Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced a blistering attack from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch during a tense session of Prime Minister’s Questions, where she accused him of repeated policy U-turns and having no clear plan to fund them.
Mrs. Badenoch launched into a fierce critique, branding Starmer’s leadership as “chaos, chaos, chaos!” and claimed, “He doesn’t have any answers. It’s disgraceful.” She challenged the Prime Minister on key welfare and trade issues, demanding clarity on the future of the two-child benefit cap and the restoration of winter fuel payments for pensioners—questions which Sir Keir failed to directly answer, according to the Daily Express.
“Three weeks ago, the winter fuel policy was set in stone. Two weeks ago, the Prime Minister U-turned. Today, the Chancellor is rushing her plans because she just realised when winter is,” Badenoch said. “So on behalf of the pensioners who want to know, can the Prime Minister be clear with us here and now: how many of the 10 million people who lost their winter fuel payments will get it back?”
Starmer appeared caught off-guard, offering a hesitant response: “Er, er, er…” before stating, “At the budget, we took the right decision to stabilise the economy because of the £22 billion black hole that they left.” He added, “We will look, again, as I said two weeks ago, at the eligibility for winter fuel, and of course, we’ll set out how we pay for it.”
He defended his government’s record, pointing to growth figures, lowered interest rates, and three new trade deals as evidence of stability. “Because we’ve stabilised the economy, we on this side are committed to the triple lock,” he said, referencing the policy that increased pensions by over £400 this April. “On their side, they say the triple-lock is unsustainable… I think her position is, she wants to means-test it.”
Badenoch also grilled Starmer over trade relations, particularly on why British steel firms still face 25% tariffs when exporting to the United States, despite his claims of negotiating deals to reduce them. “Isn’t the root of the chaos, Mr Speaker, that it is about this Prime Minister, his decisions and his judgment?” she asked.
Earlier in the session, Starmer tried to redirect the pressure by accusing Badenoch of making comments on Ukraine that were later welcomed by Russia. A Conservative spokesperson condemned Starmer for quoting a Kremlin source in Parliament, saying, “Is there any low to which Keir Starmer won’t sink to distract from his political problems?”
The fiery exchange underscores growing tensions in Westminster as both parties ramp up rhetoric ahead of the next general election.
