Imogen James
Live reporter

As expected, today's PMQs featured lots of questions on the ongoing US-Israel war with Iran.

On this subject there was a bitter back-and-forth between Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch.

Starmer said the focus for Britain remains on keeping its people safe and safeguarding national interests.

Despite sharp criticism yesterday from US President Donald Trump, the prime minister said he wasn't prepared on Saturday "for the UK to join a war unless I was satisfied there was a lawful basis and a viable, thought-through plan. That remains my position."

This theme remained throughout today's sessions, with Badenoch continuing to press the prime minister on defence spending and Starmer continuing to say the government will act in the UK's best interests.

As political correspondent Nick Eardley writes, there is no political consensus between the two party leaders over the US's action in Iran.

Shortly after PMQs, Security Minister Dan Jarvis took to the despatch for a ministerial statement, announcing that three people have been arrested on suspicion of spying for China - the BBC's been told one of them is the partner of a Labour MP.

We're now ending our live coverage. For more:

• Live updates on the US-Israel war with Iran
• A recap of what went on in this week's PMQs
• More on the story of the three people arrested on suspicion of spying for China

Is the UK planning the biggest increase in defence spending since the Cold War?published at 14:01 GMT

14:01 GMT

By Anthony Reuben

Security Minister Dan Jarvis was speaking in the Commons shortly after Keir Starmer faced Prime Minister's Questions.

During PMQs, the prime minister said his government was delivering “the biggest boost to defence spending since the Cold War”.

They are currently planning to spend 2.5% of the size of the economy measured by GDP on defence by April 2027.

If you look at this chart from the House of Commons Library, external you’ll see that it doesn’t take much to achieve the biggest increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

In the 1950s, defence spending was over 7% of GDP. By 1989 - when the Berlin Wall came down - it was 3.3% and since then it has at times fallen below 2%, as successive governments took advantage of what’s been called the “peace dividend”.

The plan to spend 2.5% of GDP on defence would eclipse any small increases since the 1990s.

Kemi Badenoch responded: “They are cutting defence spending by £2.6bn this year”.

We have not been able to find that in the spending plans and have asked the Conservative Party where it came from.

Image source, House of Commons

Security Minister Dan Jarvis has been speaking in the Commons after three men were arrested on suspicion of spying for China. The BBC has been told one of those arrested is the partner of a Labour MP.

Here's a reminder of what we heard from Jarvis:

• The security minister told MPs that the arrests were made this morning and relate to China and "foreign interference targeting UK democracy"
• British officials are in contact with Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing to raise their concerns, and "severe consequences" will follow if the offences are proven, Jarvis said

• Shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart asked Jarvis to confirm reports that one of those arrested is the partner of a Labour MP, but the security minister declined to respond during a live police investigation
• Following these reports, Reform UK MP Richard Tice asked whether the Rycroft review, into foreign financial interference in UK politics, can take account of arrests or if it needs to be extended until a decision is made by police
• Jarvis said the review is being conducted independently and there will be "time and space" for Philip Rycroft to reflect on "any events that have taken place recently"

Image source, House of Commons

Liberal Democrat MP Luke Taylor shares his shock at the news of the Chinese arrests, and says there's also "disgust" that the Chinese state had "targeted the partners of sitting and former MPs".

Jarvis says he briefed the chief executives of political parties in the UK recently that people involved in politics shouldn't make the view that "it's only people that serve in government...who are a target".

"All of those who are involved in the wider political ecosystem are in play here", he says. This is an important message that people need to understand, he adds.

We're leaving our coverage of this Commons debate there - next up, there'll be a recap of the key lines.

Jarvis says there are strict limitations on what he can say about a live police investigation.

"These are the most serious matters that require us as a House to put the protection of our democracy above any political point-scoring," he says.

Jarvis says he is "confident in the government’s response to this incident" and its wider agenda of countering political interference.

He says that matters relating to prosecutions are "very specifically matters for the Crown Prosecution Service", and "not for ministers to opine on them".

But he does know "how extremely disappointed the government were that the trial last autumn didn't proceed".

Jarvis does not address the question about reports in the media that one of the three people arrested is the partner of a Labour MP.

Image source, House of Commons

Conservative shadow chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster Alex Burghart is responding now.

"Here we are again, another year, another Chinese spy scandal," he says.

The backdrop to it is the government's "failed policy of appeasement", he says, adding that they are failing to stand up to threats.

He says they watched as the "government allowed" the Chinese spy case involving members of the house to collapse, as well as approving the Chinese "mega embassy" in London, and mentions the PM's visit to China in January.

"The Chinese state watched too, and saw that it could act with impunity," Burghart says.

He mentions reports by the BBC and The Guardian released a short while ago that one of three men arrested on suspicion of spying for China is the partner of a Labour MP.

He asks Jarvis if he will confirm this is true. He also asks will the government do "everything in its power to prevent this case from collapsing".

Image source, House of Commons

Security Minister Dan Jarvis continues, saying that the government is engaging with China "confidently and pragmatically on areas where engagement is in the UK's national interest".

Jarvis says the two nations are in touch in areas including climate, global health, illegal migration and serious organised crime.

"But let me be crystal clear: this is not a question of balancing economic and security considerations.

"We don't trade-off security for economic access. Instead, by taking tough steps to keep us secure we enable ourselves to cooperate in other areas."

Jarvis says the UK will always prioritise UK national security and will always challenge "any country, including China, that attempts to interfere with or undermine the integrity of our democratic institutions and we will always prioritise UK national security".

"Three people arrested under National Security Act Three people have been arrested as part of a Counter Terrorism Policing investigation into suspected National Security Act offences.

"The men [A-C] were arrested on Wednesday, 4 March on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service, contrary to section 3 of the National Security Act, 2023. The country to which the investigation relates is China.

"Commander Helen Flanagan, Head of Counter Terrorism Policing London, said: 'We have seen a significant increase in our casework relating to national security in recent years, and we continue to work extremely closely with our partners to help keep the country safe and take action to disrupt malign activity where we suspect it.

"'Today’s arrests are part of a proactive investigation and while these are serious matters, we do not believe there to be any imminent or direct threat to the public relating to this. Our investigation continues, and we thank the public for their ongoing support.'

"Detectives from CTP London, which is leading the investigation, arrested a 39-year-old man [A] at an address in London, a 68-year-old man [B] at an address in Powys, Wales and a 43-year-old man [C] in Pontyclun, Wales.

"They were all detained under PACE (Police and Criminal Evidence Act) and taken into police custody, where they currently remain. Officers carried out searches at the addresses where the three men were arrested.

"As part of the investigation, searches were also carried out at three other addresses in London, East Kilbride and Cardiff respectively. The arrests and search activity was supported by colleagues from CTP Wales and CTP Scotland. Enquiries remain ongoing."

Jarvis says British officials have formally demarched their Chinese counterparts in London and Beijing to raise our strong concerns.

He says that "if there is proven evidence of attempts by China to interfere with UK sovereign affairs, we will impose severe consequences and hold all actors involved to account."

Image source, House of Commons

In the Commons, where PMQs has finished, we're hearing an update from Security Minister Dan Jarvis.

Jarvis says three arrests were made this morning as part of a counter-terrorism policing investigation into suspected national security act offences.

He confirms this relates to China and "foreign interference targeting UK democracy".

It wouldn't be appropriate to comment on any aspect of the live investigation, he adds.

Jarvis does say the counter-terrorism police have said that this morning officers arrested three men on suspicion of assisting a foreign intelligence service.

"This government stands resolute to country foreign in our resolve to counter foreign interference activity targeting the UK from any state actor," he continues.

China "presents a series of threats to the United Kingdom" he says, adding that they are "deeply concerned by an increasing pattern" from Chinese state actors "targeting democracy".

Henry Zeffman
Chief political correspondent

One of the men arrested on suspicion of spying for China is the partner of a Labour MP, the BBC has been told.

This relates to the security statement happening in the Commons now. We'll bring you more shortly.

It seems likely for now that the political debate on Iran will continuepublished at 12:47 GMT

12:47 GMT

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

Unsurprisingly, the war in Iran dominated today’s proceedings.

There are a lot of concerns in parliament; including about the impact the conflict will have on the cost of living.

But it’s also very clear today that there are real political disagreements about the UK’s role.

The prime minister argues it should be defensive, based on national interests.

The conservatives believe it should be more proactive.

It seems likely for now that the political debate on this will continue to be fraught.

Image source, PA Media

The conflict in Iran dominated Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch's PMQs exchange - here's how it unfolded in the House of Commons:

• Immediately addressing the conflict in Iran, Starmer said the UK must respond calmly, despite calls from Badenoch to take offensive action to defend British territory - as the US has done

• “We're in this war, whether they like it or not," Badenoch said as she pushed for offensive action, while Starmer replied that actions are being taken to reduce the threat including allowing US planes to use UK bases for defensive action
• As our political correspondent writes, there was little political consensus on Iran in the pair’s back and forth
• After Tuesday’s Spring Statement, the Conservative leader pushed Starmer on how he plans to spend 3% GDP on defence by the end of Parliament - Starmer said he’s delivered the biggest boost to spending since the cold war
• With energy prices on the rise, Starmer said he plans to meet with oil and gas companies. Badenoch, though, criticised Labour for stopping drilling in the North Sea
• The Conservative leader drew fury from the Labour benches, when she described Starmer as having a clueless "sea of orcs and goons" around him. Starmer stressed he is focused on the national interest

We're leaving PMQs there and turning our attention to a statement from Security Minister Dan Jarvis.

Image source, House of Commons

Gavin Robinson from the DUP says the PM ignored a request two weeks ago to deploy a destroyer to the region.

Royal Navy warship HMS Dragon, along with two helicopters, are being sent to Cyprus to bolster security at British air base RAF Akrotiri on the Island, after it was hit by drone strikes on Monday.

Robinson says we now know the HMS Dragon won’t arrive in Cyprus for a week.

If we are only going to get to spending 2.5% of GDP on defence by 2027 it is not enough, he says, adding that it needs to be faster.

Starmer says they worked in conjunction with the US in relation to the pre-deployments.

In relation to defence spending, he says the UK is increasing this to 2.6% of GDP but we are going to have to spend more and faster after years of under investment and troop cuts.

He says the last government didn’t spend enough, adding that the Tories “hollowed this out".

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the House of Commons

Image source, House of Commons

It got a bit chaotic towards the end of the exchanges between Badenoch and Starmer.

Some Labour MPs were furious about Badenoch’s taunts. She called them “goons” at one point.

A Labour MP tried to catch the speaker’s eye and raise a point of order.

A point of order is an appeal to the speaker to address a potential breach of the rules or procedures.

But the speaker dismissed the request, telling the Labour MP they can’t do a point of order during PMQs.

Ed Davey moves onto Iran. He says the war has "brought more chaos" across the Middle East and "increased the threat to national security" in the UK.

He says the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have previously plotted "several failed terrorist attacks" in the UK targeting British Jews, Iranian journalists and MPs.

Will the PM table emergency legislation to better protect the country from what he calls "Iranian terrorists", Davey asks.

Starmer says they're working 24/7 to deal with any threats against the country. He reminds Davey that on Monday they announced they "successfully dealt" with 20 Iran-backed threats.

There's sanctions on the IRGC already, he adds, but says they don't comment on proscription but they have made the case for the need for legislation to deal with state-backed terrorist groups.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey is up next.

He says "it is absolutely right" the government does everything it can to get all British citizens to safety in the Middle East, regardless of their tax paying status.

The UK government has chartered a commercial flight out of Oman for British nationals, which is set to leave the capital of Muscat on Wednesday night at 23:00 local time (19:00 GMT).

Davey asks if Starmer will give a "cast iron guarantee today" that he will take action to stop energy bills rising because of, what he calls, "Trump's illegal war" in the Middle East.

Starmer says he wants to emphasise the actions he's "been taking urgently this week" on this, including work "to ensure the safe passage of energy" across the world.

"We will continue to do that", Starmer says, and "keep a very close eye on this".

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

That was an extremely bad tempered exchange between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch.

They are in very different places on UK support for the United States.

It’s clear the prime minister wasn’t happy.

He ended the exchanges by saying Ms Badenoch’s response makes her an “utter irrelevance”.

Badenoch says the PM does not understand the energy transition. She accuses him of having a "sea of orcs and goons who have no idea how anything is working at all".

The prime minister jumps in but Badenoch returns, saying she's not yet asked her question yet.

Badenoch says he has the "wrong priorities," adding that after last week's by-election (in Gorton and Denton) "is it not true that he is prioritising his job security over our national security".

Starmer says he spent the week defending British lives and our national interest.

He says moments like this "define a leader of the opposition" as they can either step-up and act in the national interest, or they can "expose their utter irrelevance".

"She has chosen the second," he adds.

Image source, House of Commons

Badenoch says the government is spending too much money on welfare – so not ordering enough missiles.

“They are pathetic spending money on welfare instead of defence spending,” she says.

They are also weak, she adds.

The crisis is also about the cost of living as the war disrupts the supply of oil and gas – yet he is stopping drilling in the North Sea, she says.

Does he think it makes sense to kill our industry?

Starmer replies that energy supply is a serious question.

The chancellor is meeting oil and gas companies today and keeping in touch with allies on the matter, he adds.