Politics as it happened: Sunak says intelligence services are assessing Gaza hospital blast after sombre PMQs

This was far from the Punch and Judy politics we usually get after party conference season. Both Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer agreed with each other on everything, as they both urged the House of Commons to "speak with one voice" on the Israel and Palestine conflict.

Both took a sombre tone and looked serious and statesmanlike in the unfolding crisis. Politically it was hard to read too much from today's PMQs other than a slight shift in tone from Starmer.

The Labour leader has come under criticism from many in his own party, who say he is not being critical enough of Israel's bombardment of Gaza. And while Starmer reiterated Israel's right to defend itself, he opened with a comment on the situation in Gaza saying: "Their [Palestinians] fear that there’s no place of safety is profound. International law must be upheld and that means hospitals and civilian lives must be protected."

Starmer later urged that "medicines, food, fuel and water must get into Gaza immediately". It's a very subtle but noticeable shift from Starmer, after some internal criticism from inside Labour.

The SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn calls for a refugee resettlement scheme. He asks Sunak: "In respect of those who wish to flee can I ask the Prime Minister what early consideration if any, his Government has given to the creation of a refugee resettlement scheme akin to that previously put in place for Syrian nationals, Afghani nationals, and of course Ukrainian nationals?”

Sunak ignored this, but said the UK was “one of the most significant contributors to the United Nations efforts to support Palestinian refugees”.

The Foreign Secretary James Cleverly is speaking following PMQs. He warns “those who have a voice” to be particularly careful of what information they disseminate.

On the al Ahli hospital blast, he says: "Our desire to prevent this tragedy expanding into a regional conflict remains an absolute priority and of course, we have a duty as a Government to ensure that Jewish community in the UK, Muslim community in the UK are safe and feel safe and do not experience ramifications of circumstances far beyond these shores and beyond their control.

"For that reason, everybody, particularly those who have a voice, whether formal or informal in the public sphere, should be particularly careful of what information they disseminate, they should be particularly vigilant against disinformation and speculation is never useful."

James Cleverly says the UK government "will come to our own judgment" on the cause of the Al Ahli hospital blast. He was asked after Joe Biden appeared to back Israel's version of events - that the explosion was caused by a Hamas rocket misfiring.

The US President told Benjamin Netanyahu: “Based on what I’ve seen, it appears as though it was done by the other team, not you.”

Earlier, in PMQs, Sunak said: "Our intelligence services have been rapidly analysing the evidence to independently establish the facts. We are not in a position at this point to say more than that.”

Cleverly told MPs: “We take note of what President Biden has said, but we will come to our own judgment, we will work on that quickly, and we will ensure that our assessment is put in the public domain as soon as we are confident of the details.”

Rishi Sunak's spokesman has refused to guarantee that benefits will rise with inflation. He said: “The secretary of state has to conduct his statutory annual review of benefits and state pensions using the most recent data, including, obviously, today’s figures. So that process will take place.”

Pressed on why he could not say benefits would rise in line with inflation, he said: “I simply wouldn’t get ahead of the process.”

September figures are used to calculate increases in pensions and benefits for the next financial year, starting in April. Despite failing to confirm whether benefits would rise with inflation, the No 10 spokesman said the government was committed to the triple lock.

This is where the state pension increases either in line with whichever is higher out of inflation, the average wage increase between May and July each year or 2.5%.

On the triple lock, he said: “We do remain committed to the triple lock and we will ensure the state pension continues to provide security and dignity in retirement for millions of people across the country, whilst obviously ensuring it is sustainable and fair across the generations.”