Every MP will have access to a security guard at their constituency surgeries from today, following the killing of David Amess last week.

This comes after the home secretary Priti Patel confirmed the threat level against MPs had been upgraded to “substantial”.

In a joint letter from Ms Patel and speaker Lindsay Hoyle, politicians were told they were at risk from a “small minority of hostile individuals”.

As a result, a “trained and accredited security operative” would be available to all MPs, they wrote.

More than 100 Tory MPs have urged the chancellor to reduce beer duty for draught pints, in a bid to help pubs compete with supermarkets.

Richard Holden, who is leading the campaign, said the hospitality sector was the most affected industry during the pandemic.

“A cut will not only significantly bolster our much-loved pubs across our towns and villages, but also have great knock-on effects for British agriculture and employment, especially for young people in our hospitality sector,” the North West Durham MP said.

His comments come the week before Rishi Sunak delivers the Budget.

Over parliament’s recess periods, specialists have cumulatively spent 4,700 hours mapping out the building’s defects, including cracks and extensive water damage.

Politicians are set to decide in early 2023 how much taxpayers’ money should go towards restoring parliament.

Commons Leader Mr Rees-Mogg said: “We must be able to justify this project to taxpayers.

“That’s why it’s so important to understand and map out the restoration work needed to protect the building – so that the focus is on those essential works necessary to preserve the palace for future generations.”

Laura Kuenssberg is in talks to step down as BBC political editor, it has been reported.

A source told the Guardian that the move would come as part of a wider reshuffle of senior figures.

One contender for Ms Kuennsberg job is Jon Sopel, who will soon finish his role as the broadcaster’s North America editor.

Here’s Matt Mathers with a round-up of today’s main political stories:

Tory reforms to education funding have reallocated cash from poorer to wealthier areas, a cross-party committee has found.

The Public Accounts Committee said the government’s formula had slashed funding in the most deprived areas by 1.2 per cent, but increased it by 2.9 per cent in the most affluent places.

This comes as the government continues to claim it is “levelling up” the country.

In response to the committee’s finding, Kate Green, the shadow education secretary, said: “With the gap in learning between children on free school meals and their peers widening throughout the pandemic it couldn’t be clearer the government has got the wrong priorities for school funding.”

Our policy correspondent Jon Stone reports:

Foreign secretary Liz Truss will use a two-day visit to India to boost trade links between the countries.

She will also try to persuade India’s environment minister Bhupender Yadav to make further green pledges ahead of the Cop26 climate change conference.

“I want the UK and India to step up their partnership in critical areas like technology, investment, security and defence,” Ms Truss said.

More than 40 celebrities have urged Boris Johnson to rethink the government’s “anti-refugee” Nationality and Borders Bill.

They said the proposed law, which is passing through parliament, would endanger people who are in “desperate need of safety”.

“Now is not the time to turn them away. Now is the time to offer our hand in kindness and protection. We urge you to think again,” they wrote.

My colleague Lamiat Sabin has more details:

Keir Starmer has accused the prime minister of “selling out” workers by not doing more to end the “awful” practice of “fire and rehire”, writes Ashley Cowburn.

In an article for The Independent, the Labour leader said “unscrupulous bosses” were forcing staff to accept lower wages.

He pointed out that 3 million employees have been told to reapply for their positions since the start of the pandemic.

Good morning, and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage from Westminster and beyond.