As global leaders continue to express their condolences over the death of the Pope, who sadly passed away yesterday morning, Sir Keir Starmer shared his sentiments yesterday evening, appreciating the late Pope’s courage, humility, and advocacy for a better world.
Confirmed this morning, Pope Francis’ funeral will take place this coming Saturday and preparations are well underway in Rome, with leaders from around the world expected to attend.
It comes as Westminster returns from an eventful Easter Recess. The new focus for many MPs, as well as frontbenchers, will be the UK’s economic outlook, as we now count down to the anticipated – or dreaded, depending on whom you ask - Spending Review, scheduled for the 11th of June.
Adding to this will be the predictions of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), released this afternoon. Slashing the UK's growth forecast by a third, the IMF warned in a sobering message to the government that the UK economy will be amongst the hardest hit by Trump's global trade war.
Putting a dampener on the Chancellor's planned visit to Washington, setting off from Heathrow this afternoon, Rachel Reeves will now seek meetings with US officials, including the Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent, to negotiate a reduction to the 10% baseline tariff the US president has applied to almost all UK goods.
Back in the UK, the focus for most MPs this week will be the local elections, taking place in some areas of the country in just nine days. A key focus for many will be on Reform, with leading pollster John Curtice speculating on sweeping gains across much of the country, as More in Common revealed that Reform would win the most seats if a General Election were held now.
A focal point for Nigel Farage's Party will be the Runcorn by-election, also taking place on the 1st of May. With the wide expectation centred on Reform gaining the seat, following Labour MP Mike Amesbury's arrest and subsequent resignation earlier this year, several media outlets have predicted it is now Reform’s to lose. The Independent, upping the stakes, wrote in a piece over the weekend that a win in Runcorn is necessary to prove its potential as a party of government.
What’s On in Parliament
Tuesday 22nd April
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Justice
- Legislation: Sentencing Guidelines (Pre-Sentence Reports) Bill: Second Reading
- Westminster Hall debate: Government support for retail investment
House of Lords
- Oral questions: Level and costs of temporary accommodation provided by local authorities
- Oral questions: Manifesto commitments to introduce the Hillsborough Law
- Legislation: Renters Rights Bill - Committee Stage (Day 1)
Wednesday 23rd April
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Scotland
- Prime Minister's Question Time
- Adjournment debate: Pension Funds
- Westminster Hall debate: Impact of AI on intellectual property
House of Lords
- Oral questions: The use of resources allocated to the devolved authorities
- Legislation: Mental Health Bill - Third Reading
- Legislation: Tobacco and Vapes Bill - Second Reading
Thursday 24th April
House of Commons
- Oral questions: Cabinet Office
- Business Statement: Business Questions to the Leader of the House
- Westminster Hall debate: Trade relationship with the EU
House of Lords
- Oral questions: Meeting the target of building 1.5 million new homes by 2029
- Legislation: Renters Rights Bill - Committee Stage (Day 2)
- Short debate: Steps being taken by the government, as a member of the Media Freedom Coalition, to ensure the safety and security of journalists and media workers worldwide
Friday 25th April
House of Commons
- Private Members' Bills: Second Reading
House of Lords
- Debate: Report from the Economic Affairs Committee 'National debt: It's time for tough decisions'
- Debate: Report from the Communications and Digital Committee 'The future of news'
- Debate: Report from the Statutory Inquiries Committee 'Enhancing Public Trust'
Consultations
- Reform of Local Justice Areas - Closes 23rd June
- National day for victims and survivors of terrorism - Closes 11th June
- Narrowing the digital divide in schools and colleges - Closes 23rd May
Statistics
- Statistics on foreign national offenders and the immigration system - Published 22nd April
- UK trade in numbers - Published 22nd April
- Public opinions and social trends, Great Britain - Published 17th April