs as inflation rises sharply

Angela Rayner will stand in for Keir Starmer at Prime Minister’s questions as he travels back from the G20 summit in Brazil.

The Prime Minister has faced criticism over going on the trip while facing issues following the Budget announcement, including measures on jobs and farms and changes to the winter fuel payment.

On Wednesday, he said there is a “direct link” between his work internationally and the impact back at home.

He also reaffirmed his confidence in the Chancellor’s financial plans as he came under pressure from retailers warning of job cuts and price rises as a result of Budget tax hikes.

More than 70 businesses, including Tesco, Asda and Sainsbury’s, have told Rachel Reeves in an open letter that the changes announced in last month’s Budget mean price hikes are a “certainty”.

Asked whether he still had confidence in the Government’s financial plans and by extension the Chancellor, Sir Keir told a press conference at the G20 summit in Brazil: “Absolutely.

“We have to stabilise the economy, we have to deal with the £22bn black hole, and we need to invest in the future of our country.

“The reason we got into such a mess over the last 14 years is because the last government refused to take a single difficult decision.”

The deputy prime minister will face Alex Burghart – a shadow cabinet office minister – in parliament and is likely to face questions on figures showing that UK inflation has risen to its highest level since April driven by an increase in household energy bills.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation rose to 2.3% for October, from 1.7% in the previous month.

It is the sharpest month-on-month increase in the rate of inflation for two years.