Rishi Sunak refuses to put 'arbitrary number' on cutting migration

Thank you for joining me for today's politics live blog. 

I will be back early tomorrow morning. 

Kathryn Stone, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, said her office had received “dozens of complaints” about Matt Hancock swapping Westminster for the Australian jungle to appear on I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!

“It raises really important questions about members’ proper activities while they’re supposed to be fulfilling their parliamentary duties and representing their constituents,” she told the Standards Committee. 

“One member of the public contrasted the dignity of veterans on Remembrance Sunday with a former secretary of state and they said this individual was waiting for a buffet of animal genitalia and they wondered what had happened to the dignity of public office.”

Asked if it was something she could investigate, Ms Stone said: “No, because it doesn’t breach a rule per se, unless we are thinking about the conflict between personal and public interest, and settling that conflict in the interests of the public.”

Kathryn Stone, the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards, has told MPs that the "partygate" fines received by Boris Johnson and Rishi Sunak had resulted in almost 1,500 complaints to her office.

She told the Commons Standards Committee this was “obviously outside my remit” but people felt they had “nowhere else to go to make those complaints”.

James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, said he believes the UK is in the "persuasion game" when it comes to trying to make improvements to the Northern Ireland Protocol. 

It was suggested to Mr Cleverly that the UK is engaged in a "futile exercise" by trying to agree changes with the European Commission given that the latter's negotiating mandate has not changed, meaning there is seemingly little room for manoeuvre. 

But he disagreed. He told MPs on the European Scrutiny Committee: "I don't agree. I don't agree. If we can demonstrate the art of the possible, because we are in the persuasion game, that is what international relations is all about. 

"It is not about observing the world as it is and just accepting, being fatalistic about it, accepting things can't change. My view is if we can put forward a compelling case for the ideas that we believe can address the deficiencies in the protocol and that we can demonstrate to the commission that as well as addressing our concerns it also addresses the concerns that they have raised with us, I think that is worth putting in front of them."

Rishi Sunak has criticised Matt Hancock for going on I’m A Celebrity while being a sitting MP, saying that elected politicians should have to “earn people’s respect”. 

The Prime Minister said he had been too busy to watch any of the West Suffolk MP’s exploits in the Australian jungle for the ITV program.

But he doubled down on condemnation of the decision, saying he was “disappointed” by Mr Hancock’s decision and that it was right he lost the Tory whip over the move.

You can read the full story here. 

James Cleverly suggested resolving problems with the Northern Ireland Protocol is one of his top three priorities as Foreign Secretary. 

Asked where the matter ranks, Mr Cleverly told the European Scrutiny Committee: "It is up there. It is on the podium. Because this is about the Union, this is about our country. It is not a peripheral trade issue... it is about the recognition that Northern Ireland is an integral part of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, just as much as Braintree is in north Essex. 

"Northern Ireland, north Essex, they are part of the UK, that is really important."

James Cleverly said he believes the EU is listening to the UK's concerns about the operation of the Northern Ireland Protocol as he said "we cannot wish them away and however we resolve this... has got to address those issues".

The Foreign Secretary said he does not yet "see a route" through the ongoing dispute with Brussels.

He told the European Scrutiny Committee: "That is not going to be easy and I don't yet see a route through that. We are still looking and if we can find one I will be very, very happy to but those concerns are there and they can't just be wished away."

James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, said there is now a "better atmosphere" in talks between the UK and the EU on the Northern Ireland Protocol. 

Giving evidence to the European Scrutiny Committee this afternoon, Mr Cleverly said the Government is "committed to addressing" the problems caused by post-Brexit border rules as he said "our concerns are not confected". 

He told MPs: "The fact that I am speaking regularly with Maros Sefcovic and our officials are speaking regularly and there is I think a better atmosphere is important and that is positive but it shouldn't be read that that means I am shy in putting forward the very real concerns that exist." 

The UK is spending £22 billion more on debt interest in the year to date than at the same time last year – more than the entire Home Office budget – Jeremy Hunt has said.

The Chancellor quoted Margaret Thatcher’s famous line that “there is nothing moral about spending money you do not have” as he faced MPs in the Commons ahead of his Autumn Statement on Thursday.

He said the UK’s debt-to-GDP ratio is about 98 per cent and “we are currently spending debt interest £22 billion more in the year to date than at the same time last year”.

MPs are set to investigate the Home Office’s “raid” on the UK foreign aid budget to fund spiralling refugee costs, with millions spent every day on housing asylum seekers and migrants crossing the English Channel in hotels.

As a result of the increasing number of Ukrainian, Afghan and Albanian refugees arriving into the UK, estimates suggest the Government is now spending more of its foreign aid money at home than on overseas development projects.

Members of the International Development Committee (IDC), chaired by Labour’s Sarah Champion, are meeting today to discuss and approve the terms of reference for an inquiry into this spending, The Telegraph understands.

You can read the full story here. 

Rishi Sunak has refused to say if he has private healthcare, saying it was “not appropriate” to talk “about one’s family’s healthcare”.

The Prime Minister, who is currently in Bali for the G20 summit, is thought to be the richest ever inhabitant of Downing Street with a fortune far larger than the King’s.

Asked whether he has, or has ever had, private health insurance, the Prime Minister told ITV News: "In general, I wouldn’t normally talk about the healthcare that me or my family receive for obvious reasons.

"But what’s important is that we have an NHS and a healthcare system that is there for people when they need it."

He added: "I think most people would appreciate that talking about one’s family’s health care is probably not appropriate."

A Conservative former cabinet minister has questioned the Chancellor’s decision to base his fiscal strategy on the Office for Budget Responsibility's forecasts.

Speaking in the Commons during Treasury questions, Kit Malthouse said: "As I understand it, the Chancellor is basing his fiscal strategy on OBR forecasts, but does he agree with me that the only thing we know for certain about those forecasts is that they are wrong?"

Jeremy Hunt replied: "Well, we know that all economic forecasts are inaccurate, but that doesn’t mean it’s better not to have a forecast than to have one and in defence of the OBR, I would say that their forecasts are more accurate than the Government forecasts that we used to use before them."

Rishi Sunak said he is not going to put an "arbitrary number" on cutting migration as he refused to commit to a past Tory pledge to reduce annual net migration to the tens of thousands. 

He told GB News that he is "committed to getting migration down over time". Pushed on the tens of thousands pledge, the Prime Minister said: "The Government's policy, and my policy, is that we will want to reduce net migration over time, but I'm not going to put an arbitrary number on it because I want to be honest with people and I think right now our number one challenge is getting a grip of the number of illegal migrants coming and that's the thing I want to focus on first."

The comments appear to put the PM at odds with his Home Secretary, Suella Braverman, who said in October that her “ultimate aspiration” is to get net migration down into the tens of thousands. 

Rishi Sunak has said the UK’s international reputation has taken “a bit of a knock” in recent weeks.

“Well, I think obviously, our international reputation took a bit of a knock as a result of some of the things that happened more recently,” he told the BBC as he attended the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia. 

“But what I’ve seen here at the G20 summit in Indonesia is an enormous amount of goodwill for the UK to be an active and engaged member of the international community.

“There’s widespread support for what we’ve done in Ukraine, where I think Boris Johnson originally has shown incredible leadership that I plan on continuing, and across the board whether it’s on Cop and climate change, or indeed how to fix the global economy. These are all issues where we can play a role and people are looking for us to do that.”

Rishi Sunak said the pay deal being sought by the Royal College of Nursing union was “unaffordable” but acknowledged people were struggling with the rising cost of living.

The Prime Minister told ITV News: “We have enormous gratitude for our nurses, and indeed all the other workers in the NHS, for what they do and have done for us over the past couple of years, but what the unions are asking for is a 17 per cent pay rise, and I think most people watching will understand that that’s unaffordable and the way we deal with these situations, because of course, it’s difficult and of course people are struggling, is that we have an independent body make recommendations to the Government about what a fair settlement is.”

Rishi Sunak said inflation is the “enemy we have to face down” after he was asked about rising unemployment in the UK (see the post below at 07.31). 

The Prime Minister told ITV News in Bali, where he is attending the G20 summit: “I think what today’s figures show is that the enemy we have to face down is inflation.

“That’s what’s making people poorer, that’s what’s driving up the cost of living and everyone’s bills that they’re opening every week, every month.

“I want to make sure that we get a grip of inflation, reduce it, and that’s why the Chancellor’s statement is so important, because it will put our public finances on a sustainable trajectory which will help us grip inflation, it will help us limit the increase in mortgage rates. And that’s why we need to do what we’re going to do.”

Rishi Sunak said Matt Hancock’s future as an MP will be decided by the voters at the next general election.

The Prime Minister declined to call for Mr Hancock to resign his West Suffolk seat but said he was “very disappointed” the MP had chosen to swap his constituency for the Australian jungle to take part in I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here!

Asked whether Mr Hancock should quit Westminster, the Prime Minister told ITV News: “Matt Hancock is not a Conservative MP, the Chief Whip decided to remove the Conservative whip.

“Ultimately, the question is for his constituents at an election but I think it was right that the Chief Whip removed the conservative whip from Matt Hancock, it’s a decision I support and I was very disappointed that he decided to go on the show.”

Rishi Sunak said he is "hopeful" of holding bilateral talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping. 

Speaking to broadcasters in Bali as he attends the G20 summit, the Prime Minister said: "I'm hopeful that I can. As I said, I think it's important that we engage with people to try and tackle some of these shared challenges. And I'm here to talk to people, and that's what I hope is possible."

Rishi Sunak was asked if he has "changed his mind" on China after he indicated he will abandon his predecessor Liz Truss’s push to recategorise Beijing as a "threat" to the UK (see the post below at 07.17). 

He said: "I'm very clear that China poses a systemic challenge to both our values and our interests, and it represents the single biggest straight threat to our economic security. And that's why it's right that we take the steps that are necessary to protect ourselves against that."

Asked if China is a "threat" or a "challenge", the PM said: "It is a systemic challenge to our values and interests. It's also a very significant threat to our economic security, which is why it's right that we take steps to protect ourselves against that."

Rishi Sunak has refused to apologise for the damage done by Liz Truss's mini-Budget. 

The Prime Minister was asked during an interview with Sky News if he could say sorry.

He said: "And I've acknowledged from the steps of Downing Street in the first statement that I made to the country, an acknowledgement that mistakes were made..."

Told that it did not seem like he wanted to apologise, he said: "What I want to do now is fix them."

Rishi Sunak said he is "prepared to do difficult things" after he was asked if he is prepared to be unpopular ahead of Thursday's Autumn Statement which is expected to set out a number of tax rises. 

Speaking to broadcasters in Bali as he attended the G20 summit, the Prime Minister said: "I think I demonstrated over the summer that I am prepared to be honest with the country about the challenges we face and to make the difficult decisions that are required to fix them. 

"I think people can be reassured that what they will get from me is honesty about challenges and I am prepared to do difficult things. I did that as Chancellor and of course the Government is going to do what is right for the long term interests of the country." 

Mr Sunak said that people will see on Thursday that the Government "is being up front with people about the challenges we face". 

Lord Hammond, the Tory former chancellor, said that loosening immigration rules to allow more foreign workers to come to the UK would have an "immediate and significant impact on economic growth". 

He told Times Radio: "The challenge is that some of the things we need to do in order to get economic growth moving, are going to be very challenging to people because they challenge the status quo. 

"And actually, the truth is, an awful lot of people like things the way they are, they don't want change... they don't want the immigration system changed. 

"But if we want our economy to grow, we have to address the reasons that it is so constrained at the moment... migration would have an immediate and significant impact on economic growth. 

"Across the country there are restaurants that can't open all their tables there are pubs that aren't opening every night of the week, there are hotels with floors closed, because they can't get the staff to get them open. And if they were able to access staff, you would get an immediate impact on economic growth."

Lord Hammond, the Tory former chancellor, said the nation is braced for "really difficult news" at the Autumn Statement on Thursday as he suggested Jeremy Hunt had done a good job of "preparing the pitch". 

Speaking to Times Radio, he said: "My first advice he's already heeded, which would be, prepare the pitch. I think everybody is expecting bad news. 

"Pretty much whatever Jeremy Hunt delivers will bring a sigh of relief, I suspect, because people are prepared for a really difficult, really difficult news on Thursday morning."

The public has "lost confidence" in the Conservatives’ ability to handle the economy – but half have little faith a Labour government would do better, a new poll has found.

At least half the public have little or no trust in either party’s ability to manage the country’s taxes and spending or reduce the cost of living, pollster Ipsos found.

The Conservatives fare worst, with 27 per cent of people saying they trust the Tories to manage taxes and spending, down from 37 per cent in August, while just 17 per cent back the Government to reduce the cost of living.

Underlining the challenge for Jeremy Hunt as he prepares for Thursday’s Autumn Statement, 65 per cent of people say they do not trust the Conservatives on taxation and spending, while three quarters say they do not trust them on the cost of living.

Labour’s numbers are better, with 38 per cent saying they trust the opposition to manage taxation and spending and 37 per cent saying they believe the party would reduce the cost of living.

But despite leading the Conservatives, Labour is yet to receive a ringing endorsement from the public, with 50 per cent saying they have little or no trust in the party’s ability to manage the budget and 52 per cent saying the same about its chances of reducing the cost of living.

Kent and Hampshire councils have warned Rishi Sunak they face bankruptcy within months. 

The leaders of two of the largest Tory-run local authorities said "drastic cuts" would not be enough to balance their books amid soaring inflation and rising pressures in adult and children's social care.

You can read the full story here. 

Rishi Sunak has said G20 allies highlighted both the "illegality and barbaric nature of Russia’s war” in Ukraine to Moscow’s foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.

Speaking to broadcasters in Bali, where he is attending the G20 summit, the Prime Minister said: "This morning at the G20 we saw international condemnation of Russia’s war in Ukraine. And with Russia’s foreign minister sitting there we highlighted both the illegality and barbaric nature of Russia’s war.

"And also the devastating impact it’s having on people around the world through higher food and energy prices.

"We have a responsibility to work with our G20 allies to fix the global economy, to grip inflation, but also to safeguard and preserve the international order, and that’s what we’re going to do."

Foreign Office staff were "scared" to go into Dominic Raab's office when he was foreign secretary, Lord McDonald, the former Foreign Office permanent secretary has claimed. 

Speaking to Times Radio, Lord McDonald said: "When I worked for him, Dominic Raab was not aware of the impact of his behaviour on the people working for him, and couldn't be made to see that impact. 

"Colleagues did not complain to me formally. It was kind of their professional pride to cope. But many were scared to go into his office. 

"His sort of defence was that he treated everyone in the building in the same way. He was as abrasive and controlling with junior ministers and senior officials, as he was with his private secretaries."

The UK wants the G20's joint summit communique to be "as strong as possible" on condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Downing Street has said. 

The nations attending these big international summits usually agree a statement which is issued at the end, but the drafting of the statements can prove diplomatically difficult because countries often have different points of view on contentious issues. That can lead to weak pledges or issues simply being left out.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman told reporters in Bali: "It’s part and parcel of these summits that there’s a sort of iterative process around agreeing a communique, and that’s continuing.

"Obviously we want any communique, should it be agreed, to be as strong as possible, recognising that the G20 is a different forum to the G7 and that it’s largely focused on economic issues."

Rishi Sunak is "confident" there is growing opposition to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine among G20 countries, Downing Street has said.

Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov "was left in no doubt of the strength of feeling by a number of G20 countries" during the first summit session, the Prime Minister’s Official Spokesman told reporters in Bali.

He said: "It wouldn’t be right for me to speak on behalf of other world leaders but there was certainly very strong condemnation from a number of quarters.

"I think that the Prime Minister, as you saw it, was very forthright and frank in his assessment of the problems that we are currently seeing."

He said he is "confident that there is a growing number of countries who oppose" Russia’s actions in Ukraine.

Political condemnation of Russia's invasion of Ukraine does have an effect, Lord Hague has said. 

The former leader of the Conservative Party told Times Radio: "Well, it has some effect. It is important to say these things and I think the G20 meeting has underlined the isolation of Russia. 

"The fact is that if Putin had gone to the meeting virtually nobody would have wanted to shake his hand, smile with him and be photographed next to him."

He added: "It does subtly underline the isolation. Of course what we really need is something that is a lot more than subtle... so yes these things they help a bit, but what really is decisive of course is the facts on the ground and that has changed very much in Ukraine's favour in recent weeks."

Rishi Sunak has called on Vladimir Putin to end the “barbaric” war in Ukraine in a hard-hitting G20 summit speech delivered while Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov listened on.

Addressing the opening session at the gathering in Bali, the Prime Minister urged Russian troops to “get out of Ukraine” and said the UK would stand by Kyiv “for as long as it takes”.

Mr Sunak also singled out the “weaponisation” of energy and food exports by the Kremlin, which he dubbed “totally unacceptable”. 

A photograph from the meeting posted online by Number 10 showed Mr Sunak staring at Mr Lavrov, who is attending the gathering in Mr Putin’s place. 

You can read the full story here. 

Rishi Sunak noted "the importance of further progress on social reforms" in Saudi Arabia in his bilateral meeting with the kingdom’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali, according to a readout of the talks.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "They discussed the importance of continued UK-Saudi cooperation in the face of regional security threats and international economic instability.

"In light of the global increase in energy prices sparked by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Prime Minister said he hoped the UK and Saudi Arabia could continue to work together to stabilise energy markets.” 

The spokesman added: "The Prime Minister looked forward to continuing to strengthen the UK-Saudi relationship, noting the importance of further progress on social reforms, including on women’s rights and freedoms in the kingdom."

Rishi Sunak has announced the construction of five more British warships in response to the increased threat posed by Russia. 

Defence manufacturer BAE Systems has been awarded a £4.2 billion contract to build five more Type 26 frigates for the Royal Navy, on top of the three already under construction.

The Prime Minister said: “Russia’s actions put all of us at risk. As we give the Ukrainian people the support they need, we are also harnessing the breadth and depth of UK expertise to protect ourselves and our allies. This includes building the next generation of British warships.”

Lisa Nandy has criticised James Cleverly, the Foreign Secretary, over his decision to attend the World Cup in Qatar. 

She told Times Radio: "I don’t think that MPs should be going to Qatar. I think that their record and the recent comments by some of the members of government about LGBTQ+ rights are appalling. 

"I don’t think our fans can feel that they can go in confidence that they’ll be safe and therefore I don’t think that the Government should be going either."

Mark Drakeford, the Labour First Minister of Wales, is also going. Asked if she would tell him that he is wrong to go, the shadow levelling up secretary said: "Of course, but you know, we are friends and he tells me when he thinks I am getting it wrong and quite often when he tells me I am getting it wrong I listen to him."

Rishi Sunak and Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, are preparing to allow councils to put up council tax by five per cent without a local referendum (you can read the full story here). 

Lisa Nandy, Labour's shadow levelling up secretary, said such a move would amount to a "stealth tax on people who can least afford it" and Labour would be "really unlikely" to back the policy. 

She told Times Radio: "It is a stealth tax on people who can least afford it. It is regressive. It hits poorer people very, very hard, and it hits middle earners as well, families who have never struggled before but are really struggling now…”

She added: "That would be a very, very difficult thing to ask families to do. I think it is really unlikely that we are going to support them with the stealth tax package that they introduce but let’s see if they make fairer choices. 

"I don’t want to prejudge this Government. Their record is poor but we are in a Tory crisis. Can the Tories lead us out of it? I very much doubt it but let’s see and if they make fairer choices we will back them. If they don’t then we are going to come down hard on them as I suspect the British people will as well." 

Sir Iain Duncan Smith, the former leader of the Conservative Party, has warned Rishi Sunak it would be "completely wrong" to soften the UK's stance on China. 

Mr Sunak has said that his "view is that China poses a systemic challenge to our values and interests". Liz Truss, his predecessor, wanted to formally recategorise China as a "threat" to the UK but it now seems Mr Sunak may take a different approach. 

Sir Iain told Talk TV: "He said in the summer, categorically, that he considered China to be a systemic threat. So what we’re seeing here at the moment, I think, is the beginnings of a step away from his original position."

Sir Iain said that "I hope he’s not about to do a U-turn, it would be completely wrong", adding: "And it would become really appeasement of China, which is what’s happening in Government at the moment."

Rishi Sunak has met Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Prime Minister, Mohammed bin Salman, on the sidelines of the G20 summit in Bali.

The Prime Minister spoke of his wish to work together to tackle global challenges as the pair prepared for their full bilateral meeting at a luxury resort hotel on the Indonesian island.

Sarah Olney, the Liberal Democrats' Treasury spokeswoman, said the "Government's economic mismanagement is leaving pay packets stretched further than ever before just as bills spiral out of control" as she responded to today's wage figures (see the post below at 07.37). 

She said: "This is the worst cost of living crisis in a generation and Thursday is judgement day for the latest Conservative Chancellor in post. He cannot make the same mistakes as his predecessors who crashed the economy and left families to pick up the bill.

"Thanks to the Conservative party's botched budget and reckless mismanagement of the economy, homeowners are being forced to pay hundreds of pounds more a month on their mortgage whilst their take home pay is eaten away by inflation. The public will never forgive Conservative MPs for this."

Rachel Reeves, Labour's shadow chancellor, said today's wage figures (see the post below at 07.37) "press home the knock-on impact of 12 years of Tory economic mistakes and low growth".

She said: "Real wages have fallen again, thousands of over 50s have left the labour market and a record number of people are out of work because they’re stuck on NHS waiting lists or they’re not getting proper employment support.  

"What Britain needs in the Autumn Statement on Thursday are fairer choices for working people, and a proper plan for growth.  

"Labour has a plan to secure our economy and get it growing again, powered by the talent and effort of millions of working people and thousands of businesses."

As well as the unemployment numbers (see the post below at 07.31), the Office for National Statistics has also published data on wages this morning. 

It showed that between July and September growth in total and regular pay fell in real terms, when adjusted for inflation, by 2.6 per cent on the year for total pay and by 2.7 per cent on the year for regular pay. 

The rate of UK unemployment rose to 3.6 per cent in the three months to September, up from 3.5 per cent in the previous three months, the Office for National Statistics said.

Jeremy Hunt, the Chancellor, said: "Unemployment remains near record lows – providing security to families and testament to the resilience of the British economy even in the face of severe global challenges.

"But I appreciate that people’s hard-earned money isn’t going as far as it should. Putin’s illegal war has driven up inflation - a hidden and insidious tax that is eating into paychecks and savings.

"Tackling inflation is my absolute priority and that guides the difficult decisions on tax and spending we will make on Thursday. Restoring stability and getting debt falling is our only option to reduce inflation and limit interest rate rises."

Overall immigration numbers should fall, Rishi Sunak has said, as he abandoned Liz Truss’s plans for a major expansion of foreign visas to boost economic growth.

The Prime Minister committed to the Tory 2019 election manifesto promise to seek a reduction when he talked to reporters on the plane to the G20 summit in Bali.

“I do want to get migration down over time,” said Mr Sunak, in what are his most detailed comments on wider migration policy since he entered Number 10 last month.

You can read the full story here. 

Rishi Sunak has dropped his strongest hint yet that the pensions triple lock will be kept as government policy, which would mean millions of pensioners avoiding a real-term cut.

The Prime Minister said that protecting pensioners during tough economic times was always at the “forefront” of his mind ahead of Thursday’s Autumn Statement.

Mr Sunak declined to give a categorical response to questions about whether the triple lock will stay from reporters on the plane to the G20 summit in Bali.

But the comments about his track record protecting those most in need while in the Treasury will build an expectation that the policy will be retained.

Rishi Sunak has declined to promise he will keep Liz Truss’s defence spending target of three per of GDP by 2030, opening the door for the pledge to be abandoned. 

Speaking to reporters on the plane to the G20 summit in Bali, the Prime Minister instead pointed back to the UK’s success in hitting the current Nato two per cent target.

On Saturday, The Telegraph revealed how defence spending is set to fall in real terms in the next two years after the Treasury refused to sign off new rises.

You can read the full story here. 

Rishi Sunak refused to endorse sending weapons to Taiwan amid growing hostility from China - an idea which Liz Truss had backed during the summer Tory leadership campaign.

Asked if the UK should send arms to Taiwan, as Ms Truss had suggested when she stressed the need to learn lessons from Ukraine, the Prime Minister twice declined to endorse the idea. 

Mr Sunak said: "We’re looking at all of these policies as part of our refresh of the integrated review. Our policy on Taiwan is obviously there should be no unilateral change to the status and there should be a peaceful resolution to that situation. We stand ready to support Taiwan as we do in standing up to Chinese aggression."

Rishi Sunak has indicated he will abandon his predecessor Liz Truss’s push to recategorise China as a "threat" to the UK.

The Prime Minister twice declined to endorse Ms Truss’s change, which had been due to be adopted in the rewriting of the UK’s foreign policy strategy called the “integrated review”.

Asked if he would label China a threat, Mr Sunak said: "My view is that China poses a systemic challenge to our values and interests and it represents the biggest state-based threat to our economic security. I think that view, by the way, is highly aligned with our allies.

"So if you look at the US national security strategy that was published just a couple of weeks ago, and if you look at how they describe their view of China and how to deal with it, I think you’ll find that it’s very similar to how I’ve just described it to you.

"The Canadians, the Australians, their versions of that strategy all say similar things. So what I’m saying to you, I think, is the shared view amongst our closest allies."

The answer, given to reporters traveling with the Prime Minister for the G20 summit, did not include a promise to adopt the blanket "threat" label Ms Truss had proposed for China. 

Good morning and welcome to today's politics live blog. 

Rishi Sunak is attending the first day of the G20 summit in Bali, Indonesia and the Prime Minister has committed a raft of news on issues including pensions, visas and defence spending. 

Let's start by looking at all of those. We are then expecting to hear from the PM in a range of broadcast interviews later this morning. 

I will try my best to guide you through the key developments.