Starmer won't come to the Commons to field questions on Iran crisis

Keir Starmer will not field questions from MPs on the Iran crisis today amid criticism that he is dodging scrutiny.

The PM sent Foreign Secretary David Lammy to deliver a Commons statement on the burgeoning crisis in the Middle East this afternoon.

Mr Lammy came under huge pressure to justify the UK's position of refusing to say whether or not it backs US strikes on Iran's nuclear sites.

Sir Keir, who is meeting Volodymyr Zelensky this afternoon, is expected to take Cabinet but not be in the House tomorrow.

He will miss PMQs for the second week running on Wednesday as he is due at the Nato summit in The Hague.