Watch PMQs today as Rishi Sunak faces Keir Starmer after facing calls to resign - timing and verdict explained

Rishi Sunak is set to face Keir Starmer in a testy Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) today after a former Cabinet Minister called for him to resign.

Sir Simon Clarke, who was Chief Secretary to the Treasury under Sunak, has penned a withering op-ed in the Daily Telegraph that “extinction is a very real possibility” for the party if the PM leads it into the election this year. It is thought that Clarke is the latest backbencher to submit a letter of confidence to the 1922 Committee.

Sunak will have to once again face Starmer at PMQs, an arena he's been struggling in recently. The Labour leader has certainly upped his game at the despatch box, with hacks enquiring whether he had a new joke writer to provide him with fresh gags.

Sunak is having to defend the faltering economy and has risked sounding out of touch with voters struggling amidst the cost of living crisis. This leaves him vulnerable to sounding disconnected with the public, especially given his wealth and penchant for private jets and helicopters. This is only likely to get more difficult, given the latest figures which show inflation has risen for the first time in 10 months.

How to watch PMQs today?

You can watch PMQs live on the video attached to this article. It will go live around 11.45am.

What time is PMQs?

PMQs starts at 12noon on Wednesday (24 January). Sunak will start by facing six questions from leader of the opposition Keir Starmer, before being quizzed by SNP leader Stephen Flynn. The PM will then field questions from backbench MPs from all sides of the House of Commons.

PMQs verdict - score draw

Both Sunak and Starmer got in hefty personal attacks on each other, which received baying approval from their own MPs. The Labour leader didn’t quite seem as polished at PMQs this week, and was occasionally slightly stilted when talking. The questions about childcare will be very pertinent to parents watching, and while Sunak appeared confident his answers were often fairly unsubstantial. 

Ralph is NationalWorld’s politics editor based in Westminster, where he gets special access to Parliament, MPs and government briefings. If you liked this article you can follow Ralph on X (Twitter) here and sign up to his free weekly newsletter Politics Uncovered, which brings you the latest analysis and gossip from Westminster every Sunday morning.