October 26, 2022
12:04 pm
Prime Ministers Questions
Catch-up
PMQs live stream: Will Sunak support indyref2?
PMQs live stream: Sunak questioned on Braverman, mandates and general election
PMQs LIVE – ‘I’m a fighter not a quitter’ says Truss
PMQs Live – PM heckled, calls for her to resign
PMQs Live: PM going ahead with tax cuts for the rich – Starmer
PMQs Live – Liz Truss faces Keir Starmer in first Prime Minister’s Questions since mini-budget disaster
PMQs LIVE – cost of living, windfall tax & general election
PMQs LIVE – Calls for general election as windfall tax top topic
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.