Badenoch is still dissatisfied with Starmer's answer.

She says she wasn't asking about evacuations, but instead defence spending, and accuses the government of cutting defence spending.

Badenoch asks when the defence investment plan will "finally be published" after delays.

Starmer fires back, and says sarcastically that he's "sorry she's not interested" in how British people in the Middle East will get home. Jeers fill the room.

He says they are increasing defence spending and points to the Spring Statement yesterday, saying that it showed inflation, interest rates, debt and borrowing rates all went down.

No political consensus on Iran among the two main partiespublished at 12:19 GMT

12:19 GMT

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

When Russia attacked Ukraine, there was political consensus among the two main parties.

That isn’t on show with the Iran conflict.

In fact, this felt like a regular PMQs political rammy.

The Conservative leader is arguing the prime minister is not going far enough in supporting the United States.

Kemi Badenoch wants more information on increasing defence spending and tells the prime minister the UK is involved in the current war whether we like it or not.

The prime minister says the situation in the Middle East is volatile and people are worried about escalation.

His central case is that the government must act in the UK’s interests - and that that interest would not have been served by joining in offensive strikes on Saturday.

"It is not enough", says Badenoch. She accuses the prime minister of reading "out a long list" and says "he should be doing more".

The chancellor chose to give more money to welfare, instead of defence, in her Spring Statement, Badenoch says: "Their priorities are all wrong."

War in Iran is "happening now", but the OBR says the UK won't hit a 3% spend of GDP on defence for five years, Badenoch says, and asks why Starmer is leaving the job of defence for the next government.

Starmer says he's "not going to take lectures on defence" from the Conservatives, accusing them of cutting the defence budget and missing army recruitment targets "every year for fourteen years".

The prime minister says that Labour have delivered the biggest boost to defence spending "since the Cold War".

He adds that he is taking action to remove British nationals from the Middle East, with the first government chartered flight due to leave Oman later today.

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the House of Commons

Image source, House of Commons

The speed and the extent of the UK’s response to the war in Iran and its defence of British bases abroad is a big feature of this exchange.

A reminder that it comes after the runway of the British air base in Cyprus, RAF Akrotiri, was hit by a drone - causing what the Ministry of Defence described as "minimal damage".

The MoD also said UK armed forces had shot down drones in Iraq, Jordan and Qatar.

Next, Badenoch asks the PM why he is asking our allies to do "what we should be doing ourselves" in the Middle East.

Our bases have already been attacked, she says, adding: "We're in this war, whether they like it or not".

Starmer says that for a number of weeks the UK has been deploying capabilities to the region, including F-35 jets which were pre-deployed.

Multiple F-35s and typhoons have been in operation in the Middle East and across Cyprus since Saturday morning.

He goes on to list other deployments, saying that in agreement with the US they're using UK bases to conduct operations to strike Iranian missiles and launchers.

Image source, House of Commons

Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch pays tribute to British servicemen in the Middle East.

The UK's bases in Cyprus and Bahrain have been attacked, she says.

The US has taken offensive action to defend British territory, why won’t the prime minister allow the RAF to do the same, she asks.

Starmer says he knows the whole country is worried about escalation

He adds that he needs to act with clarity, with purpose and with a clear head.

"What I was not prepared to do on Saturday was 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", he says.

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the House of Commons

Before PMQs kicked off, House Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle reminds MPs to ensure “good temper and moderation in the language that they use”.

A polite reminder to choose their words carefully in what can be an emotionally charged environment.

Image source, House of Commons

Keir Starmer begins by saying the situation in the Middle East remains "serious and volatile".

The government will focus on protecting British lives and bringing people home, as well as "safeguarding" national interests.

Starmer is stood up at the dispatch box ready to begin this week's PMQs.

You can watch live at the top of this page, and we'll bring you the back and forth right here.

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the House of Commons

Image source, House of Commons

The newly elected Green MP for Gorton and Denton, Hannah Spencer, has taken her seat alongside party colleague Ellie Chowns.

Spencer took the seat from Labour in her party’s first Westminster by-election victory.

A plumber by trade, Spencer promised to fight for those who feel "left behind", winning the constituency with a majority of more than 4,000.

The result has put pressure on Starmer to shore up support among the kind of voters who could be minded to back the “eco-populist” Greens.

As we've been reporting, Starmer has faced criticism from Donald Trump over his refusal to let the US use British bases for the initial US-Israel strikes on Iran.

The UK subsequently agreed to allow the US to use UK bases for defensive strikes.

Following that decision, the prime minister said the UK government "does not believe in regime change from the skies".

On Monday, he also told MPs: "To be clear, the use of British bases is limited to the agreed defensive purposes; we are not joining the US and Israeli offensive strikes."

The PM said: "President Trump has expressed his disagreement with our decision not to get involved in the initial strikes, but it is my duty to judge what is in Britain's national interest."

The situation changed on Sunday when Iran's "outrageous" response became "a threat to our people, our interests and our allies", Starmer told the Commons.

Chris Mason
Political editor

Image source, Getty Images

Oodles of diplomatic energy have been expended on the unlikely relationship between the former human rights lawyer, Keir Starmer and the former real estate magnate turned reality TV star, Donald Trump.

It was a political double act that long appeared unlikely and, for a while at least, appeared much stronger than many would have anticipated.

It doesn't look quite so strong any more, after President Trump belittled and mocked the Prime Minister publicly, comparing him, deeply unfavourably, with the UK's most celebrated wartime leader, Winston Churchill.

It is true that President Trump's deeply personal remarks have the capacity to wind and wound.

Downing Street had worked so hard and invested so much in building a decent working relationship with President Trump.

It is just six months ago that he was here in the UK enjoying a second state visit. And look where things are now.

No 10 is not shooting its mouth off in public in reply, but folk I speak to in government are resolute.

We've just seen Keir Starmer exit No 10 Downing Street.

He's now making his way to the House of Commons chamber, where he'll face questions from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and other MPs.

We'll have full coverage of all the key lines when PMQs kicks off at around midday, and you can watch live at the top of the page.

Joshua Nevett
Reporting from the House of Commons

Image source, EPA

The green benches in the House of Commons are filling up, as MPs take their seats ahead of Prime Minister’s Questions.

It’s a chance for Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and other opposition parties to land some political blows on Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

So what could come up this week?

It’s likely that Starmer will be reminded of those comments from President Trump.

If you missed them, Trump said Starmer was “no Winston Churchill” as he criticised the UK’s decision to not allow the US to use British bases for the initial offensive strikes on Iran.

MPs will be keen to know what this means for the UK-US relationship, and whether it’s “special” anymore.

Another theme that could emerge is the economic fallout of the war in Iran and how it might impact the UK.

In her Spring Statement yesterday, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said her economic plan was working in an "uncertain" world.

But the growth estimate for the UK was lowered for this year, and with energy prices rising in response to events in the Middle East, the PM could face questions about how his government plans to respond.

Imogen James
Live reporter

Image source, House of Commons

It's almost time for this week's Prime Minister's Questions as Keir Starmer is set to face Kemi Badenoch in the Commons at midday.

Today's session comes amid the ongoing conflict in the Middle East. Starmer is under pressure following his decision not to allow the US to use British airbases for initial strikes on Iran, and subsequently allowing them for "defensive" strikes.

His decisions have drawn criticism from the Conservatives, Reform UK and the Liberal Democrats, and most notably from US President Donald Trump himself.

The BBC's political editor Chris Mason says the UK's special relationship with the US "has never been in a rockier place than it is now".

In more domestic matters, Starmer will face MPs the day after Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivered an update on her plans for the UK economy in her Spring Statement.

You can watch live at the top of the page from 12:00 GMT, and stay with us as we bring you the key lines and analysis from our correspondents.