PMQs: Live updates as Angela Rayner faces MPs amid Donald Trump row

Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner will step in for Keir Starmer at PMQs as a bitter row unfolds after Donald Trump accused Labour of interfering with the US election

Deputy PM Angela Rayner faces a tense PMQs session as a bitter row unfolds over allegations of 'interference' in the US election.

Ms Rayner will go head-to-head with Tory counterpart Oliver Dowden for the final time before the new Conservative leadership team is announced. She is standing in as Keir Starmer is travelling to the Commonwealth heads of government summit in Samoa.

It comes as US Presidential candidate Donald Trump said he was launching legal action after accusing Labour of "interference" in the upcoming election. The Republican candidate's team has complained to the Federal Election Commission.

The Commons clash will unfold a week before Chancellor Rachel Reeves delivers her first Budget. She said that she had been "really clear" that there would be "difficult decisions" to come on welfare and taxation, and added: "I'm not going to say that all of those problems can just be magicked away."

Follow our live blog below for the latest on this week's PMQs session

11:00Dave Burke

Keir Starmer dismisses Trump complaint

Keir Starmer has dismissed a legal complaint by Donald Trump's campaign that Labour is interfering in the US election to help his opponent Kamala Harris.

The Republican candidate's team complained to the Federal Election Commission, accusing the UK Labour Party of "blatant foreign interference" in the presidential race.

The complaint accused Labour of making "apparent illegal foreign national contributions" to Ms Harris's campaign, citing reports that senior No10 staff held talks with Democratic strategists on their election success. It also pointed to calls for Labour activists to volunteer for Ms Harris's campaign.

The Trump campaign said: "The far-left Labour Party has inspired Kamala’s dangerously liberal policies and rhetoric. In recent weeks, they have recruited and sent party members to campaign for Kamala in critical battleground states, attempting to influence our election."

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10:54Dave Burke

Reeves responds to backlash from colleagues over cuts

Rachel Reeves has said she is "sympathetic towards the mess" her Cabinet colleagues face after reports of a furious Budget backlash.

The Chancellor told the BBC it is "perfectly reasonable" that ministers "set out their case" amid fears of cuts - but warned problems cannot "just be magicked away".

She said she had reached spending settlements with all government departments ahead of the Budget. Speaking to Radio 5 Live from Downing Street in an interview due to be broadcast later today, she said: "I'm very sympathetic towards the mess that my colleagues have inherited. I understand those challenges, but also my colleagues understand the challenges that we face as a government in making sure that the sums add up.

"It is perfectly reasonable that Cabinet colleagues set out their case, both to me as Chancellor and to the Prime Minister, about the scale of the challenges that they find in their departments. It's been a really constructive process."

Last week, it was reported that the Prime Minister was facing backlash from senior ministers over potential departmental spending cuts. The Prime Minister has previously warned that the Budget next Wednesday would be "painful", and ministers have been referring to the "black hole" in the public finances since they entered office.

Ms Reeves will be looking to raise up to £40 billion from tax hikes and spending cuts in order to avoid a return to austerity.

10:47Dave Burke

Labour rubbishes Donald Trump 'interference' allegation

Environment Secretary Steve Reed this morning rubbished Donald Trump's claims the Labour Party was interfering in the US election.

He said any campaigning was "individuals using their own time and money". Mr Trump's presidential campaign said an official complaint had been filed - claiming Labour had "made, and the Harris campaign has accepted, illegal foreign national contributions".

Mr Reed told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "It's up to private individuals what they do with their with their free time, and it's actually perfectly normal for people who are interested in politics to go from one country to campaign for a sister party in another country.

"I've seen Americans in the UK doing that in our elections, but none of this has been organised or paid for by the Labour Party. This is just individuals using their own time and their own money."

Asked if he wanted Donald Trump to win or lose the election, Mr Reed said: "However (sic) the American people elect as their president, the United Kingdom Government will work with them very closely.

"We've had a special relationship with the US for many decades now and that will continue into the future."