Keir Starmer accuses Kemi Badenoch of ‘fully dropping the plot’
Keir Starmer accused Kemi Badenoch of “completely losing the plot” at the first Prime Minister’s Questions since the Budget.
The Prime Minister hit out at the Tory leader after she claimed Rachel Reeves would have been fired and investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority if she was a CEO.
Mr Starmer defended Ms Reeves and dismissed Tory claims that she mislead the public over the Budget.
But the PM is facing pressure after less than 24 hours ago a report from the Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), warned that tax hikes and reduced spending will act as a “headwind” to the UK economy over the next two years.
Our live coverage concludes
That’s all from us, but you can read more from the Mirror Politics team here.
Five things you need to know
If you missed PMQs, here’s five things you need to know from it.
Savage double attack over Reform Tory merger
A key moment from PMQs saw the PM savage Nigel Farage after he allegedly told donors he expects a deal or merger between his party and the Conservatives
PMQs concludes
That concludes PMQs, but don’t go anywhere, we’ll have the full story on the issues raised shortly.
Vladimir Putin is ‘dragging feet’ over peace deal, Keir Starmer says
Sir Bernand Jenkin asks about Vladimir Putin turning down a peace deal, and asks how ready the UK is for war. Keir Starmer says “we all know that Putin is the aggressor here, we all know that Putin is dragging his feet, not wanting to come to the table, we have to keep putting pressure on”.
Immediate impact of lifting two-child benefit cap
Andrew Pakes, the Labour MP for Peterborough raises issues with food banks, and says the main issue is child poverty. He says 9000 children will be lifted out of poverty in Peterborough by lifting the two-child benefit cap.
Welfare soared under the Tories, PM says
Tory MP Lewis Cocking attacks a boost to the welfare system, saying it puts people off work. The PM replies that there was a broken welfare system, and “guess who broke it, them”. He adds the Tories drive up welfare spending by more than £30 billion.
Concerns raised over bills from Housing Associations
Lib Dem MP Layla Moran says charges are soaring from Housing Associations, and calls for a cap and regulator, saying it’s a “wild west” out there. The PM vows to strengthen rights for leaseholders, and make sure they recieved standardised documentation so they can challenge unreasonable bills.
Government acting to improve neurology care, Keir Starmer says
Labour MP Oliver Ryan raises issues around MS and Parkinsons, with wait times up by 65% since 2020, and references his mum with MS is in the public gallery. He calls on support for Neurology to get the wait times down. The PM thanks him for sharing his personal story, and says he’s focused on bringing down waiting lists.
Labour acting to reduce waiting lists, PM says
Labour MP Rachel Taylor says consitutents are pleased with improvements to the NHS, but waiting lists are still too long. She asks how the PM will go further and faster. Mr Starmer says they deliveered £20 billion extra to the NHS, scrapped NHS England to better fund the frontline, and waiting lists were down by 230,000.
He adds the Tories should be ashamed of running down the Health Service.
Concerns raised over gambling advertising
Labour MP Dr Beccy Cooper calls for action on harmful gambling advertising.
The PM says she is right to raise it, and NHS referals are up 91% in the past year, and the Government is working with industry to make sure adverts do less harm.
Keir Starmer rules out Customs Union with EU
Ed Davey now discussing a Customs Union with the EU to boost growth, and says it makes more sense than raising taxes.
The PM replies that the UK is getting closer relations with the EU as good for business, but there were clear red lines.
Health emergency in Tunbridge Wells, Lib Dems say
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey asks about the lack of running water in Tunbridge Wells for five days, calling it a public health emergency, and the second time in three years where South East Water have done this.
He calls for a COBRA to be called to tackle it. The PM responds that it’s “shocking”, and heard South East Water kept delaying sorting it, and there are “serious consequences”.
Kemi Badenoch struggles to get sentence out
Kemi Badenoch gets her words mixed up while trying to speak about a “broken Budget for benefit street”, and struggles to get the sentence out.
She also ignores the evidence that the majority of people on benefits from the Budget are also in work.
Keir Starmer brandishes Tories the ‘party of child poverty’
Kemi Badenoch asks the two-child benefit became affordable.
The PM replies the majoirty of people helped in the Budget are in work, and 3/4 of children in poverty are in working families.
He says: “Their policy….dragged hundreds of thousands of children into poverty. They are the same old Tories, the party of child poverty”.
Tory MP slapped down by Speaker for heckling
Tory MP Richard Holden is slapped down by the Speaker for heckling.
He says: “Richard Holden, your voice carries more than mine. Difference is, yours will be carrying from outside”.
Keir Starmer says he would compare his record to Tories ‘every day of the week’
The PM says he would compare his record to the Tories “every day of the week”.
Ms Badenoch responds by reading anonymous briefings from other cabinet members expressing concerns.
Kemi Badenoch ‘losing the plot’, Keir Starmer says
Kemi Badenoch says the head of the OBR was forced out for telling the truth that the Chancellor did not plan to raise taxes.
She says if Rachel Reeves as a CEO, she would have been fired and investigated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
The PM says she is “completely losing the plot”.
Labour fixing mess left by the Tories
Kemi Badenoch asks if the PM agrees that “when an organisation descends into total shambles, should the person at the top resign?”.
The PM says he was proud to sit by the Chancellor last week during the Budget, bearing down on the cost of living and not returning to austerity.
Tories heckle Labour MP discussing poverty
Labour MP Ian Lavery asks if there will be “much on the horizon” to look forward to for people in the North-East. The PM responds by condemning the Tory heckles, mocking as the Blyth and Ashington MP discusses poverty.
Full baby formula announcement
Here’s that full announcement from the PM on baby formula.
PM announces saving on baby formula
PM begins by saying the Budget acted to help with the cost of living. He says it’s just the start, and that the Government is now taking action to give parents and carers the ability to get baby formula for cheaper, saving up to £500 before a child’s first birthday.
PM arrives in chamber
Loud cheers as the Prime Minister enters the chamber. Labour MP Alex Barros-Curtis, currently asking a question at Welsh Questions, “thank you so much”, joking that they are for him.
