24 JULY 2024 | ANALYSIS
Labour PM Sir Keir Starmer began his first PMQs session by wishing a quick recovery to the soldier who had been stabbed in Kent, and success to Team GB – now on its way to the Olympics. He had met Ministers and others that morning to discuss plans for the change that the country had “decisively voted for”.
Callum Miller (LD) urged the scrapping of Ofwat, citing Thames Water’s river pollution, profit extraction and bill-boosting; the PM promised a tougher regime to “fix the mess” of privatised water companies “after fourteen years of failure”.
Nadia Whittome (L) asked about the ban on puberty blockers for young gender-transitioners; the PM replied that “our guiding principle” should be the well-being of children; the Cass review had found insufficient evidence for the safety of these drugs, long-term. The issue had to be approached “with care, not inflammatory dividing lines”. The CCTV registered Ms Whittome’s muttered discontent.
Now came the new Opposition leader Rishi Sunak (C), who joined the PM in wishing Team GB success, but said he was “probably not the first person to give them advice on how to win”. Sympathetic “ahhhs” from the House.
In their exchanges, Mr Sunak sought continued cross-party consensus on Ukraine and national security, for example the supply of long-range weapons to them and the involvement of other countries, such as Germany’s provision of air defence and the possibility of offering long-range missiles, as the UK, France and America have already done.
Sunak referred to the NATO summit and Ukraine’s “irreversible path” to NATO membership, pace Russia’s “fatuous claims” and objections; he noted legal progress in sanctions on Russia and seizing Russian assets; he spoke of the “crucial” Tempest fighter jet programme and Saudi Arabia’s keenness to join in; finally, he stressed the importance of the PM’s ability to use prerogative power for UK security and offered the Opposition’s support, should the PM find such use necessary.
The PM joined Kim Leadbeater (L) in wishing good luck to the cyclists embarking on their ninth 83-mile ride in memory of her late sister Jo Cox MP, murdered by a political extremist in 2016.
Sir Ed Davey (LD) raised the issue of Carer’s Allowance repayments required due to taking up part-time work. The PM promised to address fair pay for carers. Davey also asked for a cross-party commission on social care. The PM committed to creating a national care service.
Mrs Emma Lewell-Buck (L) sought help in addressing the cases of Armed Forces personnel harmed in the 1950s British nuclear testing programme, but denied access to their medical records and compensation. The PM said he would ensure a meeting for Mrs Lewell-Buck with the relevant Minister.
The Right Hon. Stephen Flynn (SNP) congratulated the PM on ending Tory rule (laughter), but noted that although – days before the election – Labour had urged Scots to vote for them to end child poverty, the two-child cap on child benefit had now not been lifted. The PM rehearsed the last Labour government’s initiatives to support families and asked why the SNP – while in power – had overseen an increase of 30,000 in children affected by poverty.
Mohammad Yasin (L) asked Mr Starmer what further pressure he could apply to bring about a ceasefire in Gaza. The PM said he was aiming for a two-state solution and discussion with global powers. For him, the choice was between diplomacy and street-corner protesting; only one would work.
Christine Jardine (LD) asked about the imposition of VAT on private school fees, the impact in Edinburgh of pupil transfers to an already-stretched state education system, and whether the money raised would be reinvested in Scottish education. The PM acknowledged parents’ aspirations for their children, but said he wanted all parents to enjoy such aspirations and wished to see the right teachers in state schools.
Sir Mark Hendrick (L/Co-op) asked whether Great British Energy would offer jobs “up and down the country”. The PM repeated his claim that renewables offered lower cost energy and greater energy security, as well as jobs for the next generation for years to come.
Pete Wishart (SNP) twitted the PM for managing to spark a significant rebellion on the issue of child poverty. Was the honeymoon over already? The PM riposted that the greatly reduced number of SNP MPs was a sign of the public’s thinking, contrasted with the now-numerous Scottish Labour MPs behind him; and repeated his earlier point about the extra 30,000 poor children in Scotland.
Dan Tomlinson (L) spoke of the previous government’s one-third cut in the funding for police in London, forcing the closure of both police stations in Barnet. Did the PM agree on the importance of local policing? The PM said Labour would see 30,000 more officers and PCSOs on the streets.
Rupert Lowe (Reform) asked for “a straight yes or no answer” to the proposition that uncontrolled immigration – legal as well as illegal – had harmed the country. The PM said it was serious that the previous government had lost control of our borders. He was setting up a Border Security Command to deal with people-smuggling gangs and contrasted it with the Rwanda “gimmick”, which had removed only four volunteers.
Bill Esterson (L) urged the PM to ignore the “siren voices” of the Opposition and continue with clean energy developments, such as the Mersey tidal project. The PM repeated his points about the benefits of clean energy and linked them to the need for planning reform and more building, prisons as well as houses.
Lewis Cocking (C) followed the last remarks with a request that his constituents be allowed a “meaningful say” on green belt development proposals. The PM made clear his intention to get Britain building and said young people needed to have a home before the age of 35. Labour, he said, would of course work with communities but would “take the tough decisions that the last government ran away from”.
Jack Abbott (L/Co-op) asked for help in reviving town centres like his own Ipswich. The PM said he was going to change the business rates system and work for greater regional equality.
Adrian Ramsay (Green) welcomed the new Government’s commitment to helping nature recover – so essential to food security and public health and well-being. How would the PM show leadership? Would he be attending the UN Biodoversity COP and make a bid to host a future UN nature summit? The PM threw the question of leadership back, asking why the Green questioner was opposing clean energy plans in his own constituency; would he back the Government?
Joe Powell (L) told of a young person shot in north Kensington last Sunday. What would the PM do to help tackle gun violence? The PM reminded the House of the Making Streets Safer initiative.
Matt Vickers (C) asked whether Teesside would see the money promised to it for transport infrastructure. The PM said Labour would continue to work nationally on development and even with those who wore a different rosette.
Charlotte Nicols (L) wished to know about progress in tackling violence against women and girls. The PM spoke of his commitment to halving such incidents, difficult though it would be. Labour had started work already, he added.
The Right Hon, Sir Roger Gale (C) thanked the PM and other Members for their support for Ukrainian refugees. He asked the PM to reconcile the drive to build houses with the country’s need to sustain its agriculture. The PM said we need to have economic growth, infrastructure, house and prisons. Housing had become unaffordable for young people under the last administration.
In summary, the PM’s view was that people had expressed their judgement in the General Election; it was now time for the Opposition to reflect and change their own approach.
