PMQs has ended 

This week’s PMQs has ended.

The most interesting thing to note is the PM’s refusal to end speculation over whether he tried to appoint his now-wife Carrie Johnson in a government job. 

Dominic Raab is now speaking on the British Bill of Rights. He is now presenting proposals that would override the power of the ECHR. 

Diana Award and bullying

Tory Dean Russell says bullying can have a long-lasting effect on mental health. 

Today the Diana Award are raising awareness in schools and online and he asks if the PM of he will encourage young people experiencing bullying to speak up? 

PM says bullying is something we should all speak out about and something we should not tolerate.  

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Support working people

Labour’s Kate Osbourne says the govt is out of touch and lists off those on strike. She asks “when is the PM going to stop meaningless soundbites and support working people?” 

PM responds by telling Osbourne that if she wants to support the working people of this country to get off the picket line and “has a word with her leader?” 

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Afghan relocation scheme

Caroline Lucas of the Green Party says there’s a backlog of 23,000 applications under the Afghan relocation and assistance policy, with just two of 3,000 applications of Afghans who worked for Britain processed since April.

But, she says, at the same time, a quarter of staff working on the scheme have been slashed since December.

She says this is an “incredible betrayal” of Afghans who put their lives on the line to work for the UK.

The PM responds by noting the UK has already bought 15,000 people out of the country and he will look at the specific cases she mentioned. 

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PM says no one wants a trade war

PM responds to Blackford’s claims by saying no one wants a trade war with the EU and that Blackford is underestimating what the UK is capable of and says venture capital investment in the UK has overtaken China. 

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Trade war with EU

Blackford mentions the conclusion of a recent report which claims Brexit is responsible for driving wages down and pushing up inflation. 

He says PM is threatening a trade war with the EU over the Northern Ireland protocol. 

He asks PM if he “will finally come to his senses” and negotiate a settlement or will he “willfully” push the economy into a recession?

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PM rebuffs SNP attack on inflation 

PM hits back on SNP claims – he tells Ian Blackford that inflation is a global problem, but the government has the “fiscal firepower” to deal with it. 

He says this is of benefit to the whole UK – incl Scotland. 

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UK economy in doldrums – Ian Blackford

The SNP’s Ian Blackford asks the PM about the rising inflation and says 12 years of Conservative govt has left the economy in the doldrums and suggests the UK is doing worse than Europe over the issue. 

Blackford asks the PM if his govt bares any responsibility? 

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UK back to the 1970s 

PM says it is satirical that Starmer would talk about the armed forces when govt have increased funding for armed forces by a record sum since Cold War. 

We’re helping reform energy market, getting half a million people off welfare into work, and cutting the cost of transport for working people – while Labout are on the picket lines. 

The govt is taking the country forward whilst Labour would take us back to the 1970s according to Boris Johnson. 

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This week’s PMQs is a fairly heated debate – so far we’ve covered whether the PM tried to give his wife a govt job, the rail strikes, inflation and the cost of living. Tomorrow’s by-election has also been discussed. The PM has dodged a fair few questions – he’s also just ignored several.

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PM “rolling over” 

Starmer accuses PM of rolling over after being lobbied to lift the cap on bankers’ bonuses. 

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‘Millions to be given pay rise’ – PM

PM responds to Starmer’s comments telling him to do his job when it comes to industrial action – PM says millions in public sector workers are “in fact being given a pay rise.”  

“We’ve increased the Living Wage by £1,000, we’ve increased Universal Credit so people get £1,000 more,” Boris Johnson claims.

He adds that’s only possible because of “tough decisions” made by his government, before accusing Starmer of “standing with the strikers”.

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‘25 Labour MPs on picket line’

The PM says his govt loves the railways and is investing in them and is going to build Northern Powerhouse rail. 

He says we need to modernise the railways and it’s a disgrace to have ticket offices that sell fewer than one ticket every hour. 

He points out the fact that there were 25 Labour MPs out on the picket line and accuses Labour of backing the strikers while Tories back the strivers. 

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Starmer says settle rail dispute

Starmer asks how many meetings govt minister have had in trying to resolve the rail disputes – after yesterday’s strike. 

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Voters want Toris claims PM

PM responds by saying the voters in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton would “rather vote for a solid Conservative government” than Labour. 

He accuses Starmer of not having the “gumption” to take a stand against the rail strikes. 

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Wakefield by-elections

Starmer opens with comments about the Tory candidate in tomorrow’s Wakefield by-election as “plucky” – for standing when his colleagues “have no confidence in him” 

 He asks if the PM has a personal interest in this? 

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Did you consider employing wife Carrie?

Labour’s Chris Elmore kicks off PMQs by asking the PM if he considered a government appointment for his wife? Yes or No – he asks. 

PM dodges answering the question directly with a yes or no and but says Labour is only interested in talking about “non-existent jobs” covered in the media because they don’t want to talk about “what’s going on in the real world” of employment – citing the high employment rates under the Tories.

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PM starts this week’s PMQs 

PM Boris Johnson begins PMQs by mentioning the statue unveiled today at Waterloo station – the national monument is to mark Windrush Day. 

The PM also thanks to the armed forces for their services to the county and welcomes a deal with Moderna. 

He says he will be travelling to Rwanda to the Commonwealth Heads of government summit later.