Keir Starmer faced a tense grilling from MPs on a range of subjects from the war in Ukraine to inheritance tax and strikes by resident doctors which he said did not have public support
Keir Starmer has faced a barrage of questions over doctors’ strikes, Ukraine and inheritance tax in a cruch grilling by MPs.
The Prime Minister faced the Liaison Committee – a panel of senior MPs who scrutinise the Government’s work – and vented his fury over industrial action by resident doctors. Mr Starmer was also pressed over delays to the long-awaited violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy.
And in one powerful exchange he was warned that farmers with terminal illnesses are taking steps to ensure they die before April, when new tax laws come into place. Here we look at some of the key moments.
READ MORE: Reform MP confronted as David Lammy blasts ‘1950s-style hate’ in racism rowREAD MORE: Nigel Farage’s school responds to racism allegations – ‘at odds with our values’
1. PM has removed people for leaking
The Prime Minister said that leaks about the Budget were “intolerable” – and said he wants to stop them.
He said he has removed people for leaking in the past – but was not clear what this related to. Mr Starmer, pressed about the release of details to the Financial Times, admitted that it is “very difficult” to find the source of a leak.
Mr Starmer said: “I have taken action which has led to the removal of individuals.” The PM – who was previously the director of public prosecutions (DPP) described it as “intolerable” and said: “I took the same action when I was head of the Crown Prosecution Service, there is a leak inquiry.
“It can go wherever the evidence will take it. And if it comes to a conclusion, I’ll act on it.”
2. Fury with BMA over strikes
The Prime Minister lashed out at “irresponsble” strike action by resident doctors.
Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) today rejected a package of measures from the Health Secretary to tackle a jobs crisis facing medics. Resident doctors voted by 83% to 17% to carry on with strike action, which is set to begin at 7am on December 17 and end at 7am on December 22.
Mr Starmer said: “I think it’s irresponsible action by the BMA, and not for the first time.” Asked if the Government would “eventually cough up and sign the cheque”, the PM said: “Well, that’s not going to happen. I mean, we’ve been really clear about that and it hasn’t happened.”
He said resident doctors taking part in industrial action had “lost the sympathy of the public”.
3. Impact of violence strategy delay
Mr Starmer was confronted about the “real world consequences” of delays to the long-awaited violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy.
The PM said he wants it published “as soon as possible”. Dame Karen Bradley, who chairs the Home Affairs Committee, said rape crisis centres have been impacted by the wait for the strategy, which was first expected in the summer.
Dame Karen said: “We would have been told time again it was going to come very soon and we’re still waiting for it and it’s having real world consequences. Three rape crisis centres I know have closed because services cannot be commissioned because the local authorities etc do not know what money they’re going to have because they don’t have the strategy.”
4. Farmers ending their lives early, PM told
The PM was pressed on Labour’s shake-up of inheritance tax on farmland.
The controversial changes are set to come into effect in April. Labour MP Cat Smith – who chairs the Commons Procedure Committee – asked Mr Starmer: “Is the Prime Minister aware that some farmers who have a terminal diagnosis now are actively planning to expedite their own deaths so they die before April? Is he aware of that?”
Mr Starmer responded: “I’ve had discussions with a number of individuals who’ve drawn all manner of things to my attention.” And he stated: “I do understand the concern, and I met with the president of the NFU (National Farmers’ Union) just last week, as I’ve met with him before, to run through the particular concerns they have.
“I do think on agricultural property relief, there had to be sensible reform. And I think this is sensible reform.”
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee chairman Alistair Carmichael said: “Nobody should be left feeling – as Cat Smith has just described – that they would be better off dying between now and next April.”
The PM told him: “No, of course. But governments have to bring about sensible reform.”
5. Must be alert to Russia danger
The PM said the UK cannot “let up” on support for Ukraine and must be “alert” to danger from Russia.
Speaking ahead of a crucial meeting with European leaders in Berlin this evening he said: “We cannot let up in our efforts to bring about a just and lasting peace.
“That affects Ukraine, Europe and it affects the United Kingdom, we could see Russian intent in terms of land, in terms of what they’ve been doing in our waters, in cyber, what happened at Salisbury not so many years ago.
“We have to be alert to that ever-present danger from Russia, and therefore, the work that we do in Ukraine – I’m going straight to Berlin after this to continue that – is to ensure that we deal not just with the terrible conflict in Ukraine that’s been going on for nearly four years now.
“Russian aggression exacting a very heavy price in Ukraine, but it’s about our defence and security as well, and that’s why it’s such a central focus of what I’ve been doing.”
6. Joke about leadership speculation
Mr Starmer joked about relentless Labour leadership speculation at Westminster – telling MPs it “seems to be pretty rife”.
The Prime Minister’s comments came after the latest report the Greater Manchester Mayor, Andy Burnham, was plotting a return to Parliament. There have been constant whispers among Labour MPs that Mr Starmer could face a challenge to his leadership if the May elections are a disaster for the party.
Pressed by Tory MP Alberto Costa at the Liaison Committee whether Labour leadership speculation is “purely a party political matter”, Mr Starmer laughed and replied: “No, I’m not sure I can. It seems to be pretty rife”