PM defends decision to accept corporate hospitality but dodges question about who paid for his glasses. Early evening summary 18:10 Keir Starmer has strongly defended his decision to accept corporate hospitality at Arsenal – while ducking questions about why he allowed a donor to pay for his glasses.

BBC Northern Ireland political correspondent Gareth Gordon spoke to Mark.

Labour questioned over whether pay scales have been changed to allow PM’s chief of staff to receive salary. Another Tory leadership candidate, Tom Tugendhat, has also been on X today raising an issue that he thinks might help with his campaign.

Sir Keir Starmer’s chief of staff received a pay rise after the election which means she is now paid more than the prime minister. The BBC has been told that Sue Gray asked for and was given a salary of £170,