March 15, 2023
10:22 am
Prime Ministers Questions
Catch-up
PMQs Live – Budget, BBC and immigration policy as Britain strikes today!
PMQs – Sunak grilled on controversial bill
PMQs – ‘I rebut and refute any bullying claims made’ says Dominic Raab
PMQs Live – Dominic Raab stands in for PM as inflation soars
PMQs LIVE: PM made “grubby deal” with Braverman, says Starmer
What time is PMQs today? PM Rishi Sunak faces Sir Keir
PMQs live stream: Will Sunak support indyref2?
PMQs live stream: Sunak questioned on Braverman, mandates and general election
I will co-operate with Partygate inquiry
Labour’s Ruth Jones asks if he will co-operate with partygate inquiry if called to give evidence by the Privileges Committee investigation into Johnson.
“Of course,” replies Sunak
Will Sunak support indyref2?
The SNP’s Alyn Smith says a poll showed 72% of Scots want to rejoin the EU – and asks the PM, in order to maintain credibility, how long can he deny Scotland’s democracy?
PM asks the MP to respect the result of the Brexit referendum.
Winter of uncertainty – SNP Ian Blackford
SNP’s Ian Blackford congratulates Sunak on becoming the first British Asian PM.
He says people are facing a “winter of uncertainty ahead” and asks PM to guarantee that benefits will rise in line with inflation.
Sunak doesn’t answer the question directly, but says he has “always acted in a way to protect the most vulnerable”, saying the Conservatives are a “compassionate party”.
Blackford on Braverman re-appointment
In his second question, Blackford asks whether Sunak will sack Suella Braverman for her data breach.
He accuses Sunak of a “sleazy backroom deal” with Braverman to get her back into No10 and bring the support of the right-wing of the party.
Sunak responds by talking about the positive conversation he had with Scotland’s FM Nicola Sturgeon and says he looks forward to working together “for the people of Scotland.”
He adds: “I believe in a strong United Kingdom”.
Labour lost last election – PM
PM responds by saying Starmer talks about mandates and elections but Labour tried to overturn the “biggest democratic vote in our country’s history” – a Brexit dig.
He says the Tories’ mandate is based on the manifesto they were elected on, and reminds Labour they lost the last general election.
He pledges to work for a stronger NHS, better schools, safer streets, control of borders and levelling up.
‘He says one thing, does another’ – Starmer
Starmer says PM “says one thing and does another” when it comes to levelling up in the north.
He repeats his call for a general election.
He points out that Sunak was beaten in the summer leadership contest by Liz Truss – who herself was “beaten by a lettuce“.
Mistakes were made – Sunak
Sunak makes a dig saying Starmer doesn’t leave north London. But if he does, “he will know that there are deprived areas in our rural communities, in our coastal communities, and across the south”.He says this govt will support them.
He says he’s “the first to admit that mistakes were made” in last few weeks, but goes on to say “that is the difference” between him and the Labour leader.
He says he was honest over the summer about the difficulties the country faced but Starmer was noy.
“He promised his party he would borrow billions and billions of pounds, he told his party what it wanted to hear,” he says.
“Leadership is not selling fairy tales, it is confronting challenges and that is what the public will get from this government.”
Sunak diverted public money from deprived areas – Starmer
Starmer says PM pretends to be on the side of working people but reminds people of the video that was leaked of Sunak saying he diverted public money from “deprived urban areas.”
“Rather than apologise or pretend he meant something else, why doesn’t he do the right thing and undo the changes he made to those funding formulas?,” Starmer says to loud cheers from the Labour benches.
Difficult decisions to restore economic stability – PM
The PM says difficult decisions need to be taken to restore economic stability and confidence.
PM confirms chancellor will set out that out in the Autumn statement in a few weeks.
He says the government will always protect the most vulnerable, as it did in Covid.
He says “we will restore economic stability in a fair and compassionate way”.
‘Was home secretary right to resign?’ – Starmer
New PM Sunak is cheered as he arrives.
He is welcomed by Starmer and several point to the historic moment for Britain to have its first British Asian PM.
Then Starmer asks: “Was the home secretary right to resign last week for a breach of security?”
PM says Braverman made an error of judgement but she had recognised that and he welcomed her back into a united cabinet.
Starmer presses again on Suella Braverman.
He says the new PM promised to govern with integrity but points he just re-appointed a woman forced to quit her job just a week ago.
Starmer asks: “Have officials raised concerns about his decision to appoint her?”