UK politics - as it happened: Jeremy Corbyn attacks Theresa May at PMQs over NHS outsourcing

All the updates from Westminster as they happened

Jeremy Corbyn attacks Theresa May over NHS staff shortages, cuts and privatisation

Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn have clashed over the NHS during their weekly joust at Prime Minister's Questions.

The Labour leader demanded increased investment and a reversal of the use of private companies in the health system, claiming Tory policies mean it is "jackpot time for privateers". Ms May accused Labour of "scaremongering" about privatisation and funding cuts, and said every Conservative government has protected the NHS.

Meanwhile, the row over post-Brexit customs rules threatened to bubble over when HMRC chief Jon Thomson said the Brexiteers' preferred option could cost business £20bn.

Brussels also rejected Ms May's new plan to solve the customs row amid growing pressure from Eurosceptics over Ms May's favoured "customs partnership" proposal, which they fear could keep Britain too closely tied to the EU after Brexit.

See below for live updates

Key Points

• UK legally bound to pay £39bn Brexit 'divorce bill' before EU trade deal agreed, admits minister
• Jeremy Corbyn condemns PM for allowing 'jackpot time for privateers' on NHS
• EU will reject Theresa May's call for Northern Ireland 'backstop' to be time limited
• HMRC chief says Brexiteers' favoured customs option will cost businesses up to £20bn
• Sajid Javid tells police he understands 'how hard and horrible' their job can be due to brother's career

[23 May 2018 16:09 · Lizzy Buchan]

The prime minister might think that a Donald Trump-style approach to immigration would be in tune with the public mood as expressed in the referendum - However, opinion has changed since, writes The Indy's Andy Grice.

Read his column on how immigration will define how Tories appeal to young voters:

[23 May 2018 16:28 · Lizzy Buchan]

The NHS shake-up which led to greater “privatisation” damaged attempts to improve patient care, a government minister has conceded for the first time.

Private firms are being allowed to compete for many services, creating “fragmentation” and preventing health chiefs from integrating treatments, George Eustice said.

Story here: 

[23 May 2018 16:34 · Lizzy Buchan]

Labour has failed to win a vote calling for the Government to slash Transport Secretary Chris Grayling's pay by £2,400 after the East Coast Main Line debacle.

The opposition day debate motion was defeated with 271 votes in favour to 304 against.

[23 May 2018 16:40 · Lizzy Buchan]

[23 May 2018 17:01 · Lizzy Buchan]

Carillion’s collapse has raised “significant concerns” about the government's relationship with major suppliers, and the potential impact on the delivery of important public services, an MPs' report has said.

[23 May 2018 17:06 · Lizzy Buchan]

[23 May 2018 17:27 · Lizzy Buchan]

Downing Street has slapped down a minister who admitted the UK will be legally bound to pay its Brexit ‘divorce bill’ regardless of whether the EU agrees to a beneficial future trade deal.

Number 10 insisted that “nothing is agreed until everything is agreed” after Suella Braverman said MPs would be asked to approve the payment of some £39bn months before real detail of a trade deal is known.

Story here: 

[23 May 2018 17:36 · Lizzy Buchan]

That's it from the politics liveblog for the day. Thanks for following!