Starmer Defends Government Record Amid Criticism from Badenoch
Sir Keir Starmer has defended his government's record following accusations from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who claimed he had "squandered his political capital" during the final Prime Minister's Questions before next week's elections.
Badenoch accused Sir Keir of overseeing "one disaster after another" and suggested he was now primarily concerned with "saving his own skin."
The prime minister highlighted Labour's achievements, stating the party had delivered rights at work, improved security for renters, and lifted half a million children out of poverty. He emphasized,
"That's our mission, nothing is going to hold us back."
He also accused the Conservative Party of engaging in "political games," referring to their attempt to initiate an inquiry into whether he misled MPs regarding the appointment of Lord Mandelson.
On Tuesday evening, the House of Commons voted against referring the prime minister to the Privileges Committee by 335 votes to 233. The majority of Labour MPs opposed the motion after a concerted effort by No 10 to secure support for the prime minister.
Sir Keir denied allegations that he misled the Commons about the vetting process for Lord Mandelson, who was appointed as the UK's ambassador to the US but was dismissed seven months into the role.
Badenoch Critiques PM's Leadership and Political Standing
Badenoch remarked that the prime minister had been reduced to "begging" his MPs for support during the vote. She contrasted this with the period following the 2024 general election, when she described the government benches as "full of sycophantic questions from adoring new MPs."
She likened the current government to "a bad episode of Game Of Thrones," and, referencing Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham, added,
"His own people have turned against him and all the while, the prime minister is holed up in his castle, wetting himself about a visit from the King in the North."
Badenoch further argued that the UK was unable to adequately defend itself because excessive funds were allocated to welfare. She claimed the prime minister was incapable of reducing benefit expenditures because he had "squandered all his political capital saving his own skin."
Prime Minister Responds on Defence and Youth Employment
In response, the prime minister stated that the government was increasing defence spending to its highest level since the end of the Cold War. He also mentioned the introduction of the youth guarantee, a program aimed at assisting young people in securing employment.
Regarding the Privileges Committee vote on Tuesday, Sir Keir noted that while he was chairing a meeting on the war in the Middle East, Badenoch was involved in what he described as "a desperate, baseless political stunt."
Food Security Raised by Liberal Democrat Leader
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey used one of his two allotted questions to address food security concerns following the conflict with Iran and the subsequent closure of the Strait of Hormuz.
He warned that food prices were expected to rise by 10% this year due to increasing costs for farmers and urged the government to introduce a Good Food Bill. This proposed legislation would establish long-term targets for food security and enable UK farmers to invest in food production.
Sir Keir responded that he had discussed food security during his meeting on Tuesday and acknowledged that events in the Middle East would "affect every single one of our constituents."
He also criticized the Liberal Democrat leader for supporting the Privileges Committee motion, stating,
"I expect frivolous accusations from the leader of the Opposition - clearly, I was wrong to expect anything better than from the man in the wetsuit."
This was a reference to Sir Ed's campaigning tactics.
In next week's elections, voters in Scotland and Wales will elect representatives to their national parliaments, while voters in England will choose councillors for approximately 5,000 local authority seats.
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