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Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from the latest session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through.
What they sparred about: The economy, stupid. Despite fast-moving developments in U.S.-Ukraine talks, Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch tackled Labour’s management of the Treasury ahead of the new financial year, and with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ spring statement looming in a fortnight. Their exchanges were, brace yourselves, very stat heavy.
Collect your P45: Badenoch returned to a familiar theme by painting the PM as out of touch with ordinary voters. “Every month I speak to businesses who are letting go of staff or closing,” the Tory leader lamented, asking whether Starmer had received an estimate about any job losses coming because of Labour policies. The PM came armed with his file of figures, highlighting “thousands of new jobs” created under Labour, increased investment and three interest rate cuts as the best news on the cost of living “for a very long time.”
Teaching a lesson: The Tory leader was having none of it, telling Starmer he needs to “get out more.” Badenoch focused on how nurseries are being hit by increased employers’ national insurance contributions and already hiking fees. The PM had a policy in his back pocket to talk about, highlighting the expansion of free breakfast clubs under Labour.
School of hard knocks: Starmer dusted off an old line, justifying last October’s tax-raising budget and accusing Badenoch of wanting “all the benefits” of the plan but not laying out how the Tories would pay for any of it. That’s one of the perks of being in opposition, at least.
Council of despair: Badenoch shifted to increasing council tax, no doubt with one eye on local elections in May. The Tory leader said the average council tax bill is increasing by more than £100. The PM retorted by mentioning Conservative councils who want to put up local taxes.
Trash talk: The Tory leader hadn’t had enough, highlighting Labour councils where rubbish is now piling high amid industrial disputes. “People vote Labour and all they get is trash, just like what he’s saying at the despatch box,” she declared. Starmer insisted his government is “picking up and fixing the mess” left by the Tories. Stop us if you’ve heard that one before.
Time well spent: In a line that surely was in no way pre-planned, Badenoch said the PM had “no answers today” — and claimed Reeves’ upcoming spring statement amounted to an emergency budget. “They trash the economy with their bad choices,” she said — an, erm, bold accusation after the troubled Tory tenure of Liz Truss. The PM said as much: “They want to give lectures on the economy to us. No thank you very much!”
Playing his Trump card: Lib Dem Leader and Donald Trump-critic Ed Davey mentioned the elephant in the room with the U.K. caught up in the U.S. president’s new metals tariffs. Starmer said he was “disappointed” about not getting an exemption and would take a “pragmatic approach” as the two leaders try to sort a deal. “We will keep all options on the table,” he added. Watch this space.
Helpful backbench intervention of the week: Telford’s Labour MP Shaun Davies slammed the Tories’ record on immigration — and asked Starmer to confirm that the opposition party had learnt nothing. The PM, and you’ll be amazed at this one, agreed without hesitation that his main political opponents are bad.
Totally unscientific scores on the doors: Badenoch 6/10. Starmer 7/10. The Tory leader was punchy as she highlighted people affected by Labour policies — especially those that were bolted on after the election. But, with Tory policy a bit of a blank slate, Badenoch was less clear on any changes she would make. Though Starmer’s jibes about the previous government were nothing original, Badenoch has lots of work to do to convince voters her party has changed since the Truss debacle.
