Keir Starmer is set to address MPs during Prime Minister’s Questions, just a week before Rachel Reeves presents her crucial Budget.
During the session, the Prime Minister engaged in a heated exchange with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who questioned the Government’s tax plans for the upcoming Budget. This follows Rachel Reeves’ recent decision to scrap a proposed income tax increase from the Budget.
Badenoch criticized the government for what she called a lack of concrete plans, dubbing them the “Government of guesswork.” In response, Starmer condemned the Tories, accusing them of wanting to bring back “Austerity 2.0” and emphasizing the need to move forward.
Starmer emphasized that the Budget details will be revealed by the Government next week, expressing disappointment in the Tories’ alleged refusal to learn from past errors. He criticized their inclination to revert to what he termed a “failed experiment.”
In another development, Lib Dem MP Josh Babarinde highlighted a concerning incident where a constituent’s bank mistakenly cashed a £125,000 check for only £125. He called for a windfall tax on banks to assist struggling residents.
The PM acknowledged the severity of the situation and requested further information on the matter. Additionally, Starmer extended congratulations to Babarinde on his recent engagement in Parliament.
During the session, Reform UK MP Lee Anderson accused the Labour frontbench of engaging in divisive politics, prompting laughter from MPs. Starmer dismissed the accusation and criticized Nigel Farage’s performance in the previous PMQs.
Various MPs raised pressing issues, including the broken asylum system, mental health challenges, and gambling-related suicides. The discussions highlighted the need for collaborative efforts to address these critical issues.
Overall, the PMQs session touched on a range of important topics, showcasing the diverse concerns and perspectives of MPs in the House of Commons.