11 SEPTEMBER 2024 | ANALYSIS
This was Sir Keir’s second Prime Minister’s Questions for the current session. The in-house video is here (start at 12:01) and the Hansard transcript is here. Quentin Letts’ Parliamentary sketch in the Daily Mail noted a despondent air on the Government benches.
The PM welcomed the new statue of the late Queen Elizabeth and wished the Princess of Wales well as she completes her treatment. He heralded that afternoon’s debate introducing the Renter’s Rights Bill and was scheduled to meet President Biden in Washington to discuss foreign policy.
Torsten Bell (L) spoke of the plight of low paid and zero hours workers, but was cut short by the Speaker for failing to ask a question. The PM replied that Labour was committed to economic growth and would ‘deliver for working people’.
Rishi Sunak (C, Opposition Leader) asked the PM whether he would publish the impact assessment of cancelling the Winter Fuel Payment (WFP) for 10 million pensioners. Sir Keir referred once again to the ‘£22 billion black hole’ left by the outgoing Conservative administration; pensioners would benefit from ‘ramping up’ pension credit, linking housing benefit to it and receiving pension increases via the ‘triple lock’.
Mr Sunak spoke of the Conservatives’ record on pension benefits and noted that the present Chancellor had said she would prefer it if the WFP policy did not raise any money. The PM repeated the ‘£22 billion black hole’ phrase twice more and quoted Shadow Ministers saying the WFP was not needed by some and should be means-tested. Mr Sunak reminded the PM of Labour’s previous estimate that withdrawing the WFP would lead to 3,850 deaths; did Labour’s latest impact assessment give higher or lower figures? The PM replied that his Government aimed to ‘stabilise the economy’ and referred again to the ‘triple lock.’ Mr Sunak noted the PM’s refusal to publish the impact assessment.
Mr Sunak then asked whether – bearing in mind ‘increasing global volatility’ – the PM would ‘be adopting the National Farmers Union’s recent proposal to enshrine a national food security target in law?’ Would the PM consider making the process of assessing farmland quality independent, rather than leaving it to developers who may despoil the countryside with alternative uses such as solar panels?
The PM again countered with the previous government’s alleged ‘mess’ and neglect of rural issues. Mr Sunak spoke of Wales’ ‘top-down eco-targets’ that ‘hammered farmers’; would the PM assure English farmers that he would rule out such targets? The PM replied that Labour would ‘work with farmers’ across the UK to ‘support’ them; and ended with a list of other ways in which Labour was ‘building a better country for the future’.
Amanda Martin (L) asked about affordable housing in Portsmouth. Would infrastructure and community consultation be considered? The PM limited himself to restating Labour’s commitment to affordable housing and its target of building 1.5 million new homes.
Ed Davey (LD Leader) asked the PM to guarantee that every cancer patient could start treatment within 62 days. Sir Keir referred to Lord Darzi’s upcoming report on previous Conservative failure in this area and said the timeline mattered; Labour were already putting on more scanners and technology to speed up diagnosis.
Mr Davey said that Lib Dems had voted against the withdrawal of the Winter Fuel Payment. Would the PM reverse previous Conservative tax cuts for banks instead? Sir Keir said he would not anticipate the Budget, but repeated the phrase ‘£22 billion black hole’ and Labour’s plan to make sure everyone was better off.
Patrick Hurley (L) reminded the House of the tragic killings of little girls in Southport and asked the PM to recommit to support for the town and those grieving and affected. The PM expressed his sympathy and support, but also referred to ‘far-right thugs’ who had thrown things at police in London.
Nigel Farage (Reform) referred to the previous day’s early release of career criminals to make space in prison for reckless commenters on social media. Did the PM understand public anger at ‘two-tier policing and a two-tier justice system?’ Sir Keir said that the releases were necessary ‘because the last Government broke the prison system’ and had ignored warnings of the crisis.
Rachel Hopkins (L) asked the PM to explain Labour’s railway plan to deliver improvements to rail infrastructure. Sir Keir complied, saying that: ‘Great British Railways will unite track and train under a single leadership. That means closer collaboration across the industry and faster, more effective decisions on critical infrastructure.’
Tessa Munt (LD) said the Conservatives had underspent the farming budget by £100 million. Would Labour do the same? She said the Lib Dem manifesto proposed an increase and to ‘speed up the roll-out of the new environmental land management schemes, and support profitable, sustainable and nature-friendly farming’. The PM said the issue was important and – while not pre-empting the Budget – agreed to ‘protect farmers from being undercut in trade deals, make the supply chain work more fairly, and prevent shock rises in bills by switching to GB Energy’.
Luke Murphy (L) asked about overcharging and lack of maintenance by leasehold agents. Sir Keir said Labour would ‘bring the feudal leasehold system to an end’ and increase leaseholders’ rights.
Brendan O’Hara (SNP) asked about the bombing of civilian areas in Gaza and said the Government’s decision to exempt F-35 components from the arms licence suspension re Israel was against international law. Sir Keir denied this and said the priority now was a ceasefire to allow hostage release and aid delivery, and to progress towards a two-state solution.
Graeme Downie (L) asked for the Strategic Defence and Security Review team to visit defence supply sites like Rosyth and ‘ensure that the SDSR supports Britain’s security and local economies.’ The PM agreed that defence mattered in terms of security and also economic growth. The consultation would be wide and include the ‘devolved nations’. He undertook to have the relevant Minister meet Mr Downie to discuss his local issues.
Dr Neil Hudson (C) asked the PM to confirm the previous government’s commitment to (re)building medical facilities in Harlow and Epping. Sir Keir repeated what he had said on another occasion about the Conservatives’ failure to build ‘40 new hospitals’ and agreed to ‘review what we can do and put it on a sustainable, deliverable basis’.
Anneliese Midgley (L) asked Sir Keir to support the introduction of ‘Olivia’s Law’ – a measure to allow serious offenders to be forced to attend sentencing hearings in person. The PM reiterated the Government’s commitment, which was in the King’s Speech.
Blake Stephenson (C) asked Sir Keir how he would choose between heating or eating were he a pensioner on £11,350 p.a. without Winter Fuel Payment. The PM yet again cited the ‘£22 billion black hole’ and Labour’s commitment to ‘triple lock’ pension increases, which would more than make up for the loss of WFP. He said the last Conservative government had lost control of inflation and fuel prices, and that Labour would stabilise the economy to prevent a repeat of this.
Mark Ferguson (L) asked the PM for help to authorise the use of DFMO – a drug to combat neuroblastoma – currently suffered by a child in Mr Ferguson’s constituency. Sir Keir said Labour would see that the manufacturer’s licence application was reviewed as fast as possible, and would ensure that the Health Minister would meet the child’s parents as requested.
Dame Harriett Baldwin (C) said Sir Keir’s version of socialism was to drive the wealthy from the country while allowing elderly pensioners to suffer in cold homes. Would he reverse his decision re the Winter Fuel Allowance? The PM said his choice was to ‘stabilise the economy’ and ‘when a Government lose[s] control of the economy, it is working people who pay the price’.
Paulette Hamilton (L) raised the issue of pancreatic cancer – which kills quickly – and asked the PM to ‘commit to reviewing the long-term cancer strategy so that we can improve diagnosis and treatment rates in this country.’ Sir Keir agreed and would say more when he dealt with Lord Darzi’s report the next day.
Louie French (C) asked the PM to ‘rule out scrapping concessionary travel fares and council tax discounts’ for pensioners. Sir Keir said he refused to pre-empt the Budget.
Kirith Entwistle (L) conveyed the thanks of the Bolton Council of Mosques for the PM’s support during the summer riots. Did he agree on ‘the importance of supporting inter-faith and community groups?’ Sir Keir concurred and thanked the police for how they dealt with the pubic disorder.
Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru) thanked the Speaker in Welsh and asked the PM why Labour were opposing the Welsh Government’s desire for new power lines to be placed underground. Sir Keir reiterated the policy to transition to renewable energy, but said it had to be done in a cost-effective way.
Jessica Morden (L) asked how the Government were safeguarding jobs and securing the future of steel-making communities in Wales in the drive towards deindustrialisation. Sir Keir acknowledged the importance of British steel-making and related jobs and communities; the Business Secretary would provide an update to the House that afternoon.
Olly Glover (LD) asked whether the PM supported investment in railways, and whether he would meet Mr Glover to hear the case for a new railway station at Grove and Wantage. Sir Keir said that Great British Railways would work to ensure that rail investment meets the needs of communities; he would ensure that the relevant Minister would meet Mr Glover to discuss the issues in his constituency.
