10 key points as Keir Starmer faces tense grilling over Trump, welfare and Gaza

Keir Starmer has refused to rule out striking back at Donald Trump's tariffs in a wide-ranging grilling by MPs.

The Prime Minister faced the cross-party Liaison Committee, where he was also pressed on welfare cuts, UK steel, and votes for 16-year-olds. He faced senior MPs as alarm grows over the impact of the US President's economic policies.

Mr Starmer was confronted over controversial welfare changes - with Labour MP Sarah Owen reading the words of disabled people describing their terror. He also told the committee that "all options" are on the table to protect the UK's steel industry.

And in the session, which lasted nearly two hours, the PM also said he would "definitely" lower the voting age. Here we look at some of the key moments from the committee, held just before Parliament goes into recess for the Easter holiday.

Striking back against Donald Trump's tariffs

Mr Starmer said the UK is keeping its options on the table for retaliating to US tariffs "if necessary".

Asked about the Government's response to the tariffs, he told MPs: "Obviously we have to keep our options on the table and do the preparatory work for retaliation if necessary.

"But I think that trying to negotiate an arrangement which mitigates the tariffs is better." He insisted Donald Trump's tariffs were not a "temporary passing phase" but part of a "changing order".

Asked if the Government could intervene to prevent , similar to steps taken during the Covid pandemic, the PM said ministers are prioritising support that was "more in the nature of breaking down barriers that are in the way" rather than spending cash.

Discussions 'ongoing' with British Steel - but won't say whether nationalisation will happen

Keir Starmer discussions are ongoing with British Steel - amid reports the government is "seriously discussing" stepping in to nationalise the ailing firm.

British Steel has launched a consultation on the proposed closure of blast furnaces at its Scunthorpe plant.

Mr Starmer wouldn't confirm the reports, but said all options were on the table.

The Prime Minister said he understood the importance of the steel plant as he was quizzed by senior MPs at the Commons Liaison Committee.

"Therefore we will keep talking.

"We have made an offer, but all options are on the table in relation to Scunthorpe.

"I think it's really important and we're in the middle of those discussions."

Asked what he meant by "all options", Sir Keir replied: "I don't want to be unhelpful to the committee, but as you can imagine these are ongoing discussions at the moment.

"I can reassure the committee that we're doing everything we can to ensure there is a bright future for Scunthorpe.

"But as to precisely where we've got to in those talks, I will very happily provide you with further details as soon as I can."

Panic over planned benefit cuts

A Labour MP told disabled people had told her they are "full of panic about the future" over controversial benefit cuts.

Sarah Owen told the Prime Minister the reforms - announced a fortnight ago - had caused "quite a bit of stress" for some who fear they may lose support. She read out examples from her own inbox, saying one told her: "I am beyond stressed with anticipation of losing money - I have £700 to live on this month."

Another said: "The proposed cuts to disability benefits have left me full of panic about the future and extremely let down." Ms Owens said a third person had written to her, saying: 'I feel so sick, physically sick. The whole process is horrid, please represent me."

Pressed on what he would say to them, the PM insisted the government would continue to help those who "do need support and protection"

Voting age will 'definitely' be lowered

The Prime Minister said he has not abandoned plans to lower the voting age to 16.

It was a commitment, but was not included in the King's Speech, meaning it will not happen in this Parliament. But Mr Starmer said he still intends to change the law.

He said: "If you're old enough to pay your taxes, then you're entitled to have a say on how your taxes are spent." He added: "We will definitely get it done."

Killings of humanitarian workers in Gaza

The PM said there must be an investigation into the killing of 15 humanitarian workers in Gaza.

He told MP Sarah Champion, who chairs the International Development Committee, he said the killings were not an isolated incident. Mr Starmer said: "There's got to be an investigation into that, and we have to be absolutely clear that we are not just talking about that isolated incident. There has got to be enough aid getting into Gaza at speed and at pace ... the resumption of hostilities is the wrong thing, in my view."

Asked about Israel and the occupation of Palestinian territory, he said: "I think the occupation is unlawful... that's been long-standing Government policy."

Ministers criticised over 'pocket money' remarks

The PM admitted that people "occasionally don't get it quite right" after two senior ministers had talked about pocket money in relation to benefits.

Asked if he would clamp down on such remarks, made by Chancellor and Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren Jones, he said ministers "usually apologise".

Mr Starmer said "dignity is probably the most important word in my dictionary" and has guided his approach to politics and previously to his legal career. He was asked whether it was important that Cabinet members do not use language which demonises people.

He said: "Of course language matters, I think every member of Cabinet knows that. Occasionally people don't get it quite right. They usually apologise and are quite right to."

Social care changes could come next year

Changes to the social care system could come as soon as next year, Mr Starmer told MPs.

A review into social care led by Baroness Louise Casey is due to make an interim report in 2026, before its final recommendations are published in 2028. Former Labour minister Dame Meg Hillier asked the PM whether the Government was now planning to move faster on the interim report after he appeared to indicate this was the case.

He replied: "Yes," adding: "Louise is starting her work this month. I've asked her to do her work in two stages. The second of the stages is, what are the major reforms that are needed, and therefore the cross party work needs to be done.

"The first part is, what are the deliverable changes that we can do right here, right now, without waiting for the wider reform - I'm as sure as I can be, but I can't find the right page of my notes - that that's 2026."

not on table in US talks

The Government is not open to "trading away" access to the NHS as part of a trade deal with the US, the PM stressed.

Layla Moran, the Lib Dem chairwoman of the Commons Health and Social Care Select Committee, asked if the NHS would be on the table in a trade deal, including "drug patents, negotiated prices for medicines and market access for US companies".

The Prime Minister replied: "I have been very protective of the approach we take to the NHS in any dealings with any other country because it is our greatest asset, and we are not trading it away. That is the approach that I take here."

While he said more could be done to make use of NHS data domestically, Sir Keir added: "But I take a protective approach when it comes to the NHS."

Foreign states strike in UK more often than commonly thought

Mr Starmer said foreign state action in the UK is a "serious threat" which "we generally underestimate".

He was pressed by Labour MP Dame Meg Hillier how the Government was planning to address transnational repression. He told MPs: "You highlight a really important issue, which is state action in this country, which is growing, and state-based threats. And we need to be aware that this is growing and I can assure the committee it is an important strand of the work that we are doing on defence and security all of the time now.

"It is constantly raised in international discussions that we have for very obvious reasons, but it is a serious threat. I think we generally underestimate that threat and it's very important that we're alive to it."

Call for inquiry into murder of Sean Brown

The PM faced calls to open a public inquiry into the 1997 murder of Sean Brown. Mr Brown was abducted and killed by loyalist paramilitaries in County Londonderry.

Northern Ireland's first minister Michelle O'Neill has already written to the PM urging him to "do the right thing". A coroner's report has recommended an inquiry.

But pressed by Labour MP Tonia Antoniazzi, Mr Starmer declined to commit to one. Ms Antoniazzi told him of the family's anguish that documents about the investigation had been heavily redacted - meaning they are still facing answers after nearly 30 years.

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