UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has issued a licence to release £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea Football Club to support Ukraine. The funds remain frozen from the Roman Abramovich deal. Starmer issued a blunt warning, saying the clock is ticking and legal action will follow if Abramovich fails to honour his commitment to transfer the money.
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NewsTranscript
00:00I thank the Honourable Lady for her question. I think this is a serious
00:06issue. We need to make swifter and stronger progress on this. I regularly
00:12meet with Ofcom and their chief executive, indeed I met with them
00:15yesterday, and I want to make sure we don't have the delays and we have the
00:20stronger action, and this is the point I will be bringing up in future.
00:24The space sector is critical in enabling our security, our ability to
00:32counter Russia and defend Europe. Can the Secretary of State explain how she is
00:38working with the new National Arminence Director and the MOD to develop a more
00:43cohesive approach to the space industry that delivers national security and
00:48economic growth?
00:49Thank you for the question, Mr Speaker. Space is fundamental to many civil and
00:53defence requirements. It is vital that we collaborate closely across government and
00:57with our allies. At the European Space Agency Council of Ministers just last
01:00month, we committed £1.7 billion of funding focused on Just Act growth and
01:05national security.
01:06Julie Lopez, the Secretary of State.
01:09Thank you, Mr Speaker. Ministers are making very big claims about the
01:12pharmaceuticals deal with America to make up for the billions lost in life
01:16sciences investment under Labour. But life sciences firms are telling me, unless the
01:20government reveals what is actually in this deal, those claims are completely hollow. So,
01:25can the Secretary of State reveal, because she could not tell us two weeks ago, how much
01:29is this deal costing the NHS and when will she publish the full legal text so that we know
01:34the details of what the most favoured nation mitigations actually are?
01:38The Secretary of State.
01:39I may have to offer the Honourable Lady a mince pie because she is talking baubles. This deal,
01:45this pharmaceutical deal, will deliver faster access to new medicines for NHS patients and
01:54it will deliver the security and stability that our world-leading pharmaceutical sector needs,
02:01including 0% tariffs on their exports to America for three years. We are also updating the NICE
02:09guidelines for the first time in 20 years, a significant deal that the ABPI has welcomed.
02:16It's a pity the Honourable Lady continues to act like Scrooge.
02:20If we are making Christmas jokes, I think this deal is all tinsel and no tree, Mr Speaker.
02:27The problem is, Labour trumpets about these deals and then is completely sketchy about
02:32what has actually been agreed. Just like the US-UK tech deal, we now find out from President
02:38Trump that he has put that deal on ice. So, despite all of that golden carriage action
02:43in September, despite the Prime Minister honking on about his negotiating skills, can the Secretary
02:48of State confirm that the Prime Minister has actually nailed down none of the key details
02:52on pharma, no zero tariff pact on steel and no deal on tech?
02:59We have signed a ground-breaking US-UK tech partnership deal that has delivered over £30
03:06billion of investment into the UK, alongside our biggest ever investment into research and
03:13development, four AI growth zones, delivering 13,000 jobs in North Wales, South Wales, the
03:20South-East and the North-East. Our plan to upskill 7.5 million workers in AI skills and backing
03:27great British scientists. That's a record I am proud of. It's a pity she remains the ghost
03:32of Christmas past.
03:33Right, let us come to Prime Minister's questions. Melanie Ward.
03:39Question number one, please, Mr Speaker. Prime Minister.
03:46Mr Speaker, the anti-Semitic terror attack on Bondi Beach was sickening. It has had a profound
03:54impact around the world, including on Jewish communities here in the United Kingdom. These
04:01incidents are not isolated. We think of the appalling attack at Heaton Park earlier this
04:06year. And these incidents are chillingly focused on some of the holiest days in the Jewish calendar.
04:13Mr Speaker, I have been in touch over the last few days with the Community Security Trust,
04:19the Home Office and the Chief Rabbi about security for Hanukkah events here in the United Kingdom.
04:26Last night, we held a Hanukkah reception in Downing Street, where I reaffirmed our fight
04:31against the poison of anti-Semitism. We will use all of our powers to make sure Jewish communities
04:37are safe and secure as they should be.
04:41Mr Speaker, may I also take this opportunity to wish you, all the staff in Parliament, every
04:47member and their families across the House a very happy Christmas and a little festive advice
04:56to those in reform. If mysterious men from the East appear bearing gifts, this time report
05:12it to the police. This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition
05:21to my duties in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.
05:24New Ward.
05:25New Ward.
05:27Thank you, Mr Speaker. I associate myself with the Prime Minister's condemnation of the horrific
05:31attacks in Australia. We must be clear that anti-Semitic terrorism is always an outrage.
05:37At Christmas time, many across our country will be thinking of Bethlehem, where the situation
05:44remains extremely difficult. The government's important scheme for students from Gaza with
05:48scholarships to study in the UK expires on 31 December, but a number of scholarship holders
05:54and their children have not yet been permitted to leave Gaza. If this scheme closes, these brilliant
05:59Palestinians will lose their university places, and we will lose their talent. Will the Prime
06:04Minister extend the UK's existing scheme into next year to prevent this from happening?
06:09The Prime Minister.
06:11I know that Gaza students face huge challenges in taking up their places, and we are considering
06:16solutions for those yet to arrive. But I do want to be clear that I want them to be able
06:21to take up their places and continue their education in the United Kingdom. I am proud that we have also
06:27created the medical evacuation scheme for children from Gaza. Last week, I met some of those who have been brought to the United Kingdom.
06:34for specialist treatment in the NHS. Mr Speaker, we continue to focus on aid into Gaza, and I will make sure my honourable friend is kept updated on the next steps for students.
06:45In the opposition, Tammy Bernal.
06:49Mr Speaker, can I thank the Prime Minister for his words on anti-Semitism. What happened at Bondi Beach was an atrocity. But words of solidarity are not enough. We know the evil we face.
06:53Islamic extremism is a threat to Western civilisation. It abuses our democracies and subverts our institutions. It is incompatible with British values. So it is not enough just to protect Jewish communities. We must drive Islamic extremism out of this country.
07:12Mr Speaker, I would also like to send my best wishes to our armed forces, to the emergency services and to everyone who will be working over Christmas. And I would also like to take this opportunity to wish you, Mr Speaker, the House staff and all members of this House, including the Prime Minister, a very Merry Christmas.
07:27Mr Speaker, it is the Prime Minister. Mr Speaker, it is the Prime Minister's second Christmas in Downing Street. And by his own admission, he is not in control. He says nothing happens when he pulls the levers. Does he blame himself or the levers?
07:42Mr Speaker, Mr Speaker, I just said out what we've achieved this week, Mr Speaker, we're setting out our violence against women and girls strategy tomorrow.
08:08That is my specialist support for abuse victims and the 999 calls experts.
08:16Sorry, Prime Minister. I expect better from you. Ex-serving officer, we expect the standards of a good officer. Prime Minister.
08:25The next lever was 500 jobs protected at Grangemouth, partnering with Ineos to safeguard the plant's future.
08:34Next lever was Erasmus scheme, which is being announced later on today from January 2027.
08:40I've got the next lever, Mr Speaker, the Employment Rights Bill, became law, the biggest uplift in workers' rights in a generation.
08:47I've got a whole more list, Mr Speaker, I could go on for a very long time.
08:51I'm not sure exactly what that had to do with the question, Mr Speaker.
08:56The fact is, the Prime Minister promised economic growth, promised economic growth, but the only thing that's grown is his list of broken promises.
09:06He promised to reduce unemployment, but yesterday, unemployment hit its highest level since the pandemic.
09:13It has gone up every single month since he came into office. Why is that?
09:20Mr Speaker, the facts are these 350,000 people, more people in work this year.
09:27We've got the lowest inactivity rate for five years.
09:30We are taking a number of measures to address this, particularly with the young unemployed.
09:34I would remind them that, under their watch, unemployment averaged 5.4%, higher than it is today.
09:43You two.
09:46Mr Speaker, I don't know what planet the Prime Minister is living on, but unemployment has gone up every single month under him.
09:53Youth unemployment, record levels. Graduate recruitment, lowest ever.
09:57He promised that he wouldn't increase taxes on working people, but he has.
10:02Last year, he increased national insurance. Last month, he froze income tax thresholds.
10:09So will the Prime Minister finally be honest and admit he broke his promise on tax?
10:14Prime Minister.
10:15Mr Speaker, I'm very proud of the Budget. We had record investment into our public services.
10:20We stabilised the economy, and we bore down on the cost of living.
10:24They voted against all those measures.
10:26But, Mr Speaker, it is the season of goodwill. Let me congratulate the Leader of the Opposition.
10:31She has broken her own record since last week. Last week, 21 former Tory MPs have walked away to reform.
10:39She has broken that record because this week it has gone to 22. The former Vice Chair has now gone.
10:45So the question is, who's next?
10:49Now, it's hard to name anyone.
10:52Mr Speaker, it's hard to name anyone because, according to the Shadow Transport Secretary, the Shadow Cabinet is full of, he says, non-entities.
11:04That's you lot.
11:06He should know.
11:08He should know.
11:10Mr Speaker, the Prime Minister is talking about non-entities.
11:14He looked at his Cabinet.
11:16A bunch of turkeys.
11:18They could fit right in a Bird and Matthews factory.
11:21And here's one to talk.
11:24Last week, his MPs were calling him a caretaker Prime Minister.
11:29After what he's done to the economy, they should be calling him the undertaker Prime Minister.
11:34Let's look at what else he's promised.
11:36The Prime Minister gave his word that he would help pubs.
11:41Yet they face a 15% rise in business rates because of his budget.
11:47Will the Prime Minister be honest and admit his taxes are forcing pubs to close?
11:53Prime Minister, she knows very well that the temporary relief that was put in place during Covid has come to an end.
12:00That was the scheme they put in place.
12:02We supported it, but it was always a temporary scheme coming to an end.
12:05We've now put in place a £4 billion transitional relief.
12:09We've also taken other measures, creating hospitality zones, greater licensing freedoms and tackling late payments.
12:16We're also bearing down on the cost of living, Mr Speaker, so more people won't enjoy a drink or a meal out.
12:22Freezing railfares, freezing prescription charges, £150 off energy bills, driving wages up.
12:30What did they do in relation to each of those, Mr Speaker?
12:33They voted against each and every one of those measures.
12:39Mr Speaker, what pubs has he been speaking to?
12:42They've been barred from all of them.
12:45And let's look at another broken promise.
12:50I don't know why they're shaking their heads.
12:52It's not my fault they've got nowhere to drown their sorrows.
12:55Let's look at another broken promise.
12:57He promised to end the doctor's strike.
13:00He gave the doctors a 28.9 per cent pay rise.
13:06What did he get in return?
13:08This morning they've gone back on strike for the third time.
13:11In the middle of winter.
13:13In the middle of the worst flu crisis in years.
13:16Mr Speaker, this shouldn't be allowed.
13:19We already banned strikes by the police and the army.
13:22Why doesn't he put patients first, show some backbone and ban doctors' strikes?
13:28Mr Speaker, let me be clear about the strikes.
13:32They're dangerous and utterly irresponsible.
13:34And my message to resident doctors is don't abandon patients.
13:39Work with us to improve conditions and rebuild the NHS.
13:43But, Mr Speaker, they left the NHS absolutely on its knees,
13:46waiting lists through the roof and confidence absolutely rock bottom.
13:51And, Mr Speaker, I'll take no lecture for them on industrial harmony.
13:55More days were lost to strike action on their worst than any year since the 1980s.
14:02Mr Speaker, of course he's not going to ban doctor strikes.
14:05He doesn't have the baubles.
14:09The trade unions didn't just buy him.
14:14They can shake their heads all they like.
14:17We all know who's running their party and it's not him.
14:20The trade unions didn't just buy him for Christmas, they bought him for life.
14:24And this matters for all those people out there facing a difficult new year.
14:29The Prime Minister has lost control.
14:31It's not the levers that don't work.
14:33It's him.
14:34He's breaking every promise he has made.
14:36He promised to bring down unemployment.
14:38It's up.
14:39He promised he wouldn't increase taxes.
14:41They're up.
14:42He promised to end the doctor strike.
14:45They're on strike again.
14:47Mr Speaker, he said his main mission was economic growth.
14:51But the economy is shrinking.
14:53With a year like that, is it any surprise that all his MPs want for Christmas is a new leader?
14:59Mr Speaker, we've got the Muppets Christmas Carol here.
15:06The defections are happening so fast that at Christmas the Leader of the Opposition is going to be left home alone.
15:13And the member for Runcorn is clearly dreaming of a white Christmas.
15:18But, Mr Speaker, we know what the Leader of the Opposition wants for Christmas.
15:23Her list to Santa is this.
15:25Dear Santa, please freeze the minimum wage.
15:28Please push hundreds of thousands of kids back into poverty and scrap maternity leave.
15:34Merry Christmas from the Tories.
15:37Mr Speaker, what we're bringing is cheaper mortgages, new rights for workers and lifting half a million people out of property.
15:44We've achieved more in 14 months than they achieved in 14 miserable years.
15:49Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
15:54Ukraine is facing a fourth Christmas of war and loss.
15:58A Ukrainian family I met last week spoke movingly of the help and support that they had received from our community in Newport,
16:05but also of the real pain of separation from loved ones still in Ukraine serving near the front line.
16:13Will the Prime Minister join me in paying tribute to the bravery of these families and those that support them?
16:19And can he also take this opportunity for them in giving the House an update on what more we can do from this Government to support our Ukrainian friends?
16:30The Prime Minister.
16:32Well, can I heartily agree with her?
16:34British families have shown incredible kindness and hospitality.
16:38We have been working by an update with our allies on frozen Russian assets to support Ukrainians in their hour of need.
16:46Today, Mr Speaker, I can announce that we're issuing a licence to transfer £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea Football Club.
16:56That's been frozen, those funds, since 2022.
16:59My message to Abramovich is this.
17:02The clock is ticking.
17:04Honour the commitment that you made and pay up now.
17:08And if you don't, we're prepared to go to court so every penny reaches those whose lives have been torn apart by Putin's illegal war.
17:18Sir Ed Davey, Leader of the Liberal Democrats.
17:21Thank you, Mr Speaker.
17:23And I wish you, everyone in the whole House and the whole country a merry and peaceful Christmas.
17:29And can I join the Prime Minister in expressing our horror at the appalling anti-Semitic terror attacks on Bondi Beach on the first day of Hanukkah.
17:38Our thoughts and prayers are with the families and friends of all those who have been killed and injured in this senseless act of violence.
17:45And our thoughts for the whole Jewish community.
17:49Mr Speaker, I'm sure we've all heard British Jews explain how they no longer feel safe in this country.
17:56Many of us have friends who volunteer to put on stab vests and stand guard outside their synagogue.
18:02And at Heaton Park in October, we saw why.
18:06Anti-Semitism is real.
18:08It is poisonous.
18:09We must all work together to stamp it out.
18:13The Board of Deputies have called for a comprehensive government strategy to tackle anti-Semitism.
18:19So will the Prime Minister commit to that today and set out what concrete steps he's taking to make sure Jewish people are safe in Britain?
18:30The Prime Minister.
18:31Well, can I thank him for raising this really important issue?
18:34And it is really important that we have actions that match the words that we have expressed in response to these horrific attacks.
18:45The actions we've taken so far are increasing the funding for Jewish security up to £28 million.
18:54I'm pleased to do that, but I'm sad to do that.
18:57Having to pay more money to provide security for people to be at their place of worship and to go to school is a sad thing for this country to have to do.
19:06I've ordered a review of protest and hate crime laws to stop protest breeding hatred.
19:13We're looking at new police powers to deal with repeat and targeted protests.
19:18And we've launched a review and training to tackle anti-Semitism in the NHS.
19:22There are other steps that we are talking to the community about taking, but all of those actions have already started.
19:27Thank the Prime Minister for that answer, and I hope he will look at the proposal from the Board of Deputies.
19:34I think we can work across this House to end the scourge of anti-Semitism.
19:38Mr Speaker, turning to the NHS, even before today's irresponsible strike by the resident doctors, patients were facing a terrible winter crisis.
19:49Thousands have been left on trolleys in hospital corridors for hours.
19:55No privacy, no dignity, some even sorting themselves because there was no response.
20:01And there's been some tragic cases, Mr Speaker, some people even dying on those trolleys and left undiscovered for hours.
20:09And the expectation is that this could get worse.
20:12So will the Prime Minister make this his number one priority to end this crisis?
20:17With a mass vaccination programme to stop so many people ending up in hospital with this virus.
20:25And funding the social care places people need to leave hospital when they're ready.
20:34Can I say how unacceptable the conditions that some are enduring in our hospitals are?
20:40And there's no excuse and it is our number one priority.
20:43On vaccinations, we've had over 17 million patients vaccinated this year.
20:49That's an increase on last year.
20:51But I want to drive that up again next year because vaccinations make such a difference,
20:55both to patients and those who are staff within the hospitals.
20:59And of course, we touch on social care. Thank you.
21:01Mr. McAwall.
21:02Thank you, Mr Speaker.
21:04And Merry Christmas to you and all your fantastic staff.
21:07Prime Minister, 2025 has been a momentous year for Darlington, Britain's best town.
21:12But there is much more to do.
21:14I met a lovely woman out door knocking recently and she works 12-hour night shifts at a care home in the town.
21:19Her colleagues are on minimum wage and many care workers across the town aren't even paid time and a half for working on Christmas Day.
21:26Like so many in her profession, she wants the system fixed not for herself but for her residents.
21:32I believe that starts with radical improvements to care workers' terms and conditions.
21:38Prime Minister, this workforce of mostly women do essential, skilled and exhausting work without fuss, fanfare and still without fair pay.
21:47They deserve better. What can I tell that Darlington care workers will improve for them by this time next year at Christmas?
21:54The Prime Minister
21:56Can I thank her? Carers are incredibly skilled workers. My sister is one of them and I am very proud of them and her for their invaluable work.
22:06I am pleased that we have increased the carers' allowance earnings limit by the largest amount since it was introduced.
22:12And we are providing £500 million to fund the first ever fair pay agreement through the Employment Rights Act which was passed yesterday to make sure care workers are properly recognised and rewarded.
22:24Stephen Flynn
22:25It is indeed the season of goodwill. So with that in mind, I don't intend on asking the Prime Minister about his broken promises on energy bills, the thousand jobs being lost in the North Sea.
22:42The fact that Peter Mandelson is still a member of the House of Lords. I won't even ask him about the chaos that is engulfing the Labour Party, his budget and indeed his own leadership.
22:53No, Mr Speaker, I simply want to wish the Prime Minister Happy Christmas.
22:58How does he intend on spending his final one on Downing Street?
23:02Prime Minister
23:04I am going to get an update from the Chancellor on Grangemouth in just a minute.
23:10He is clearly not interested in Grangemouth. You would have thought on a day like this that he would want to welcome the £120 million of investment into Grangemouth.
23:20It is a landmark investment protecting 500 jobs and hundreds more across Scotland's supply chain.
23:27And he can't even bring himself to mention it.
23:31Mr Speaker, that is on top of the Typhoon Defence jobs in Edinburgh and shipbuilding jobs on the Clyde.
23:36And after decades of SNP rule, they are totally out of ideas. They can't even welcome the Grangemouth news.
23:43Scotland deserves change next year with Anna Sawa.
23:50Thank you, Mr Speaker. In 2020, my constituents John and Karen Rowlands lost their son Andrew in a road collision. He was just 18 years old and a passenger.
24:07Like too many others, Mr Speaker, the driver of the car should never have been on the road. He was underage, unlicensed and uninsured and bought the car on social media using cash.
24:19Can the Prime Minister tell me how bereaved families like the Rowlands can have a meaningful say on our road safety strategy and ensure the right checks are in place to prevent future tragedies?
24:32Yes.
24:33Prime Minister.
24:34Can I send, I am sure, condolences of the whole House to Andrew's family?
24:39Yes.
24:40It is an awful case and every life that is lost to dangerous driving is a tragedy.
24:45In terms of the range of measures that we are taking to protect young drivers, they include penalties for driving uninsured and unlicensed and measures to reduce the risks posed by unroadworthy vehicles.
24:57In terms of influence of her and her constituents, I would be very happy to set up an appropriate meeting for her constituents.
25:06Ben McGuire.
25:07Thank you, Mr Speaker. I thank the Prime Minister for confirming a Cornwall-only devolution deal since my last PMQ.
25:14In 1988, over 20,000 North Cornwall constituents were poisoned by the South West Water Authority.
25:21In a recent BBC documentary, strong suggestions were made of a cover-up by the Thatcher Government.
25:27None of those victims have ever been properly compensated, and today South West Water poisoned my constituents with impunity with their constant sewage dumping.
25:36Christmas swims across Cornwall have been cancelled again, while constituents like William Howells in Padstow have been hospitalised.
25:44Will the Prime Minister please meet with me to finally deliver justice to all water poisoning victims and make sure this never happens again?
25:53The Prime Minister is right to remind us of what was a terrible scandal, and I will ask the Water Minister to meet him and his constituents to discuss it.
26:04He and the public are right to be furious that companies are still polluting our seas, lakes and rivers.
26:10Mr Speaker, we have taken action banning bonuses for bosses in six polluting companies, changing the law so that those who hide sewage bills can be locked up, and issuing almost £30 million in fines to clean up waterways.
26:23We are clearing up the mess that the party over there left like everything else.
26:27The West Midlands car industry is world famous, and this Government backs our automotive sector.
26:37We have got a US trade deal, and when criminals shut down production at Jaguar Land Rover, we backed the supply chain.
26:45Brilliant companies like J.H. Lavender in my constituency.
26:49What a contrast with the member for Clacton, not here as usual, who said,
26:55I predict Jaguar will now go bust, and they deserve to.
27:01Would the Prime Minister agree with me that the workers of the West Midlands and the entire country
27:08need a Labour government and cannot afford the economic vandalism of Reform UK?
27:14Apparently the leader of reforms is in the lounge.
27:19He likes an early getaway at Christmas to get to his place in France.
27:24Mr Speaker, he lobbied for economic sanctions against his own country when he was in the United States,
27:32with no thought for British workers and zero patriotism.
27:36The difference is that our US deal secured the best deal for the car industry, providing certainty for the workforce at JLR.
27:43And there is more good news for the car industry this week, because Nissan is now building its new electric leaf in Sunderland.
27:51That is the difference a Labour government makes.
27:53Sir Julian Smith.
27:55I compliment the Prime Minister on the work he has done on Ukraine, and wish him well over Christmas on that topic.
28:06Mr Speaker, pubs are at the centre of rural communities in areas such as North Yorkshire.
28:14They are under more pressure than ever before.
28:18Could I urge the Prime Minister and the Government to look again at the rates issue,
28:23and to look at how to relax the transitional relief for those pubs, many of which are otherwise going to close?
28:31The Prime Minister.
28:33Mr Speaker, it is an important sector.
28:36At the heart of this challenge is the end of the temporary relief that was put in place during Covid.
28:43That is why we have put in place the transitional measures,
28:46and investing half a million into our hospitality support scheme to help rural pubs diversify.
28:53On issues like the cost of living, we have taken a number of measures to make it easier for people to go out and enjoy themselves in pubs.
29:00We will always look at what measures we can put in place to support pubs.
29:03The Prime Minister.
29:06People across Litchfield, Burntwood and the Villages will be looking forward to a very happy New Year,
29:11not least because of this Government's commitment to the Midland Rail Hub project,
29:14which will revolutionise rail travel across the west Midlands and further afield.
29:19We are all really eager to see a better service between Litchfield and Birmingham as soon as possible, though.
29:23Will the Prime Minister join my campaign for a more regular service on the cross-city line?
29:28And can he confirm that rail commuters will benefit from frozen fares because of this Labour Government?
29:34The Hub means more regular services for up to 15 stations across the region.
29:39That is vital after the Litchfield to Birmingham service was slashed under the previous Government.
29:45The construction will create around 13,000 jobs and we are delivering them as quickly as possible with Network Rail awarding design contracts this week.
29:54Mr Speaker, we are also freezing rail fares. That is the first time that that has happened in 30 years, saving his constituents about £90 a year on the commute to Birmingham.
30:03Andrew Snow.
30:05Andrew Snow.
30:06Andrew Snow Thank you very much, Mr Speaker.
30:07As the ghost of Christmas past scoops up the Prime Minister from his slumber in number 10 this year,
30:13I wonder what he will show him on Christmas Eve.
30:15Maybe it would be the devastated family farmer putting up the for sale sign on the yard,
30:19or the children hugging each other as their independent school closes,
30:23closes or any of the hundred thousand hospitality workers who have lost their jobs or the millions
30:29of families that are trying to work out how they will pay their tax bill to fund the ever-growing
30:35welfare state. So is it no wonder that the ghost of Christmas future has given up on this Prime
30:43Minister and all that is left is for him to get his bag of coal from Santa and his P45 from his
30:49own MP. Happy Christmas. I saw that the Honourable Member was asking the public to suggest questions
30:59for today. I actually put in a bid Mr Speaker. I filled it in. I assume he missed the question I
31:04assumed. I said he should ask about the 6,000 well-paid high-skilled jobs we've secured in his
31:11constituency building tight rooms. Thanks for an 8 billion deal with Turkey. I'm disappointed that
31:18he didn't want to talk about good, well-paid jobs in his constituency, secured by this
31:22Labour Government.
31:25Just days before Christmas, heartbroken Derbyshire families and staff have learnt that the reform-led
31:36Council are closing eight care homes, including Rowthorn in Amber Valley. That means just days
31:47after learning that the Council's cost-saving claims were entirely fabricated. Does the
31:54Prime Minister agree with me that, when reform talk about Doge, what they are actually talking
32:01about is cutting vital public services into their homes? Will he join me in urging Derbyshire
32:08County Council to think again?
32:10Well, it is deeply concerning to hear about the closure of eight Derbyshire care homes by
32:17the reform-led Derbyshire Council. It will be hugely concerning to residents and to their
32:23families, while we are making £3.7 billion of extra funding available to councils to fund
32:29social care. And let me say to the member for Clacton, relaxing in the lounge, Christmas is a time for
32:36forgiveness. It is never too late to apologise to former classmates.
32:43Nick Timothy!
32:45Thank you, Mr Speaker. Labour's tax rises mean lower growth and higher unemployment,
32:51and the reason for the tax rises is government spending. The Prime Minister personally promised
32:57the country to limit spending increases to £9.5 billion a year. So what mandate did he have
33:03in his first two budgets to increase annual spending fifteen times faster by £146 billion?
33:12Mr Speaker, we had a mandate to change because we inherited major challenges across the country.
33:18If only he had done something to solve these problems when he was working in Downing Street.
33:23He left a complete mess.
33:25Dale Duncan Jordan.
33:28Mr Speaker, over the past few weeks I have been contacted by a number of constituents who work in the health and care sector,
33:37because they are concerned about the proposed changes to the rules surrounding indefinite leave to remain.
33:44These individuals came to this country to do a job we asked them to do, and then we decided to change the rules halfway through the process.
33:55Does the Prime Minister agree that if we are to be a proud, rules-based nation, going back on our word to people who are contributing to our society,
34:05and building lives here, is not only just unfair, it is also profoundly un-British.
34:14Prime Minister.
34:15Mr Speaker, we are replacing a failed settlement system with one that is fair and recognises contribution.
34:21It is right to apply more stringent controls, and we are currently consulting on the right approach.
34:27I do recognise the huge contribution of those working in our NHS, and will not change the rules for those who already have settled status.
34:36Sir John Whittingdale.
34:39Thank you, Mr Speaker.
34:41Jimmy Lai is 79 and is a British citizen.
34:45He has already been in prison in Hong Kong for five years, simply for being a journalist.
34:50If he receives a further sentence on 12 January, he is likely to die in prison.
34:56Will the Prime Minister make clear that his visit to Beijing can only go ahead if Jimmy Lai is released?
35:05Prime Minister.
35:06I thank him for raising this very important case.
35:08As he knows, we have continually raised this with our counterparts, and will continue to do so.
35:15I condemn the conviction.
35:17Obviously, we await the sentence, but it is absolutely clear that he has been targeted by the authorities.
35:23This is wrongful, and I call it out.
35:24It is important that we continue to engage so that we can raise this issue with those counterparts.
35:30In September, a National Secular Society report highlighted alarming numbers of extremist religious organisations in the UK from various faith traditions, expressing hideous views about women, including promoting female genital mutilation and denying the existence of marital rape.
35:49Many of these are registered as charities and therefore eligible for various tax exemptions, as well as thousands or even millions of pounds in public money through gift aid.
35:58Will the Prime Minister, as part of the Government's mission to halve violence against women and girls, support my campaign for a review of charity law and regulation so that we can make sure the UK taxpayer is not funding extremism and hate?
36:10The Prime Minister.
36:11The Prime Minister.
36:12I thank you for raising this really important issue.
36:15The scale of violence and abuse suffered by women and girls is a national emergency, and the violence against women and girls strategy will be published tomorrow, setting out concrete steps in order to deal with this.
36:27We have already taken action to protect victims, including placing domestic abuse specialists in the first five 999 control rooms, and we are launching a new national policing centre to coordinate police response and target these crimes.
36:41I will make sure that Ministers look specifically at the issues that he has raised.
36:46Jeremy Corbyn.
36:47Yesterday, the Minister of State for Justice declined a meeting with the representatives of a number of hunger strikers in prison at the present time.
36:56These are all remand prisoners. They are not convicted of anything.
37:00Since then, a further prisoner, Kazam, has been taken to hospital, as have others.
37:05Many people are very concerned about the regular breaches of prison conditions and prison rules in respect to these hunger strikers.
37:12Will he make arrangements for the Ministry of Justice to meet representatives of hunger strikers to discuss these breaches of the conditions that they are experiencing at the present time?
37:23The Prime Minister.
37:24The Prime Minister.
37:25He will appreciate that there are rules and procedures in place in relation to hunger strikes, and we are following those rules and procedures.
37:30The Prime Minister.
37:31The Prime Minister.
37:32The Prime Minister.
37:33The Prime Minister.
37:34The Prime Minister.
37:35The Prime Minister.
37:36The Prime Minister.
37:37The Prime Minister.
37:38The Prime Minister.
37:39The Prime Minister.
37:40The Prime Minister.
37:41The Prime Minister.
37:42The Prime Minister.
37:43The Prime Minister.
37:44The Prime Minister.
37:45The Prime Minister.
37:46The Prime Minister.
37:47to face burst water pipes, polluted rivers and rising bills, all while the chief executive
37:53of Yorkshire Water has taken £1.3 million in bonus payments to an offshore company,
37:59and that's on top of her very healthy £660,000 salary. Will the Prime Minister assure the
38:05House that the forthcoming Water White Paper will have stronger accountability and put
38:10public interest first before bosses' bonuses? And more importantly, will it consider bringing
38:15the essential public service back into House?
38:18Prime Minister.
38:19Yes, is the simple answer to that question. And our decisions are already holding polluters
38:25to account. New severe fines, banning bonuses, and a record 83 criminal investigations have
38:32been launched. We've also secured over £100 billion of investment to upgrade infrastructure
38:37to deliver better services to constituents.
38:40Final question, David Mandel.
38:41Mr Speaker, on Sunday at Arlington Cemetery, I will have the honour of joining family and
38:49friends of many of the victims of the bombing of Pan Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie on 21 December
38:571988, the worst terrorist atrocity in the United Kingdom. Does the Prime Minister agree with
39:04me that, especially after all these years, those family and friends deserve both truth and
39:11justice? And will the United Kingdom Government continue to do all it can to bring about that
39:17outcome?
39:18Prime Minister.
39:20Can I thank him for raising this? And nobody could forget the shocking scenes at Lockerbie.
39:26And I know the huge impact it's had on the community that he grew up in, where people have responded
39:32with such compassion and strength. He has rightly stood by their search for justice and truth for all
39:40of the intervening years. And I pay tribute to that. All of our thoughts remain with the families and
39:46friends of all the victims who deserve truth. And I urge the Scottish authorities to consider the points
39:52that he raises.
39:53We'll let the front benches change over.
39:59You didn't ask a question, so I don't know you can have a point of order. Sorry? No, but you didn't
40:05ask a question. Maybe somebody who'd asked a question will be...
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