During Prime Minister’s Questions, Keir Starmer drew both criticism and laughter after joking about the Conservatives’ frequent leadership changes, quipping that they rivaled the Kama Sutra in number. The remark sparked a sharp exchange in the Commons, highlighting rising tensions between the government and opposition.
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch used the moment to challenge Starmer on policy credibility, pointing to a reversal on digital identity checks. She argued that abandoning mandatory ID checks contradicted earlier commitments, accusing the government of inconsistency and political opportunism.
#UKPolitics #PMQs #KeirStarmer #KemiBadenoch #BritishParliament #LeadershipRow #PoliticalClash #ConservativeParty #LabourParty #DigitalID #PolicyUturn #Westminster #PoliticalDebate #UKNews #GovernmentPolicy #Opposition #Commons #LeadershipCrisis #BreakingPolitics #PoliticalDrama
Opposition leader Kemi Badenoch used the moment to challenge Starmer on policy credibility, pointing to a reversal on digital identity checks. She argued that abandoning mandatory ID checks contradicted earlier commitments, accusing the government of inconsistency and political opportunism.
#UKPolitics #PMQs #KeirStarmer #KemiBadenoch #BritishParliament #LeadershipRow #PoliticalClash #ConservativeParty #LabourParty #DigitalID #PolicyUturn #Westminster #PoliticalDebate #UKNews #GovernmentPolicy #Opposition #Commons #LeadershipCrisis #BreakingPolitics #PoliticalDrama
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NewsTranscript
00:00We now come to Prime Minister's questions.
00:02Lincoln Jopp.
00:06Question number one, Mr Speaker.
00:13Mr Speaker, can I start by condemning, in the strongest possible terms,
00:19the sickening repression and murder of protesters in Iran?
00:23The contrast between the courage of the Iranian people
00:27and the brutality of their desperate regime has never been clearer.
00:32Mr Speaker, we have called out this brutality face-to-face.
00:35We are working with allies on further sanctions
00:37and doing all we can to protect UK nationals.
00:42Mr Speaker, time and again, under the party opposite,
00:45towns and cities across the north were failed.
00:48Today, this Labour government delivers change.
00:51A major new rail network across the north
00:54and a new northern growth strategy.
00:57That is the renewal that this country voted for.
01:01This morning, I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others.
01:04In addition to my due to this House,
01:06I shall have further such meetings later today.
01:11Thank you, Mr Speaker.
01:12And can I associate myself with the Prime Minister's remarks,
01:15particularly about Iran?
01:17Visiting schools in my Spellthorne constituency
01:20is one of the great joys of this job.
01:22So I was, frankly, appalled to hear
01:25that the Labour Member of Parliament for Bristol North East
01:28was prevented from visiting a school in his constituency
01:31because he is Jewish.
01:34This is anti-Semitism and it is happening in plain sight.
01:38With all due respect to the Prime Minister,
01:40I don't want to know how he feels about this.
01:42I want to know what he's going to do about it.
01:46Prime Minister.
01:47Can I start by thanking him for raising this case
01:49because it is very serious,
01:51very concerning,
01:53and all Members of Parliament
01:55should be able to visit anywhere in their constituency,
01:58schools or other places,
01:59without any fear of anti-Semitism.
02:01We do take this seriously.
02:03We're providing more funding for security
02:05and support we're putting in across the country,
02:08and we will be holding those to account
02:10who prevented this visit to this school.
02:13Anne-Lise Bridgley.
02:15Thank you, Mr Speaker.
02:16And I'd like to thank the Prime Minister
02:18for his commitment to delivering the Hillsborough law.
02:22For it has been proven
02:24that following the Manchester Arena bombings,
02:27MI5 spent six years
02:29misleading the public
02:31and concealing information.
02:32There was no risk to national security
02:35because it was a closed hearing.
02:37So will the Prime Minister
02:39deliver justice for those families
02:41and confirm that this Government
02:43will bring forward an amendment
02:45that will make robust
02:46the duties and responsibilities of Canada
02:49for all parts of the state,
02:51including individuals in the security services,
02:54so we can finally say
02:56never again.
02:58Prime Minister.
02:59Can I thank my honourable friend?
03:02The Hillsborough law
03:03will right wrongs of the past,
03:06changing the balance of power
03:07to ensure the state can never hide
03:09from the people it should serve.
03:11And I would like to acknowledge, Mr Speaker,
03:12I think some of the families
03:13are in the gallery with us here today,
03:17and I will be meeting them
03:19later on this afternoon.
03:22I've always been clear
03:23the duty of candour
03:24applies to the intelligence services.
03:27I made a commitment
03:27that we wouldn't water down the Bill
03:29and the amendments we put forward
03:31strengthen it.
03:32It is right that there are essential safeguards
03:34in place to protect national security,
03:37and we've got that balance right.
03:39We'll meet the families
03:40and we'll outline the next steps
03:41on Monday
03:42in relation to that crucial balance.
03:45We've come to the Leader of the Opposition,
03:47Kemi Bednar.
03:50Thank you, Mr Speaker.
03:52And can I agree with the Prime Minister's comments
03:54on Iran?
03:55Today, Irfan Soltani faces execution
03:58for protesting in Iran,
04:00and I'm sure the whole House
04:01will be united in condemning this.
04:03Our thoughts are with him and his family
04:06and the brave protesters
04:07fighting for their freedom
04:09against an evil regime.
04:12Mr Speaker, I know the Home Secretary
04:13will be making a statement today
04:14on the West Midlands Police.
04:16The first thing that she should be announcing
04:18is the sacking of the Chief Minister.
04:20And I thank the Member for West Suffolk
04:22for relentlessly pushing this issue.
04:26Mr Speaker, can I welcome
04:27the Prime Minister's latest U-turn?
04:30I feel like I say that every week.
04:31Mandatory digital ID
04:34was a rubbish policy,
04:36and we on this side of the House
04:37are glad to see the back of it.
04:40But yesterday, the Health Secretary
04:42said the Prime Minister's
04:43New Year's resolution should be,
04:45and I quote,
04:46to try to get it right first...
04:48To try to get it right first time.
04:56To try to get it right first time.
05:01Yes, you did say that.
05:03You did say that.
05:04My question is,
05:05does he agree?
05:07Prime Minister.
05:08Mr Speaker, I'm determined
05:09to make it harder
05:10for people to work illegally
05:12in this country.
05:13And that's why there will be checks,
05:16they will be digital,
05:17and they will be mandatory.
05:18And I'll tell them
05:19what this government is doing,
05:20whether on planning,
05:22child poverty,
05:23employment rights,
05:24investing in our NHS,
05:25we're taking the right choices
05:27for Britain,
05:28and they oppose
05:29every single one of them.
05:31And she talks about
05:32U-turns and consistency
05:33from the party
05:35that used to recognise
05:36the challenge of climate change,
05:37and now they run from it.
05:39Who promised to cut immigration,
05:41but then lost control of it.
05:43Who once took great pride
05:45in our diversity,
05:47now they talk of
05:48deporting our neighbours
05:49to achieve cultural coherence.
05:51And, Mr Speaker,
05:53on consistency,
05:55don't get me started
05:56on five Prime Ministers,
05:58six Chancellors,
05:59eight Home Secretaries,
06:0116 Housing Ministers.
06:04They had more positions
06:05in 14 years
06:06than the Kama Sutra.
06:08No wonder they're knackered,
06:09and they left the country screwed.
06:14A lot of waffle, Mr Speaker,
06:17but it's still a U-turn.
06:19The member for Hull East
06:21has said,
06:22so interesting, Mr Speaker,
06:24Labour MPs must think
06:25very carefully
06:26before defending
06:27policy decisions publicly.
06:29He said,
06:30and I quote,
06:31this stuff leaves us
06:32looking really stupid.
06:34I'm sorry to tell him,
06:35but Labour MPs
06:36have been looking stupid
06:37for a long time.
06:40But let's look,
06:41Mr Speaker,
06:42Mr Speaker,
06:44let's look at
06:46some other things
06:47the Prime Minister
06:48didn't get right
06:49first time,
06:50starting with
06:51the family farms tax.
06:53Some farmers
06:54were so terrified,
06:55they sold their farms
06:57last year
06:57only for the Prime Minister
06:59to U-turn
07:00two days before Christmas.
07:01Will he apologise
07:02for the misery
07:03he's caused
07:04to countless farmers?
07:05the Prime Minister
07:06Mr Speaker,
07:07the principle we put
07:08in place on
07:08inheritance tax
07:09is the right one.
07:10We listened,
07:11we made an afternoon.
07:13But what we're doing
07:13is turning the country
07:15around.
07:16Yes,
07:17we've changed
07:18the country.
07:19We've changed
07:19the failed approach
07:22of the last
07:22Tory government.
07:23They crashed the economy
07:25and sent mortgage rates
07:26through the roof.
07:27They left millions
07:28stuck on NHS waiting lists.
07:31They presided
07:31over the worst
07:32Parliament for Living Standards
07:33on record.
07:34Now,
07:35we're turning that around.
07:36We're changing that.
07:38Inflation and interest rates
07:39are coming down.
07:41Waiting lists
07:41are coming down.
07:43Wages are up
07:43more in the first year
07:44of a Labour government
07:45than ten years
07:45of the Tory government.
07:46But I understand,
07:48Mr Speaker,
07:48that she's taking
07:49advice on change.
07:51She had
07:52Nadeem Zahawi in
07:53to ask his advice
07:55how to change
07:57and how to save
07:58her party.
07:59Please don't tell me
08:00she listened to
08:00his accountant
08:01the next day
08:02after your advice
08:04he jumped ship
08:05to reform
08:06the 23rd
08:08former Tory MP
08:09to do so.
08:10I don't know
08:11which is more pitiful,
08:13the flood
08:13of former Tory MPs
08:15deserting her
08:16sinking ship
08:17or the reform party
08:18so desperate
08:19to launder
08:20any old
08:21failed Tory politician.
08:25Mr Speaker,
08:26Mr Speaker,
08:27the Prime Minister
08:28doesn't need to worry
08:28about me.
08:29I'm all right.
08:39And I didn't hear
08:42an apology.
08:43I didn't hear
08:43an apology to the farmers.
08:45Has he even apologised
08:46to the member
08:47for Penrith
08:48who stood up
08:49for farmers
08:49only to have
08:50the whip removed?
08:52This Prime Minister
08:53treats his MPs
08:54so badly
08:54they follow his lead
08:56and he hangs them
08:56out to dry
08:57every time.
08:59Let's turn to
09:01another area
09:02the Prime Minister
09:02has got wrong.
09:04His budget
09:04doubled business rates
09:06for thousands
09:06of pubs.
09:08So can the Prime Minister
09:09tell us
09:09is there going to be
09:11any change
09:12to his business rates
09:13policy?
09:14Prime Minister.
09:16Mr Speaker,
09:17we're working
09:17with the sector
09:18to ensure
09:19that they get
09:20the support
09:20that they're named.
09:21I have to say
09:23the Leader
09:23of the Opposition's
09:24newfound concern
09:25for pubs
09:26will come as a surprise
09:27to anyone who remembers
09:28the 7,000 pubs
09:30that were closed
09:31under the Tories.
09:34And as Business Secretary
09:35she didn't say
09:36a word about it.
09:38So we support business
09:39we also support workers
09:41Mr Speaker.
09:42And that's why
09:43we passed our
09:44Employment Rights Act.
09:45And on Monday
09:48the Business Secretary
09:49and I went to Croydon
09:50to discuss
09:51our Employment Rights Act
09:52with workers there.
09:54They were very keen
09:55on the paternity rights
09:56and the maternity rights
09:58which I know
09:59the Leader
09:59of the Opposition
10:00opposes.
10:01And whilst we were there
10:02at IKEA
10:03they showed me
10:03their new prototype
10:04the IKEA
10:05Shadow Cabinet.
10:07The trouble is
10:08nobody wants
10:09to buy it.
10:11It's mainly
10:11constructed
10:12of old dead wood.
10:14And every time
10:15you lose a nut
10:15it defects
10:16to reform.
10:25Mr Speaker
10:26he didn't answer
10:27the question
10:28about business rates.
10:30It sounds like
10:30he doesn't know
10:31what his policy is.
10:33And this has been
10:34a farce
10:34from start to finish.
10:36On Monday
10:36the Business Secretary
10:37said the Chancellor
10:38did not even realise
10:40the impact
10:40of her business rates policy.
10:42No surprise there.
10:43But yesterday
10:44the Tax Office
10:45said that
10:46they did tell
10:47the Government
10:47what the impact
10:48would be.
10:49So can the Prime Minister
10:51be clear?
10:52Did he understand
10:53the impact
10:54of his own
10:55policy on pubs?
10:56Prime Minister
10:58we are working
11:01with this sector
11:05she hasn't explained
11:06why she said
11:07nothing about
11:07the 7,000 pubs
11:09that closed on her walk.
11:10We are doing
11:11other things
11:11on the cost of living
11:12to help people
11:13to make sure
11:14they can get out
11:15to spend money
11:16in pubs
11:17and hospitality
11:17boosting
11:18the minimum wage.
11:19What did they do?
11:20They opposed it.
11:21Freezing railfares
11:23and prescription charges
11:24what did they do?
11:25They opposed it.
11:26£150 off energy bills
11:28what did they do?
11:30They opposed it.
11:31She said nothing
11:31when pubs were closing
11:32and she opposes
11:34every measure now.
11:35And she said
11:35a moment ago
11:36I'm all right.
11:38She clearly didn't
11:39listen to the advice
11:40of Nadeem Zahawi
11:41because what he told her
11:43he's now made for it.
11:45He told her
11:46that they failed
11:47on mass migration
11:48they failed
11:49on our armed forces
11:50and he told her
11:51that she's leading
11:52his words
11:53a defunct brand
11:54the nation
11:55can no longer trust.
11:56No wonder
11:57he's joined
11:58the Tory migration
11:59to reform.
12:00Mr Speaker
12:01it's the second
12:02Boris wave.
12:03Mr Speaker
12:07I asked him
12:08if he understood
12:09the impact
12:10of his own policy.
12:11He didn't say yes.
12:13The reason he
12:14U-turns all the time
12:15is because
12:16he is clueless.
12:17He is blowing around
12:18like a plastic bag
12:19in the wind
12:20no sense of direction
12:21whatsoever.
12:23And let's be clear
12:23Mr Speaker
12:24this mess goes
12:25beyond pubs.
12:26The whole of the
12:27hospitality industry
12:28cafes, hotels,
12:30restaurants
12:30they're all being
12:31clobbered
12:31by Labour's tax hikes.
12:33There is an answer
12:34to this.
12:35Conservatives
12:36would abolish
12:37business rates
12:37for small businesses
12:38on the high streets.
12:41Mr Speaker
12:42Yes, they're all
12:44chuntering.
12:46He's already
12:46agreeing with us
12:47on family farms tax.
12:49He's already
12:49agreeing with us
12:50on digital ID.
12:52Why doesn't he
12:52make it a hat trick
12:53and abolish business
12:54rates for the high streets?
12:58Mr Speaker
12:59they've crashed
13:00the economy
13:01and now they want
13:01to give lectures
13:03she's wondering
13:05why nobody
13:05is listening to them.
13:06Nobody is ever
13:07going to listen
13:08to them
13:08on the economy
13:09ever again.
13:11Mr Speaker
13:11in 18 months
13:12because of the
13:13decisions we've made
13:14inflation is falling
13:16and the Bank of England
13:17say it's coming
13:18back down to target.
13:19We've had six
13:20interest rate cuts
13:21in a row.
13:23Wages are up
13:24more in the first
13:24year of a Labour
13:25government
13:25than under the first
13:2610 years
13:27of their government
13:28and we beat
13:29the forecast
13:29on growth
13:30for 2025.
13:31We're turning
13:32this country around
13:33after the appalling
13:34mess that they
13:35left it in.
13:37He says no one's
13:38going to listen to us.
13:39Who's going to
13:40listen to him?
13:41The Winterfield
13:42Allowance
13:43U-turn
13:44Waspy Women
13:45U-turn
13:46The Two Child
13:46Benefit Cap
13:47U-turn
13:48Grooming Gangs
13:49Inquiry
13:49U-turn
13:50The Family
13:51Farms Tax
13:52U-turn
13:52Digital ID
13:54U-turn
13:55Jury Trials
13:56U-turn
13:57We hope so.
13:58We hope so.
13:59I think that's going
14:00to be the next one
14:00Mr Speaker.
14:02Week after week
14:03these poor people
14:04sitting behind him
14:05have to defend
14:06the indefensible
14:07only for him to
14:08U-turn a few
14:09days later.
14:10Mr Speaker
14:11one of his
14:11cabinet ministers
14:12told a journalist
14:13that what's
14:14happening at the
14:15moment is
14:15extraordinarily bad.
14:18Another said
14:19we've gone through
14:19a catastrophic
14:20series of missteps.
14:22Yet another
14:23minister said
14:24we are so unpopular
14:25at the moment
14:26I've come to the
14:27conclusion it's worth
14:28rolling the dice
14:29on a new leader.
14:31They're right
14:32aren't they?
14:34Mr Speaker
14:35here's the difference
14:36I change my party
14:37and that's why we
14:38stand here with a
14:39majority Labour
14:40government.
14:43She sits there
14:44with her party
14:45her party that lost
14:46two-thirds of their
14:48MPs at the last
14:49election and she's
14:50losing more every
14:52week.
14:52They're queuing up
14:53to join the member
14:54of Clacton's
14:55laundry service for
14:56disgraced Tory
14:57politicians.
14:59Meanwhile
14:59inflation is down
15:00wages are up
15:02and waiting lists
15:03are down.
15:04Labour's turning the
15:05corner and changing
15:05this country for the
15:06better.
15:07vote.
15:07Thank you Mr Speaker.
15:11Mr Speaker I'm sure
15:12you will agree and I
15:13hope others across the
15:14chamber will also that
15:16we need to recognise and
15:17to celebrate achievements
15:19and I say this because
15:20across the country
15:21knife crime offences is
15:23going down and of
15:25course more needs to be
15:26done and more should be
15:28done but this week's
15:29figures have shown that
15:31London has had its safest
15:33year ever under the
15:36London Mayor Sadiq
15:37Khan.
15:39And in fact homicide rate
15:41in London is the lowest
15:43ever since records began.
15:46Now Mr Speaker reform and
15:48the Conservatives repeatedly
15:50talk down our capital city
15:52so will the Prime Minister
15:54join me in saying they are
15:56wrong and will he applaud
15:58these achievements?
16:02She draws attention to the
16:03important work of the
16:05Mayor of London and
16:06nobody should be talking
16:07our country down or
16:08talking London down.
16:11And she's right to say
16:12that since we came into
16:13office the number of knife
16:14crime offences is down
16:16but Mr Speaker there is
16:17more to do.
16:18We're introducing new
16:19powers to seize knives
16:21and increasing the penalty
16:22for selling knives to
16:23under 18s.
16:24And the party opposite
16:25what did they do?
16:26They're chuntering.
16:26They voted against those
16:29provisions.
16:30And what's obvious about
16:31London and reform is
16:32they've got a candidate
16:33for mayor who doesn't
16:34like London.
16:35A new ex-Tory recruit
16:37who struggled to pay
16:38his taxes in this country
16:40and a leader who spends
16:41more time in France
16:42than it is in his
16:43constituency.
16:44Sir Ed David,
16:45leader of the Liberal
16:46Democrat.
16:48Thank you Mr Speaker.
16:49Can I associate myself
16:50and my party with the
16:52Prime Minister's comments
16:53on Iran?
16:54And can I encourage him
16:55to go even further on
16:56sanctions and also
16:57prescribe the IRG?
17:00Mr Speaker,
17:01Sandra is 71.
17:03She has bladder cancer.
17:06Just after Christmas
17:06she went into her local
17:08A&E.
17:09She had to wait
17:1031 hours
17:12to be admitted
17:13on a plastic trolley
17:15and on a plastic chair.
17:17Last year,
17:18more than half a million
17:20people waited for
17:21over 12 hours
17:22in A&E
17:23to be admitted.
17:24More than any year
17:25in the history
17:27of the NHS.
17:28Mr Speaker,
17:29this corridor care
17:30crisis
17:31was created
17:32by the Conservatives
17:33but it has got worse
17:35under Labour.
17:37So will the Prime Minister
17:38end this scandal
17:39by taking up
17:40our plan
17:41to end
17:42all 12-hour
17:43A&E waits
17:45this year?
17:47Prime Minister.
17:48Can I first say
17:49through him
17:50to Sandra
17:51that that is simply
17:51not acceptable
17:52for her
17:53or for anybody else
17:54and I appreciate
17:55if he passes
17:56that on to her
17:58directly.
17:59We have put record
17:59investment into the NHS
18:00so that we can turn
18:01this problem around
18:03and we are turning
18:03it around.
18:04I would say to him
18:05that he puts forward
18:07his plans for change
18:08but he never votes
18:09for the increase
18:10in investment
18:11and the measures
18:12that are needed
18:12to actually put
18:13that into practice.
18:15You can't change
18:15things without
18:16investing in them.
18:17You can't call
18:18for change
18:18and vote against
18:19a budget that puts
18:20a record investment
18:21into the NHS.
18:23Sir Ed David.
18:24Mr Speaker
18:25we saw what happened
18:26to the last government
18:27when they failed
18:27to improve the NHS
18:29and if the Prime Minister
18:30is not careful
18:30that will happen
18:32to his.
18:33Mr Speaker
18:34last month
18:35I asked the Prime Minister
18:37to get a grip
18:38of South East Water
18:39who left thousands
18:41of people
18:42in Royal Tunbridge Wells
18:43without water.
18:45Now it's happened
18:46again
18:46not only in Tunbridge Wells
18:48but in East Grinstead
18:50Burgess Hill
18:51Hayworth Heath
18:52and other parts
18:53of Kent and Sussex
18:54families
18:55pensioners
18:55schools
18:56care homes
18:56businesses
18:57without any water
18:58since Saturday
19:00and the water company
19:02bosses involved
19:02now stand accused
19:04of misleading Parliament
19:06over their failures.
19:08Mr Speaker
19:09South East Water
19:10keeps failing
19:11its customers
19:12over and over again
19:14so will the government
19:16immediately strip them
19:18of their licence?
19:20Prime Minister
19:21Can I thank him
19:22for raising this
19:22because the situation
19:23is clearly
19:24totally unacceptable
19:25and he will want
19:28to know
19:28that ministers
19:29have chaired
19:29daily emergency meetings
19:31to hold the company
19:32to account
19:33to deliver
19:34on the change
19:35that is urgently
19:35needed at the moment
19:36in all the areas
19:37that he mentioned.
19:38We have also doubled
19:39the compensation rates
19:40for individuals
19:41and businesses
19:42and we are absolutely
19:43clear the company
19:44must urgently invest
19:45in infrastructure
19:46and we will publish
19:47the water white paper
19:48in due course
19:49but we are holding
19:50those daily meetings
19:51to hold this company
19:53to account.
19:53Dr Maria Timball.
19:55Thank you Mr Speaker
19:57I am delighted
19:58by today's
19:59Northern Powerhouse
20:00rail announcement
20:01a down payment
20:03on the north
20:04of England's future
20:05fulfilling Lord Blunkett's
20:08rail plan for Yorkshire
20:09also included
20:11upgrades to the
20:12Penniston Line train
20:13the spine that connects
20:14south to west Yorkshire
20:16coursing through
20:17eight constituencies
20:18serving half a million
20:20people.
20:21When I was growing up
20:22my dad opened
20:24Silkstone Common Station
20:25as a Doddiff councillor
20:27I want my legacy
20:28to be
20:29two trains an hour
20:30tidball
20:31for our
20:32Penniston Line.
20:35Will the Prime Minister
20:36meet with me
20:37to discuss
20:38how we can secure
20:39funding
20:39for the second phase
20:41of the Penniston Line
20:42upgrade scheme
20:43to achieve
20:44two services
20:45an hour?
20:47Can I pay to a future
20:48as a dedicated
20:49campaigner on this
20:50and so many other
20:51issues
20:52and I am delighted
20:53that today
20:53we are announcing
20:54a transformation
20:55in journeys
20:56across the north.
20:57Of course it was said
20:58and promised
20:58many times
20:59by the party opposite
21:00but never delivered
21:01we are taking action
21:02and delivering.
21:03We are working
21:04with Kirkley's council
21:05to prepare the business
21:06case for the first
21:07phase of upgrading
21:08the line
21:08and I know the
21:09Transport Secretary
21:10would be happy
21:10to discuss
21:11the details of that
21:12with her.
21:13Robin Swald
21:14Thank you very much
21:15Mr Speaker
21:16Question time last week
21:18the Prime Minister
21:18seemed to intimate
21:19that the Government
21:20was bringing forward
21:21amendments
21:22to the Northern Ireland
21:23Troubles Bill
21:24within hours
21:25of him saying
21:26that the Irish
21:27Government's
21:28Minister for Foreign
21:28Affairs
21:29said that
21:30any significant
21:31changes
21:32must have the
21:33full agreement
21:33of both
21:35governments.
21:36So Mr Speaker
21:37can I ask the Prime Minister
21:38is he intending
21:39bringing forward
21:40amendments to a
21:41flawed Troubles Bill
21:42and give a reassurance
21:43that the Irish Government
21:45does not have a veto
21:46over legislation
21:47in this house?
21:48Mr Minister
21:49Can I thank him
21:50for raising this
21:51and tell him
21:52I spoke to the Taoiseach
21:53in December
21:54about this
21:56and I know
21:56he is committed
21:57to delivering
21:57on this.
21:59The new legacy unit
22:00has been established
22:01within the Garda
22:03and I am confident
22:04the Irish Government's
22:05other commitments
22:05will be delivered
22:06as set out
22:07in the joint framework.
22:09For the first time
22:10information held
22:11by the Irish authorities
22:12is being shared
22:13with a reformed
22:14legacy commission
22:15meaning more families
22:16and victims of terrorism
22:17getting information
22:18about what happened
22:19to their loved ones.
22:21Thank you Mr Speaker.
22:24I welcome
22:25the Prime Minister's
22:26leadership
22:27and our Government's
22:28clear commitment
22:29to tackling
22:30child poverty
22:31recognising
22:32that high quality
22:34education
22:35is one of the best
22:36routes out of poverty.
22:38However,
22:39young people
22:39in one of the most
22:40deprived areas
22:41of my constituency
22:42attending
22:43Churchill Community College
22:45have been taught
22:46in temporary accommodation
22:48for over 16 months.
22:50Can the Prime Minister
22:51use his good offices
22:53to expedite funding
22:55from the Department
22:56for Education
22:56to support
22:58rebuilding
22:58this school?
23:00Prime Minister
23:01Can I say I'm very proud
23:02of what we're doing
23:03on child poverty
23:04lifting half a million
23:05children out of poverty.
23:06The party opposite
23:07says their policy
23:08is to plunge them
23:09straight back into poverty
23:11and they should be
23:12ashamed of that.
23:13The situation she draws
23:15my attention to
23:15is appalling.
23:16Parents and teachers
23:17are furious
23:18that the party opposite
23:19left schools
23:20literally crumbling.
23:21We invested
23:22Mr Speaker
23:23£20 billion
23:23to rebuild
23:24around 800 schools
23:26and our aim is
23:27all schools
23:28and colleges
23:29in England
23:29that aren't being
23:30fully or substantially
23:31rebuilt
23:32to be rack-free
23:33by the end
23:34of the Parliament
23:34and I'll make sure
23:35a minister meets
23:36with her to discuss this.
23:37Morrison
23:38Thank you Mr Speaker
23:40I visited Stepping Hill
23:41Hospital in my constituency
23:42where I met
23:43the incredible team there
23:44but they are working
23:45in some of the worst conditions.
23:47The staff there
23:47show me the wards
23:49where sewage is coming up
23:50onto the floors
23:51through the drains
23:52and they show me
23:52the ceilings
23:53where water is dripping down
23:54out onto vital equipment.
23:57The hospital itself
23:58has a £130 million
23:59repair bill
24:00and the Prime Minister
24:01is the man
24:02that can change this.
24:03So will he meet with me
24:04the member for Hazel Grove
24:05and the member
24:06for Stockport Constituency
24:07so we can talk to him
24:08about this issue
24:09get some investment in
24:10and then get the hospital
24:12that my constituents deserve.
24:14Prime Minister
24:15I thank him for raising this
24:17and he knows
24:17we inherited
24:18a terrible situation
24:20with waiting lists
24:21performance targets missed
24:23and hospitals like
24:25Stepping Hill
24:25left to crumble.
24:27they should be absolutely
24:27ashamed of themselves.
24:30I'm pleased the new
24:31outpatients building
24:33is open
24:34and because of our decisions
24:35the local trust
24:36will receive £75 million
24:37in capital funding.
24:40Progress is being made.
24:42His local trust
24:43has seen waiting lists
24:44fall by almost 3,000.
24:46The number of waits
24:46over a year
24:47is down by 67%.
24:49I will make sure
24:50he gets the meeting
24:51that he wants
24:51to discuss the details further.
24:53and the Darlington.
24:54Thank you Mr Speaker.
24:56If reports are correct
24:58Elon Musk has climbed down today
25:00under pressure
25:01from this government.
25:03And let's be clear
25:04stripping women naked
25:06without consent
25:07in real life
25:08or online
25:09is abuse.
25:12But we don't know
25:14whether to trust
25:14what X is saying today
25:16and this isn't just
25:17happening on X.
25:19So will the Prime Minister
25:20join me
25:21and men and women
25:22across this House
25:23and our nation
25:24to say to any app
25:26and to any AI company
25:27that we will not tolerate
25:29and we will enforce
25:31any abuse of men,
25:33women or children
25:34in this country?
25:35Yes, Mr Speaker.
25:37Can I thank her
25:38for raising this?
25:39The actions of Grok and X
25:40are disgusting
25:41and they're shameful.
25:44And frankly
25:45the decision
25:45to then turn this
25:47into a premium service
25:48is horrific.
25:50And we're absolutely
25:51determined to take action
25:52here.
25:53We've made it clear
25:54that X has to act
25:55and if not
25:56Ofcom has our full backing
25:57and we'll introduce
25:59and are introducing
26:00legislation.
26:01Mr Speaker
26:02to update the House
26:03I have been informed
26:04this morning
26:05that X is acting
26:07to ensure full compliance
26:09with UK law.
26:10If so
26:11that is welcome
26:13but we're not going
26:14to back down.
26:15They must act.
26:17We will take
26:17the necessary measures.
26:18We will strengthen
26:19existing laws
26:20and prepare
26:21for legislation
26:22if it needs
26:23to go further.
26:24And Ofcom will continue
26:25its independent
26:26investigation.
26:27As someone with
26:32the personal experience
26:33of AI generated images
26:35the recent AI images
26:36shared on X
26:37particularly those
26:39of children
26:39sickens me.
26:40Yet
26:41the leader of reform
26:42continues to defend
26:43Elon Musk.
26:44Anyone
26:45who defends
26:46platforms
26:47linked to
26:48sexual exploitation
26:49of children
26:50forfeits any
26:51right
26:52to give lectures
26:53about protecting
26:54women and girls.
26:56what will the
26:58Prime Minister do
26:59to stop
27:00any political
27:01party from putting
27:02tech billionaires
27:03ahead of
27:04protecting
27:04our children?
27:07Can I thank
27:08her for raising
27:09this and it's
27:10astonishing that
27:11reform defend
27:12Musk on this
27:13issue.
27:14It is complete
27:15I said the images
27:16are disgusting
27:17their position
27:18is disgusting
27:20on this.
27:20this is
27:22weaponising
27:23images
27:24of women
27:25and children
27:26that should
27:28never be made
27:29and that's
27:30why we're
27:30acting.
27:31Reform
27:32not only
27:33reform
27:34refused to
27:35do anything
27:36about it
27:36but more
27:37than that
27:37the point
27:38she raises
27:38is they would
27:39scrap
27:40the online
27:41safety act
27:42that stops
27:43children accessing
27:44content
27:45like pornography
27:46suicide
27:47self-harm
27:48and eating
27:49disorders
27:49they're an
27:50absolute disgrace
27:51and know
27:51nothing about
27:52protecting
27:53children.
27:55Can I just
27:56say we're only
27:57on question 18
27:58if we don't
27:59want to get
27:59MPs in
28:00please
28:00you're going
28:01to have to
28:01work with me
28:01Kevin Bonavie
28:02Many of my
28:05constituents
28:05and Stephens
28:06were appalled
28:07to hear
28:07reform MPs
28:08oppose the
28:10principle
28:10of deploying
28:11British troops
28:12to maintain
28:13a peace
28:13in Ukraine.
28:15Our brilliant
28:16armed forces
28:17have defended
28:18democracy in
28:19Europe across
28:19a generation
28:20so it is
28:21shameful that
28:22the leader
28:22of reform
28:23opposes that
28:24today.
28:25That is not
28:26leadership
28:26it is surrender.
28:29Does the
28:30Prime Minister
28:30agree that
28:31Labour governments
28:31always have
28:32and always will
28:33defend British
28:35interests not
28:36those of
28:36Russian dictators
28:37or oligarchs?
28:39Prime Minister
28:40Mr Speaker
28:40this is a
28:41question of
28:42values and
28:43freedom
28:44and I'm
28:46proud of the
28:46British workers
28:47in his
28:47constituency
28:48in fact
28:48supporting our
28:49Ukrainian
28:50allies.
28:51Ukrainian
28:51soldiers are
28:52defending
28:52European values
28:54on the
28:54front line
28:55every day
28:55and Mr Speaker
28:56in the event
28:57of a ceasefire
28:57multinational
28:58force will
28:59carry out
28:59defence and
29:00deterrence
29:00operations
29:01and conduct
29:02training,
29:02planning,
29:03recovery and
29:03regeneration
29:04of Ukrainian
29:05forces.
29:06But this
29:06week the
29:07leader of
29:07reform said
29:08Russia
29:09had a
29:10causus belli
29:11that means
29:13a justification
29:14for war
29:15in invading
29:16Ukraine.
29:18A Putin
29:18apologist
29:19using Russia's
29:20talking points.
29:22The
29:23Minister
29:23Coffking
29:23The
29:26world is
29:29becoming more
29:29dangerous every
29:30single day
29:31and the
29:32Ministry of
29:32Defence has
29:33said it
29:33needs an
29:34extra £28
29:35billion to
29:36keep us
29:37safe.
29:37Well I
29:38know where
29:38the Prime
29:39Minister
29:39can find
29:40it stop
29:41this
29:41nonsense
29:42Chagos
29:42Island
29:43surrender
29:43policy and
29:45spend that
29:45money on
29:46protecting the
29:47United Kingdom.
29:48Will the
29:49Prime
29:49Minister
29:49commit to
29:50that or
29:51will he
29:51continue to
29:52put the
29:52interests of
29:53foreign
29:53governments and
29:54countries above
29:55our own?
29:58Diogo
29:58Garcia is a
29:59vital military
30:00base with
30:01important
30:02capabilities for
30:02our own.
30:03It is
30:04integral to
30:04our
30:04security.
30:05Our
30:05decision
30:06was welcomed
30:07by our
30:07allies,
30:08the five
30:08India and
30:10the United
30:10States.
30:11It was
30:11opposed by
30:13our enemies
30:14including
30:14Russia.
30:15Now we
30:16can add
30:16the Taurist
30:17to that
30:17list and
30:18reform to
30:19that list.
30:19The Taurist
30:20following
30:20reform,
30:21reform
30:21following
30:22Putin.
30:23Yasmin
30:24Kuleshi.
30:27Thank you
30:28Mr Speaker.
30:30Mr Speaker I
30:31would like to
30:32offer my
30:32condolences to
30:34the families of
30:35the four people
30:36who died in
30:37the rail
30:38traffic accident
30:39which occurred
30:40over the
30:40weekend in my
30:41constituency.
30:43Mr Speaker,
30:44families in
30:45Bolton South
30:45and Walkden
30:46are already
30:47benefiting from
30:48this Labour
30:49government's
30:49action on
30:50free school
30:51meals, free
30:52breakfast clubs,
30:5330-hour
30:54funded child
30:55care, scrapping
30:56of the two-child
30:57limit, taking
30:58nearly half a
30:58million children
30:59out of poverty.
31:01But in
31:02Bolton South
31:02and Walkden
31:03and across the
31:04country, there
31:05is a chronic
31:06shortage of
31:07social housing
31:08and genuine
31:09affordable
31:10homes.
31:11Will the
31:12Prime Minister
31:12now show the
31:13same ambition
31:14on housing and
31:15commit to a
31:16major expansion
31:17of social
31:18housing?
31:19Prime Minister.
31:21Can I just
31:21say that my
31:22thoughts, and I
31:22think the
31:23thoughts of the
31:24whole House, will
31:25be with all
31:26those affected
31:27by the terrible
31:28road traffic
31:29accident in her
31:30constituency over
31:31the weekend, and
31:32our thoughts
31:33with all of
31:34those so
31:35awfully impacted?
31:37On her
31:37question, we
31:38are determined
31:38to restore the
31:39dream of
31:39home ownership.
31:41That is why
31:41there has been
31:41£39 billion
31:42of investment
31:43to deliver the
31:44biggest boost
31:45in social and
31:45affordable housing
31:46in a generation.
31:47Through planning
31:48reforms, the
31:49new homes
31:49accelerator, and
31:50new towns, we
31:52are determined
31:52to deliver the
31:53homes that
31:54people need.
31:55Not blue,
31:56Kevins.
31:57Thank you,
31:58Mr Speaker.
31:59I welcome
31:59the Prime
32:00Minister's
32:00commitment to
32:01the violence
32:02against women
32:02and girls
32:03strategy, but
32:04I and many
32:05have concerns
32:06about stigmatising
32:07young boys, men
32:09and masculinity
32:10as inherently
32:11toxic, especially
32:13when suicide is
32:14the number one
32:15killer for young
32:16men.
32:17So is it about
32:18time that we
32:19have a minister
32:20for men and
32:21boys?
32:21Because this is
32:22about women
32:23and men, not
32:24women or men.
32:26Prime Minister.
32:28Can I thank
32:28him for his
32:28support on what
32:30we're doing on
32:30violence against
32:31women and girls?
32:32Can I also
32:33agree with him
32:33that this
32:34isn't about
32:34women or men
32:36or boys or
32:38girls, it's
32:39about both, and
32:40that's why I was
32:41very pleased to
32:42bring forward our
32:42men's health
32:43strategy, one of
32:44the first of its
32:45sort, to deal
32:46with the
32:47challenges that
32:48young men in
32:49particular, in my
32:50view, have
32:51growing up,
32:52particularly with
32:52social media, but
32:54also to go
32:56further on the
32:56question of
32:57suicide.
32:58and I know
32:58that's something
32:59that the
32:59whole House
33:00is prepared
33:00to work
33:01together on
33:02and quite
33:03right too.
33:04As Trade
33:07Envoy to
33:08New Zealand,
33:09last year I
33:09visited Eden
33:10Park in
33:11Auckland to
33:11hear the
33:12exciting plans
33:13to bring the
33:14Edinburgh
33:14tattoo to
33:15New Zealand.
33:16Well, next
33:16month that
33:17plan becomes
33:17a reality
33:18and one of
33:19Scotland and
33:19the UK's
33:20greatest
33:21military
33:21displays will
33:23be taking
33:23place in
33:23Auckland.
33:24The
33:25spectacular
33:25event is
33:26testament
33:27to the
33:27exciting and
33:28successful
33:29trading
33:29relationship
33:30between the
33:31UK and
33:32New Zealand.
33:32Will the
33:33Prime Minister
33:33join me in
33:35congratulating and
33:36thanking everyone
33:37who has made
33:38this a reality?
33:40Can I thank
33:41her for raising
33:42that?
33:42The Royal
33:42Edinburgh
33:42Military
33:43Tattoo is
33:43absolutely
33:44brilliant,
33:44as anybody
33:45who has
33:45seen it
33:45will attest.
33:47I am so
33:47pleased that
33:48it is heading
33:49to New
33:49Zealand.
33:50I think it is
33:51another example
33:51of Scotland's
33:52unique contribution
33:53to our
33:54international
33:54image,
33:55our culture
33:56and tourism.
33:57I think we
33:57all wish
33:58them the
33:58very best
33:58of luck
33:59in their
33:59performance
33:59and I
34:00know it
34:00will be
34:00very well
34:01received.
34:02Timothy.
34:05Thank you,
34:07Mr Speaker.
34:08The police
34:08fabricated
34:09intelligence to
34:10get Israelis
34:10banned from
34:11Villa Park,
34:12as demanded
34:13by Islamists.
34:14It is not
34:15an isolated
34:16case.
34:17Forces cut
34:18deals with
34:18dodgy mosques
34:19and refuse to
34:20arrest preachers
34:20who incite
34:21violence.
34:22The CPS
34:23uses the
34:23Public Order
34:24Act as an
34:25Islamic
34:25blasphemy
34:26law.
34:26In prison,
34:29governors do
34:29deals with
34:30Islamists to
34:30maintain order
34:31and we all
34:32know about
34:33the rape
34:33gangs.
34:34Will the
34:35Prime Minister
34:35launch a
34:36review of
34:37the corruption
34:38of our
34:38criminal justice
34:39system by
34:40Islamists and
34:41the politics
34:41of communalism?
34:42Prime Minister.
34:44I disagree, as he
34:47knows, with the
34:48decision of the
34:48West Midlands
34:49Police, and the
34:52Home Secretary
34:52will be making a
34:53statement in
34:54relation to it
34:54today.
34:56Mr Speaker, the
34:57Home Secretary
34:57used to have
34:58power to remove
34:59chief constables.
35:00That power was
35:02stripped by the
35:022011 Police
35:04Reform Act.
35:04The Honourable
35:06Member knows who
35:07was making
35:08decisions in the
35:08Home Office at
35:09the time.
35:09It was him,
35:11working for
35:11Trees Away, that
35:12stripped that
35:13power away.
35:14Go on,
35:15Tess and
35:15Loehm.
35:15Thank you, Mr
35:17Speaker, and a
35:17belated Happy
35:18New Year, but
35:20for the 4.8
35:21million leaseholders
35:22across England, it's
35:23not a Happy New
35:24Year.
35:24They're going to be
35:25receiving large
35:26bills in a
35:26matter of weeks.
35:27They've been
35:28waiting patiently
35:29for us as a
35:30new government, a
35:32government that
35:32said we were
35:33going to deliver
35:33that change to
35:34bring forward the
35:35legislation on
35:37leasehold and
35:37commonhold.
35:38So I want to
35:39ask the Prime
35:39Minister, when
35:40will we see that
35:41legislation so that
35:42we can put those
35:43leaseholders out of
35:44their misery?
35:45Well, can I
35:46thank you for
35:47raising this
35:47really important
35:48issue, and we
35:49are bringing
35:50forward proposals
35:50very shortly
35:52now.
35:52Mr.
35:53Bain.
35:54Thank you,
35:54Mr Speaker.
35:5535,000 children,
35:57including my
35:57constituent Clover,
35:58live with
35:59uncontrolled,
35:59life-threatening
36:00epilepsy.
36:01Those who can
36:02afford it are
36:02already benefiting
36:03from prescribed
36:04medical cannabis,
36:05yet families face
36:05endless delays,
36:06confused trials,
36:08and a home office
36:08process designed
36:09for criminal misuse,
36:10not health care.
36:11Will the Prime
36:12Minister meet with
36:12me and affected
36:13families to move
36:14paediatric medical
36:15cannabis out of
36:15home office control
36:16create a pathway for
36:18proper trials and
36:18NHS access, and
36:20ensure that all
36:20children with
36:21life-threatening
36:21epilepsy get the
36:22care they deserve
36:23regardless of
36:24their family
36:24circumstances?
36:25Can I thank you for
36:27raising the case of
36:28Clover?
36:30NHS England and the
36:31National Institute of
36:32Health and Care
36:33Research recently
36:34agreed funding for
36:35two world-first
36:37clinical trials
36:37relating to use of
36:39cannabis-based
36:39products.
36:41This could help
36:42see medicines more
36:42routinely available in
36:43the NHS, and I'll
36:45make sure that she
36:45gets the meeting
36:46that she wants with
36:46the relevant minister
36:47to discuss what else
36:48we're doing.
36:49Hello,
36:49Madam Speaker.
36:50Thank you, Mr Speaker.
36:51The people I represent
36:52are fed up with
36:53southern water, from
36:54sewage to broken
36:55pipes and water
36:56outages, even on
36:57Christmas Day.
36:58In November, millions
36:59of plastic beads
37:00washed up on our
37:01beaches, and we
37:02discovered they'd come
37:02from a southern water
37:03treatment plant.
37:04I'm now campaigning
37:06for water companies to
37:07stop using this
37:08outdated plastic bead
37:09method and bin the
37:10beads.
37:11We're really concerned
37:12about the impact on
37:12wildlife, and we have
37:13some massive clean-up
37:14operation on our hands.
37:16Over 5,000 people have
37:17already supported my
37:18campaign with Sussex
37:19Wildlife Trust.
37:20Will the Prime
37:21Minister join me in
37:22sharing his horror at
37:23this dereliction of
37:24duty from southern
37:25water, and calling on
37:26them to face the full
37:27force of the law for
37:28this terrible pollution
37:29incident?
37:31Can I credit her with
37:32helping expose this
37:33scandal, and working
37:35with her and everyone
37:36in her community
37:36volunteering to clean
37:38up the beaches?
37:39That is the very best
37:40of who we are.
37:41But people are right to
37:42be furious that for far
37:43too long, water
37:44companies were allowed
37:45to get away with
37:45polluting our seas and
37:47beaches.
37:47The Environment Agency
37:48are leading a full
37:50investigation, but we
37:51are more generally
37:52ending unfair bonuses
37:53for polluting water
37:54bosses, abolishing
37:55off-wort, and
37:56introducing tougher
37:57penalties, holding
37:58companies to account.
37:59Benamets ejected.
38:01Yeah.
38:02Mr Speaker, ahead of
38:04the forthcoming
38:04consultation on local
38:06government reorganisation,
38:07last month, Huntingdonshire
38:08District Council voted
38:08for Option E, a
38:10Huntingdonshire Unitary
38:11Council.
38:11This was a cross-party
38:12view, and the Prime
38:13Minister's own Labour
38:14Councillors voted
38:14in favour of it.
38:15There is a suspicion
38:16locally that the
38:17Government favours
38:18Option D, proposed
38:19by the Labour
38:19Eastern Regional
38:20Office, which would
38:21see Huntingdonshire
38:21and my constituency
38:22split in two and
38:24combined with
38:24Peterborough.
38:25Can the Prime
38:25Minister offer
38:26assurances to my
38:27constituents and
38:27those across
38:28Huntingdonshire that
38:29the decision isn't
38:30already a done deal
38:31and that the
38:31democratic will of
38:32Huntingdonshire
38:32District Council
38:33won't be overridden
38:34to satisfy an
38:35unelected Labour
38:36Regional Office?
38:37Prime Minister, there
38:38are no done deals
38:39here.
38:39We're going through
38:40the proper process.
38:41I'm terminated.
38:41The staff at West
38:45Hearts Teaching
38:46Hospitals Trust, which
38:47operates Watford
38:48General in my
38:49constituency, have
38:50been very busy
38:51bees.
38:52They have recently
38:53won Trust of the
38:54Year and Performance
38:55Recovery at the
38:562025 Health Service
38:58Journal Awards.
38:59Will the Prime
39:00Minister join me in
39:01congratulating the
39:02amazing team at
39:03Watford General and
39:04thank them for all
39:05the hard work that
39:06they have done to
39:06achieve this
39:07admirable accolade?
39:08Imagine what further
39:10achievements that they
39:11will make when they
39:11have their new
39:12hospital and new
39:13facilities.
39:14I will join him and
39:16thank the staff in
39:17his hospital but also
39:19the NHS staff across
39:20the country who worked
39:22so hard over Christmas
39:23and New Year, which
39:24is notoriously a
39:25difficult time.
39:26That completes
39:27Prime Minister's
39:28questions.
39:29Let the front
39:29benches change.
39:30Over.
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