Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his government's record after Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch accused him of squandering the political capital gained from the 2024 general election. The exchange occurred during the final Prime Minister's Questions before next week's local and devolved elections.
Badenoch claimed Starmer had presided over 'one disaster after another' and was now focused on 'saving his own skin.' She contrasted the current mood in Parliament with the weeks after the election, when she said government benches were 'full of sycophantic questions from adoring new MPs.'
'This government is like a bad episode of Game Of Thrones,' Badenoch said, adding that the prime minister was 'holed up in his castle, wetting himself about a visit from the King in the North'—a reference to Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham.
Starmer hit back, saying Labour had delivered rights at work, security for renters, and lifted half a million children out of poverty. 'That's our mission, nothing is going to hold us back,' he said. He accused the Tories of playing 'political games' by attempting to launch an inquiry into whether he misled MPs over the appointment of Lord Mandelson as UK ambassador to the US.
On Tuesday evening, the House of Commons voted 335 to 233 not to refer Starmer to the Privileges Committee. Labour MPs largely backed the prime minister following a No 10 operation to rally support. Starmer has denied misleading the Commons about the vetting process for Mandelson, who was sacked seven months into the job.
Badenoch also seized on rumours of a government reshuffle after the elections, asking if Starmer would 'listen to the country and reshuffle the Chancellor.' Starmer did not directly answer, prompting Badenoch to declare Rachel Reeves 'toast.' Downing Street later said the chancellor's position remained unchanged.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey focused on food security, warning that prices could rise by 10% due to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz. Starmer responded by noting that events in the Middle East would affect every constituent.
Next week, voters in Scotland and Wales will elect representatives to national parliaments, while English voters will choose councillors in around 5,000 local authority seats.