Boris Johnson fails to give MPs commitment defence spending will rise to 2.5% of GDP by end of decade – live

Prime minister's commitment to defence spending questioned by Tory MP after statement last week

• PM was aware of some claims about Chris Pincher in February
• How Keir Starmer hopes to make Brexit work'

At the Downing Street lobby briefing, which has just ended, the prime minister's spokesperson confirmed that Boris Johnson was aware of some reports and some allegations" about Chris Pincher when he appointed him as deputy chief whip in February.

But these allegations had either been resolved, or no action had been taken, and so they were not regarded as a barrier to his being appointed as deputy chief whip, the spokesperson said.

The House of Lords, in its current form, as an institution has no place in 21st-century politics. It is unacceptable, and has been for far too long, to have unelected representatives wielding such power.

The House of Lords must be abolished and replaced with an institution which better reflects the makeup and the identity of the United Kingdom.