And now, the leader of the opposition:

Starmer joins the PM in his opening statements, before calling a public inquiry into the government’s handling of the pandemic. He quickly pivots to defence funding, asking the PM about a rumoured 10,000-troop reduction.

Johnson boasts that the government has boosted military funding before jabbing Starmer for his endorsement of Jeremy Corbyn.

Starmer gets a laugh out of the house with his retort, before asking if Johnson if he’s telling the truth, using the PM’s own words against him. Starmer cites more figures pointing to cuts before asking if Johnson intended to keep his manifesto pledge. Johnson repeats his original answer, citing his own figures as groans come from the opposition benches. He then goes on the attack, accusing various Labour members of anti-Army sentiment.

Starmer brings up an interview that the PM gave during the election, and references Johnson’s unscrupulous past in journalism. Starmer is on form here. He asks the PM again if he remembers promising to not cut army personnel.

The PM denies the question, citing army reserves, as well as modernisation, tech development, and Trident. Starmer accuses Johnson of ‘playing with the numbers’. A roar goes up from the Tories after Starmer accuses the party of not protecting the armed forces. The speaker intervenes to quieten the house. Starmer continues, citing three consecutive manifestos, which ruled out military cuts. He then warns that the army, in its current state, cannot defend British interests.

Johnson again returns to his original line. ‘We are investing in the future’. He then calls Labour ‘weak’ on national defence. Starmer returns the accusation of weakness, citing previous broken promises and demanding a vote in parliament on cuts. Johnson reiterates that he is ‘proud’. He was not prepared to say anything else. Starmer looks fed up. Johnson ends with an awful rhyming triplet that I will not repeat.

The speaker intervenes again before Starmer accuses the PM of dodging the questions and carries on with funding cuts. He then turns to the steel industry, asking Johnson to commit to saving British steel. Johnson points to the steel industry under Labour, before citing the ‘massive opportunity’ in new infrastructure projects.

Nusrat Ghani, Tory MP:

Asks the PM to join her in paying tribute to ‘vaccine heroes’. Softball.

Johnson does exactly what is asked of him. Of course he does.

Stephen Farry, Alliance MP:

Asks the PM about a drop in UK food exports.

Johnson rambles on free trade within the UK, not really answering the question.

Johnson and Starmer have entered the chamber and the session is about to begin.

The PM opens brief comments on the last 12 months, calling them ‘the most difficult for a generation, before thanking the British people.

Posted at 11:55 UK time

Hello, and welcome to this week’s PMQ coverage for Bournbrook Live. I’m S.D. Wickett, and I’ll be taking you through proceedings. Session begins in five minutes.

Posted at 13:00 UK time

That’s all for this weeks session. Keep an eye out for my full review of the session tomorrow, and we’ll see you next week.

Nickie Aiken, Tory MP:

Asks the PM if he agrees that Labour’s claims about policing bill are ‘misleading and unhelpful’.

Johnson agrees, without using the strength of language. He then speaks positively of the productive nature of his earlier exchange with the Labour leader.

Liz Twist, Labour MP:

Asks the PM about a promise he made to a constituent in the 2019 election which was not fully kept. ‘What action will you take to deliver on your commitment?’

Johnson thanks the question and promises to ‘take it up’.

Dr. Neil Hudson, Tory MP:

Asks the PM about flooding defences in the Scottish border region, as well as mental health support for victims of flooding.

Johnson thanks the question, and pledges £500m for mental health needs.

Richard Burgon, Labour MP:

Asks the PM about the governments forecasted Covid death rate one year ago, to admit his responsibility and apologise.

Johnson takes responsibility for government policy. ‘I am deeply, deeply sorry’.

Felicity Buchan, Tory MP:

Asks the PM about boycotting contractors who build unsafe buildings in the wake of the Grenfell Inquiry.

Johnson praises Buchan for her work on the issue, saying he will study her proposals. ‘We are looking at new rules’.

Geraint Davies, Labour and Co-op MP:

Asks the PM about rising cases of Covid in DVLA locations in South Wales.

Johnson laments proposed DVLA strike action, while dismissing the issue due to only five active cases.

Steve Brine, Tory MP:

Asks the PM to thank the NHS for its vaccine rollout and to call out EU states for banning the AstraZeneca vaccine. Softball of the week.

Johnson does exactly what is asked of him, before announcing that he will be taking the AstraZeneca vaccine himself.

Peter Grant, SNP MP:

Resumes Ian Blackford’s line of questioning regarding Trident.

Johnson resumes his lambast of the SNP for pushing a second referendum into other political issues, repeating what he said to Blackford.

Fiona Bruce, Tory MP:

Asks the PM about the governments proposed response to the persecution of Christians.\

Johnson thanks the question and announces and international conference on the matter.

Charlotte Nichols, Labour MP:

Asks the PM about the status of a sexual assault report promised two years earlier.

Johnson again returns to the point of ‘cultural and social change’.

Andrew Jones, Tory MP:

Asks the PM to clarify that the policing bill will balance public safety with justice.

Johnson thanks the question and points to the finer details of the bill.

Caroline Lucas, Green MP:

Asks the PM about the protest clause in the policing bill.

Johnson agrees with the worth of peaceful protest, before justifying the clause with the pandemic and issues caused by disruptive protest.

Nicholas Fletcher, Tory MP:

Asks the PM why a new hospital hasn’t been pledged in his seat of Doncaster, before dropping the first ‘build back better’ of the session.

Johnson thanks Fletcher for his work in the area, but cannot promise a concrete answer.

Ian Blackford, SNP MP:

Opens with praise for his party and an attack on Westminster and Trident. Broken record.

Johnson goes after the SNP for various social issues in Scotland. Blackford looks furious. He comes back, lamenting the proposed boost to Trident, asks Johnson when Scotland asked to host nuclear weapons.

Johnson praises the Scottish people for their contributions to the UK, and Trident for defence. Not the ‘gotcha’ Blackford was looking for, and the speaker moves things along.