February 9, 2022
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The Government confirms the downgrading of French sovereign debt by Moody’s
Macron appoints centrist ally François Bayrou as France’s fourth prime minister in 2024
Moody's downgrades France credit rating over 'political fragmentation'
Why did Macron pick Bayrou?
Bayrou’s long conflictual relationship with the right
New French PM François Bayrou to grapple with national debt, budget
PMQs Live
PMQs – PM faces Starmer ahead of Spring Budget 2023
PM Rishi Sunak will face Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer in this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions.
The session is set to focus on the upcoming Budget (that’ll be announced by Chancellor Jeremy Hunt after PMQs).
Starmer will attempt to poke holes in the Tories’ economic plans, and the PM is likely to deflect from questions about the Budget – and instead tell the opposition to wait for the Chancellor’s announcement on the Budget.
Sir Keir has challenged the Chancellor to get the UK “off this path of managed decline” ahead of the Budget, pointing to data showing there are 3,000 fewer high-growth businesses in the UK than there were five years ago.
What time is PMQs today?
This week’s PMQs kicks off at its usual time of midday from the House of Commons. The session will last around 30 minutes. The Chancellor will then unveil his Budget to MPs, starting at around 12:30.
How can I watch PMQs live?
You will be able to watch PMQs on a live stream here on this page. It will also be broadcast live on the UK Parliament YouTube channel.
What’s on the agenda from today’s PMQs?
Prior to a scheduled visit to a fuel cell manufacturing plant in Surrey on Monday, Sir Keir voiced his disapproval of the Tories’ handling of the stalling economy. . “These are challenging economic times. But I know the spirit of enterprise, of creativity, of endeavour are as present in Britain today as they ever have been,” he said.
“This week the Government has a real opportunity to show they have the ambition and competence to govern. Either they show some proper leadership and get our country off this path of managed decline or stand aside for an incoming Labour government.
The Chancellor’s Budget will focus on increasing employment, with plans to prevent early retirement by raising the pension cap and boosting childcare allowances for benefit claimants, enabling parents to work longer hours. There will also be an increase in corporation tax and an extension of the energy price guarantee until June. However, the Labour party has contested the funding of these measures, particularly with regard to the windfall tax on oil and gas companies.
In addition, Sir Keir plans to use his upcoming opportunity to question the Prime Minister to criticise the recent controversy surrounding Gary Lineker and the government’s new immigration policy. The Labour leader also criticised the BBC for “caving to whingeing Tories” by suspending the Match of the Day host.
Today’s PMQs and Budget come as half a million workers across various sectors are expected to strike on Wednesday in protest of pay and conditions. Among those walking out are teachers, junior doctors, civil servants, and Tube workers.
Government all talk no action – Starmer
Starmer’s final question sees him say less than 1% of those arriving on small boats have been processed and the asylum system is broken.
He says that after 13 years of the Conservatives in power, trafficking gangs are “laughing all the way to the bank”.
The government, he adds, is offering “all talk and no action,” and the “same old gimmicks and empty promises”.
Labour does not want open borders
Starmer hits back and says Labour does not want open borders – and it is the Conservatives that have “lost control of the borders”.
He says if the prime minister were “serious,” he would be stealing Labour’s own plan for small boats, saying the government’s plan is “all talk”.
“If he was serious… he would smash the gangs, sort out the returns and clean up the utter mess.”
He then asks Sunak when he will achieve his plan to stop the boats.
Labour on side of people smugglers – Sunak
PM makes a controversial statement saying Labour is on the side of the people smugglers as they fail to recognise there is a global migration problem.
The UK will remain compassionate says PM but the new bill makes it clear people who arrive illegally will be deported.
Labour’s policy is open door immigration and unlimited asylum, PM says.
Five utter failures on asylum – Starmer
Starmer begins saying by referring to “five utter failures” in the Conservatives’ migration policies while in government.
“The problem just gets worse with every new gimmick”, the Labour leader says, referring to the government’s latest asylum proposals.
He asks if Sunak agrees with an assessment by the home secretary that there has been “inadequate” action on the issue.
PM Sunak: I will publish my tax returns
PM Sunak confirms he will publish his tax returns soon, including his US tax returns.
Happy International Women’s Day marked
PM praises International Women’s Day. He says his government is making “huge strides” for the equality of women. He announces a new women and girls strategy.
PMQs kicks off. PM Sunak is set
PMQs – ‘I rebut and refute any bullying claims made’ says Dominic Raab
‘It’s anti-buylling week, will he apologise’ – Rayner
Rayner now mentions the formal complaints that have been made against Dominic Raab.
‘In anti-bullying week, will he apologise?, she asks.
Raab responds by saying he’s “confident that I behaved professionally throughout” his time as minister.
Rayner responds by saying Raab had to demand an investigation into himself because the PM is “too weak to get a grip.”
“The deputy prime minister knows his behaviour was unacceptable, so what’s he still doing here?” she asks.
Raab responds by saying: “I will thoroughly rebut and refute any claims made,” he states, reiterating that Rayner “hasn’t put a specific point to me”.
“If she wants to I’ll be very happy to address it,” he says.
Rayner now asks about the lack of details about when the bullying allegations will be investigated. Rayner says the government has “no ethics, no integrity, no mandate”.
“When will they appoint an independent ethics adviser and drain the swamp?”, she asks.
Raab replies that “the recruitment of the new ethics adviser is already under way and taking place at pace,” to laughter from the Labour benches.
Rayner asks about tax havens
Rayner asks Raab whether he accepts that every pound hidden in tax havens is a pound lost from the pockets of working families.
Raab responds that the government wants “people to come to this country” and to create jobs for British people.
He says the government’s approach to non-dom status and incentives for big tech companies are enabling business people to come to the UK.
Rayner says working people are paying the price for the government’s choices, and says they’re choosing to protect corporate profits and not household incomes.
Raab responds that Rayner knows unemployment remains at the 50-year low in the UK and stands at “half the level left by the last Labour government”. – (BBC)
On Ukraine
Rayner begins on Ukraine, asking whether Raab agrees that the fact that Russia is launching missile attacks on Ukrainian civilian infrastructure shows the “utter contempt” President Putin has for the international order. – (BBC)
Raab responds to Angela Rayner’s first question, saying he “100%” agrees that Russia launching missile attacks on Ukrainian civilians shows Putin’s “utter contempt”. – (BBC)
Dominic Raab says the UK stands in solidarity with Poland and is working with allies to find out what happened.
Labour’s Clive Betts asks about integrity and whether Raab believes that all ministers should follow certain principles. He asks the PM if he agrees no minister who has had a complaint of bullying upheld against them should serve in government.
Raab says he behaved professionally throughout and as soon as he was notified about formal complaints against him he asked the PM to set up an independent investigation.
PMQs Live – Dominic Raab stands in for PM as inflation soars
This week’s PMQs will be dominated by the economy as inflation has risen to 11.1%.
Dominic Raab will be standing in for the prime minister who is attending the G20 summit in Bali.
How to watch PMQs today
PMQs will start at its usual time of midday in the House of Commons.
You can watch online here
What should we expect from PMQs?
Labour’s Angela Rayner is likely to question Dominic Raab over the economy, with Thursday’s Autumn statement looming, amid rising inflation and a cost of living crisis.
The deputy PM is likely to be questioned over allegations that he bullied junior colleagues. Labour’s Rayner has already called for an independent investigation into Raab. “Rishi Sunak clearly knew about Dominic Raab’s reputation when he reappointed him to his Cabinet,” she said.
PM Rishi Sunak has so far stood by his deputy, saying: “I don’t recognise that characterisation of Dominic and I’m not aware of any formal complaints about him.
“Of course there are established procedures for civil servants if they want to bring to light any issues. I’m not aware of any formal complaint about Dominic.”
PMQs live – Rishi Sunak to face a grilling after Gavin Williamson scandals
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to face a grilling from MPs today – at this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions.
The PM faces his third PMQs session where Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer is set to question him on the allegations around Gavin Williamson and his eventual resignation from Cabinet.
The PM has returned from the COP27 summit in Egypt where he met other world leaders for the first time since becoming the prime minister.
If the previous PMQs are anything to go by – this session will be another lively exchange between the PM and the Labour leader.
Sunak will be flanked by his cabinet ministers Dominic Raab and the controversial Suella Braverman – there may even be questions on Matt Hancock who recently entered the ITV reality show I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out of Here!
This week’s biggest scandal in UK politics has been the allegations made against Sir Gavin and his subsequent resignation – Labour is questioning the leadership and judgement of the prime minister.
Recent polls show a large lead for Labour – so today’s PMQs could be another defining chapter for the Tories.
Both sides will need to bring high energy to the session.
When is PMQs?
PMQs gets underway in the House of Commons at 12 pm each Wednesday afternoon. The session lasts around 30 minutes, usually finishing at around 12.30 pm.
How to watch PMQs
Today’s Prime Minister’s Questions can be viewed on the UK Parliament Youtube channel here – WATCH LIVE
