Prime Minister Keir Starmer branded the Tories a ‘dead party walking’ and slammed leader Kemi Badenoch’s criticism of the Government’s recent trade deals with India and the US
Keir Starmer came out fiercely on the attack during a brutal set of exchanges during PMQs.
The PM branded the Tories a “dead party walking” and accused a Plaid MP of talking “rubbish”. He hit out at Kemi Badenoch’s criticism of the Government’s recent trade deals and said the Conservatives were a “once great political party” but are now “sliding into oblivion”.
Mr Starmer and Ms Badenoch descended into a blistering row after the Tory leader called the UK-US agreement a “tiny tariff deal”. A furious Mr Starmer hit back and said she needs to get out and speak to workers across the country whose jobs were at risk from Donald Trump’s tariffs.
In a landmark moment, Mr Starmer agreed a UK-US trade deal with Mr Trump over the phone last week. No10 said the new deal will mean US tariffs on steel and aluminium will be reduced from 25% to zero in a boost for the struggling industry. Car export tariffs will reduce from 27.5% to 10% for a quota of 100,000 UK cars. Ministers said it would save thousands of jobs that were at risk because of the tariffs.
Elsewhere during PMQs, Mr Starmer said suspected arson attacks against him and his family are “an attack on all of us, on democracy and the values that we stand for”. The PM made the remark after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch said she was “horrified” to learn of the fires.
Counter-terrorism police are leading an investigation into three fires which has led to a 21-year-old being arrested. The attack on his family home in North London came less than 24 hours after an attack on another address linked to the PM. A car is also believed to have been set alight the previous week.
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Sophie Huskisson
PM repeats Tory climate attack
Mr Starmer calls the Tories “climate defeatists, anti-jobs, anti-growth and anti-business and anti-investment”.
KEY EVENT
PM calls Farage choice ‘extraordinary’
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage says his party “very much enjoyed” the PM’s immigration speech on Monday, in a veiled mocking of the fact it has been compared to Reform UK-style. But he asks the PM to “go further on national security”.
Mr Starmer says the borders bill is “the first bill to give terrorism-like powers for law enforcement” to defend Britina’s borders. He adds: “That’s why it is extraordinary that he of all people voted against it.”
Sophie Huskisson
PM accuses MP of talking ‘rubbish’
The PM is confronted about saying the UK is at risk of becoming an “island of strangers” in an immigration speech earlier this week.
Liz Saville-Roberts, Plaid Cymru MP, asks the PM “is there any belief he holds that survives a week in Downing Street”, accusing him of changing his mind on his migration stance.
In a brutal comeback, Mr Starmer says: “Yes the belief that she talks rubbish”.
He adds: “I want to lead a country where we pull together and walk into the future as neighbours and as communities, not as strangers. But the loss of control of migration by the last government put all of that on risk.”
Sophie Huskisson
Gaza situation ‘intolerable’
Sir Ed Davey begins his moment by comdeming the “appalling arson attacks” against the PM and his family.
The Lib Dem leader raises Israeli forces locking out food, water and medicine from Gaza and Netanyahu’s plan to cease Gaza indefinitely. He calls on the PM to recognise Palestine and to work with Trump to get aid into Gaza.
The Prime Minister says the situation in Gaza is “intolerable and getting worse”. He said he is working with other leaders to get humanitarian aid into Gaza, which is “desperately needed”. He also called for the release of hostages and to get back to a ceasefire.
He added that a two-state solution is the “only way for settled and lasting peace in the Middle East”.
KEY EVENT
PM says Tories are ‘dead party walking’
The PM brands Tories “dead party walking”. He hits out at Mr Badenoch’s criticism of the Government’s recent trade deals and says the Conservatives were once a true political party but are now “sliding into oblivion”.
Ms Badenoch called the UK-US a “tiny tariff deal” and asked the PM to promise unemployment will go down by this time next year.
A furious Mr Starmer hits back and says he needs to get out and speak to workers across the country whose jobs were at risk from Trump’s tariffs.
He said: “What does she say she’ll do with the India deal? She wants to rip it up. The US deal that saves thousands upon thousands of jobs, what does she want to do? She wants to rip it up. The EU deal, good for our economy. She’s not even going to wait to see what it says.
“It is so unserious. She was even reduced last week to calling the Indian government and accusing them of fake news, no wonder she did so badly as a trade secretary. Mr Speaker, the project for them is over, they’re sliding into oblivion, they’re a dead party walking.”
KEY EVENT
PM says fires ‘an attack on all of us’
Kemi Badenoch raises the fires in the PM’s homes. She says: “It is completely unacceptable, and can I speak for the whole house when I say that this wasn’t just an attack on him, but on all of us and on our democracy.”
The Prime Minister said: “I thank her for her words about the attacks on me and my family and the kind messages from many others in the last few days. And she did actually message me pretty well straight away, and I really do appreciate that, and she’s absolutely right that this is an attack on all of us, on democracy and the values that we stand for.”
Sophie Huskisson
Tensions high in Reform UK camp
Tensions are high in Reform UK’s camp. Just before PMQs, news broke that ex-Reform MP Rupert Lowe will face no criminal charges.
The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said it had conducted a detailed review – but found there is “insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction”.The police looked into Mr Lowe after allegations of “verbal threats”. A huge row broke out between Nigel Farage and Mr Lowe at the time.
Responding to the CPS’s decision, Mr Lowe branded Mr Farage a “coward and a viper”. He added: “Please listen when I say this: For the good of our country, Nigel Farage must never be Prime Minister. To the millions of decent Reform supporters – you must do what you believe is right. I, personally, could not remain in an organisation led by such men.”
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Image:
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Sophie Huskisson
Fire at PM’s home this week
Mr Starmer has faced a difficult week personally. Counter-terrorism police are looking into three fires connected to the PM, one being at his house in north London.
The Metropolitan Police yesterday said a 21-year-old was arrested in the early hours of the morning in connection with the three alleged attacks. It follows fires at two properties linked to the Prime Minister as well as a nearby vehicle.
Sophie Huskisson
Sir Ed Davey may pick up on Trump criticism
Sir Ed Davey often uses his PMQs moment to go on the attack on Donald Trump. He may pick up on Canada PM Mark Carney’s comments criticising the UK over its cosy treatment of the US President.
The Lib Dem leader might choose to follow up after Mr Carney said Canadians “weren’t impressed” when the King invited Mr Trump for an unprecedented second state visit to the UK.
Keir Starmer handed the US President a letter from King Charles offering him a state visit when he visited the Oval Office in February. It came amid Mr Trump frequently saying he wants to take over Canada and make it the 51st state of the US.
Canada, which is a Commonwealth country, is fiercely against the wild plan.
Sir Ed Davey sounded a warning about Donald Trump’s actions
Sophie Huskisson
PM faces pressure over cuts
The PM is facing continued pressure to U-turn on his cuts to winter fuel payments and disability benefits.
Mr Starmer faces the biggest revolt of his premiership so far with MPs set to vote on welfare reforms next month. A group of 42 MPs warned the PM last week that the plans were “impossible to support”.
Sophie Huskisson
Kemi Badenoch may raise trade deals
Keir Starmer will face a grilling from Kemi Badenoch at PMQs
The Prime Minister will field questions from the Tory leader, who has been on the attack over the Government’s immigration plans and its trade deals with the US and India.
She claimed the UK was “shafted” by the agreement it secured with Donald Trump, despite it being the first nation in the world to get a deal over the line.
Mr Starmer agreed a UK-US trade deal with Mr Trump over the phone last week. No10 said the new deal will mean US tariffs on steel and aluminium will be reduced from 25% to zero in a boost for the struggling industry. Car export tariffs will reduce from 27.5% to 10% for a quota of 100,000 UK cars.
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Image:
AP)
