What time is Rishi Sunak's first PMQs and how can I watch live?

Rishi Sunak faces the first test of his premiership today as he makes his maiden appearance as PM at prime minister’s questions (PMQs).

Sunak was installed as Tory leader and PM on Tuesday after being the only candidate left standing in the contest following Liz Truss's chaotic resignation.

As a result, he has yet to face any scrutiny from Conservative Party members – or the wider public - on his plans before landing the job.

PMQs will therefore be the first test of how unified the Tories are behind the new leader, after Sunak used his first public address on Tuesday to brace the country for “difficult decisions” as he criticised much of the legacy left behind by Truss’s brief tenure.

Sunak will have to face some difficult questions from Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, who is riding high on a polling lead of over 30%.

It is also expected that the first meeting of Sunak’s new-look Cabinet could come as soon as this morning, in what would amount to a gathering of Sunak allies, former Truss backers and figures from the right-wing of the party.

Watch: Rishi Sunak's first speech as PM: The key points

What time is PMQs and how can you watch live?

PMQs takes place every Wednesday at midday while the House of Commons is sitting.

BBC Parliament broadcasts all debates from the house live, and it can be found on channel 504 on Sky and 605 on Virgin Media.

However, some major news channels – including BBC News and Sky News – also broadcast the weekly tussle, while the BBC2’s Politics Live, which starts at 11am, shows the debate at 12pm.

PMQs is also shown live online via BBC iPlayer or on the official parliament website.

Has PMQs always been available to watch?

PMQs was first televised live in 1990, following years of only being able to listen to the debate.

Tony Blair changed the two 15-minute sessions, that took place on Tuesdays and Thursdays, into one 30-minute session on Wednesdays after he became PM in 1997.

The time slot was also changed from 3pm to midday in 2003.

What can Rishi Sunak expect to be asked?

While the new prime minister will likely face a supportive Tory party, Starmer will quiz Sunak on issues that will prove tricky to answer.

With a fortune of around £730m, Sunak faces claims he is out of touch with struggling Brits, who are being hit with rising bills during the cost of living crisis. A video in which Sunak boasted about diverting money away from 'deprived urban communities' when chancellor will most likely feature as well.

Starmer may also choose to hone in on Sunak’s controversial decision to reappoint Suella Braverman as home secretary, just days after she dramatically quit the government after being accused of breaching the ministerial code.

Sunak, who earlier promised that his new government would be one of “integrity”, has already faced questions about the decision to re-hire Braverman with Labour accusing the new PM of “putting party before country”.

Perhaps most substantially, Sunak and chancellor Jeremy Hunt will be asked to explain how they plan to fill the multi-billion pound fiscal black hole inherited from the Truss administration.

And with a new poll finding that almost two-thirds of voters want a general election before the end of the year, Starmer is likely to accuse Sunak of not having a mandate to lead and ramp up his calls for voters to have their say.