February 9, 2022
12:07 pm
The Government approves the extension – for six months – of the main transport discounts, as it promised to Podemos last Thursday in exchange for
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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
Quick recap on key moments at PMQs?
This week’s Prime Minister’s Questions was, as expected, a fiery face-off between the embattled PM and Keir Starmer. Many interesting points have emerged from this week’s PMQs, including ANOTHER U-turn.
There was heckles for her to “resign” and many MPs asked why she hadn’t quit. Starmer and Ian Blackford made digs about chancellor Jeremy Hunt being the real prime minister.
- PM said she was “completely committed” to raising pension in line with inflation (the triple lock policy). It feels like a U-turn on a U-turn after her new chancellor on Monday said the government could not commit to it
- Truss did not make the same promise to raise benefits in line with inflation when asked by a Tory MP
- “I’m a fighter, not a quitter” – PM said after Starmer read out a list of all the PM’s abandoned economic policies
- Starmer said Truss had “crashed” the economy and pointed out her previous promise of “no spending reductions” – the chancellor now says there will be cuts. In response, Truss said spending would rise, but the government needed to get value for taxpayers’ money
- PM apologised for her mistakes and the many U-turns
– WATCH: THIS WEEK’S PMQs & Follow along with TEXT updates
PMQs LIVE – ‘I’m a fighter not a quitter’ says Truss
Lib Dems Ed Davey
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey asks if support including the Carers’ Allowance will rise at least in line with inflation.
Truss says her government introduced the energy price guarantee.
“We will always support the most vulnerable, they will always be our priority,” she finishes.
SNP’s Ian Blackford says it’s “not just pensioners feeling pain” listing increases in inflation, mortgage rates and energy bills.
SNPs Ian Blackford
“Why does she expect anyone else to pay the price for her failure?”
Truss responds by saying Blackford cannot take yes for an answer and says she has been clear in protecting the triple lock on pensions.
She then criticised Blackford accusing him of trying to create divisions with indyref2.
Truss commits to inflation-linked pensions increase
Asked about increasing pensions in line with inflation, Truss says: “I am completely committed to the triple lock and so is the chancellor”.
I’m a fighter not a quitter – Truss
The PM says “I am a fighter and not a quitter”.
“I have acted in the national interest to make sure that we have economic stability.”
Why are you still here? – Starmer
Labour leader says the only mandate the PM has ever had was built on fantasy economics and ended in disaster.
He says the country has nothing to show for it except the destruction of the economy and the imposition of the Tory party.
Starmer then mentions Monday’s mini-Budget being ditched. “Her chancellor is gone as well, so why is she still here?” Starmer asks.
Why should Brits trust Tories with economy?
Starmer says Truss is the one now asking questions because Labour are the government-in-waiting whilst the Tories are the opposition-in-waiting.
He says the PM shouldn’t have conducted an experiment on the British public with her economic plans.
“Why should the British people trust the Tories with the economy?” he asks.
Truss responds by saying Starmer isn’t condemning any of her new policies announced by the new chancellor. She criticises Starmer for not dealing with unions.
Spending cuts on the table because Tories crashed the economy – Starmer
PM says government spending will go up next year and the year after, but they need to get value for taxpayers’ money.
Starmer says spending cuts are only on the table because the Conservatives “crashed the economy” and working people will have to pay £500 more per month on mortgages.
Economic condition
“The fact is interest rates are rising across the world, and the economic conditions have worsened. We are being honest, we are levelling with the public,” Truss says.
On the train strikes, she says: “We are bringing forward policies that are going to make sure our railways are protected.
“He backs the strikers, we back the strivers.”
How can you be held to account when you’re not in charge – Starmer
Starmer says during the last PMQs the PM ignored every question put to her and criticised Labour’s plan to put a six-month freeze on energy bills, but says the new chancellor has now made it her policy.
He asks: “How can she be held to account when not in charge?”
Truss responds to Starmer’s second question.
“I had to take the decision because of the economic situation to adjust our policies,” she says.
“I am somebody who is prepared to front up, I’m prepared to take the tough decisions, unlike the honourable gentleman,” she says, adding “he’s got no plan.”
Starmer hits back by saying the PM promised “absolutely no spending reductions” and Tory MPs cheered it, pointing out the new Chancellor has now said there will be cuts to government budgets.
He asks: “What is the point of a prime minister whose promises don’t last a week?”
Will you be gone by Christmas? – Starmer
Starmer says a book is being written about Liz Truss’s time in office – saying that it’s due out by Christmas.
He asks whether that is the book’s release date or when she will be gone by?
The PM responds by saying she’s been in office for under two months and has delivered the energy price guarantee, reversed the National Insurance hike and her government is going to “crack down on militant unions.”
And so it begins ….
Truss is on her feet in the Commons. The first question from Labour’s Justin Madders.
He asks why Kwasi Kwarteng lost his job over the mini-Budget disaster but she got to keep hers. He also asks why she didn’t go to the Commons on Monday to apologise.
She responds by saying she is sorry and admits she has made mistakes and is getting on with the job.
She’s heckled with calls for her to resign.
When is PMQs? Liz Truss to be grilled on U-turns
This week’s Prime Minister’s Questions may just be the most important task facing Liz Truss this week. The PM has not spoken in public since a brief press conference on Friday.
It has led to accusations the PM is dodging questions and refusing to answer to the disastrous mini-Budget and the many U-turns that came after.
At an urgent session in Parliament on Monday, Penny Mordaunt was forced to deny Liz Truss was “cowering under her desk” after the PM skipped an urgent question session in parliament.
She did put in a brief appearance at Parliament, sitting on the frontbenches looking pale as her new chancellor Jeremy Hunt reversed most of her mini-Budget. Truss gave the BBC an interview in which she apologised for ‘mistakes made.’
Mordaunt faced laughter and calls of “where is she” as she took the PM’s place.
Sir Keir Starmer said: “Where is the Prime Minister? Hiding away, dodging questions, scared of her own shadow. The lady is not for turning – up.”
He said of Ms Mordaunt’s presence: “I guess under this Tory Government, everybody gets to be Prime Minister for 15 minutes.”
Today, the opposition and MPs will get the chance to question the PM directly.
When is the next PMQs?
PMQs starts at its usual time of midday.
You can stream it here or follow the live blog.
Why did Liz Truss miss the urgent question?
No reason was given as to why Liz Truss missed the urgent question but Penny Mordaunt said she was away on “urgent business.”
Sir Keir said the decision showed Ms Truss had “lost all credibility”.
What’s on the agenda for this week’s PMQ?
It’s likely to heavily focus on the ripping up of her mini-Budget and the many U-turns. Almost all the plans she was elected on have now been reversed as her new chancellor tries to reassure and calm the financial markets.
The PM may be expected to apologise in parliament, not only for the economic mess but the political mess and the stress on the public.
PMQs Live: PM going ahead with tax cuts for the rich – Starmer
Tory incompetence & scapegoating the Bank of England – Blackford
SNP’s Ian Blackford says he would have thought Truss would have said that benefits will be uprated in line with inflation.
He mentions the rise in interest rates, saying it is hitting average families with mortgages with an extra £450 a month.
“Thirty-seven days into the job this is literally the cost of the PM’s incompetence,” he says.
He asks if she will give up her plan to save her chancellor by scapegoating the Bank of England?
The PM responds by saying the action the government is taking means families are not facing “gargantuan energy bills”
She says Blackford and Scottish MPs could help by building nuclear power stations and helping get more gas from the North Sea in order to deliver a more secure energy future.
Blackford responds by saying the PM is “ignoring the damage of the chaos of the mini-budget and is worried about saving the chancellor’s job”.
“Many families are now worried not just about heating their homes but keeping their homes.
“The scale of this Tory crisis is frightening.
“100,000 household a month are up for mortgage renewals – people can’t afford to pay an extra £4,500 a year in interest.”
Truss responds by saying the government is helping people heat their homes and would like to see more support delivering energy security.
“Interest rates are rising globally and they are a decision for the independent Bank of England.”
Truss going ahead with tax cuts for rich – Starmer
Starmer says PM is going forward with her £18bn of tax cuts for the richest and “those who live off stocks and shares.”
He asks why the PM expects working people to pick up the bill for unfunded tax cuts for those at the top?
He also asks if she will stick to a pledge during the Tory leadership contest that she is “not planning public spending reductions.”
Truss responds with: “What our budget has delivered is security for families for the next two winters.
“It’s made sure we’re going to see higher economic growth, lower inflation and more opportunities.
“The way we’ll get our country growing is through more growth, more jobs and more opportunities – not through higher taxes, higher spending and his friends in the union stopping hard working people get to work.”
