The questions Sunak faces during a grilling by MPs from Rwanda to the economy

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will face a 90-minute grilling today in the Commons at the liaison committee, which is made up of select committee chairs.

While the questions he will be asked are not announced in advance, the key themes he will be quizzed on have been released and who will be asking him about them.

Mr Sunak is set to be asked about global affairs, as well as economic issues, the recent COP28 summit and energy concerns.

This is the third time that the Prime Minister has faced this committee since he entered No 10, with his last appearances taking place in March and July.

Here is what he could be asked about during his liaison committee session:

Israel and Gaza

Five select committee chairs are down to ask the Prime Minister questions related to global affairs.

Alicia Kearns, who leads the foreign affairs committee, has been outspoken in recent days in her criticism of Israel, claiming the country has gone beyond self-defence in its attacks on Hamas in Gaza.

This may be the area of questioning she leads on with Mr Sunak, as the Government has consistently insisted that Israel has a right to self-defence following the Hamas attacks on 7 October.

She could also have questions about Government efforts to crack down on Russian influence in the UK, as well as Britain’s relationship with China.

Karen Bradley, chair of the procedure committee, is likely to ask about the scrutiny of Lord David Cameron, who was made foreign secretary last month.

His appointment drew controversy as Lord Cameron is not an MP, and therefore cannot be asked questions in the Commons amidst both the Russia-Ukraine war and the Israel-Hamas conflict.

Sarah Champion may also quiz the PM on the UK’s global aid commitments as part of her international development committee chair role.

Rwanda plan

Rwanda is another key issue plaguing the Prime Minister as he tries to get deportation flights to the African country off the ground, as well as the wider issue of the growing backlog of asylum seekers.

This may be the focus of Dame Diana Johnson’s questions as the home affairs committee chair recently chastised Home Office officials for failing to provide key figures requested by MPs.

Other chairs in this category include Sir Bill Cash, head of the European scrutiny committee, who may have questions on the implementation of the Windsor Framework agreement.

But he has also been an outspoken proponent of disapplying international law to get the Rwanda plan working and may want to ask Mr Sunak how far he is willing to go to overrule European courts.

Benefits reform

Sir Stephen Timms, chair of the work and pensions committee is likely to ask about reforms to disability benefits which set a higher threshold for those who are too sick to work, as well as the Government’s decision to downgrade the role of its disability minister.

Also on his agenda could be the level of benefit payments in the UK and the Government’s tough new sanctions scheme aimed at getting more people working.

Economy pledges

Six select committee chairs are asking questions concerning this theme, while public accounts committee chair Dame Meg Hillier is set to ask questions on cross-cutting subjects.

One issue that may come up is the fact that Mr Sunak is struggling to hit many of the key pledges he made on the economy at the start of 2023.

While inflation has fallen, his Government has struggled to ensure the UK economy grows and that debt is reduced.

It is also failing on its promise to cut NHS waiting lists, and questions remain about its pledge to “stop the boats”.

BBC impartiality

Last week, Dame Caroline Dinenage and her committee heard evidence from Dr Samir Shah, the Government’s candidate to be the next chair of the BBC.

During his evidence to the culture, media and sport committee he thought Gary Lineker’s tweets criticising Defence Secretary Grant Shapps “seem to breach” the corporation’s guidelines on impartiality.

She may want to ask Mr Sunak about how ministers have criticised the BBC but is also likely to have questions about the future of the license fee.

Allies of Dr Shah have said he will “fight for the licence fee” amid speculation that the Government may want to reduce it.

Conversion therapy ban

Caroline Nokes, who chairs the women and equalities committee, may focus on delays to the Government’s pledge to ban conversion therapy, which has proved very divisive in the Tory party.

However, her questioning comes under the economic theme of the questions, which means she may focus instead on the impact of the rising cost of living for women – an issue that her committee has been looking at.

Railway infrastructure

Mr Sunak controversially announced at the Conservative Party conference in October that the Government was scrapping the northern leg of the HS2, with the money instead invested in local rail links.

This could form the focus of Liam Byrne’s questioning as chair of the transport committee, as well as performance on the UK’s rail networks amid a wave of strikes.

His committee also recently held an evidence session on the issue of accessibility on transport networks, which might form part of his questioning.

Energy and environment

Angus Brendan MacNeil, who leads the energy security and net zero committee, is leading questioning on COP28 and energy issues.

He may focus on the Government’s commitment to net zero after the Prime Minister announced earlier this year he was scrapping or delaying many key measures aimed at hitting the 2050 target.

Mr MacNeil could also ask about the fact that a Government minister was flown back early from the COP28 summit last week when Mr Sunak faced a crucial vote on his Rwanda plan.