Sir Keir Starmer faced down Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, deflecting attacks on his front and backbenchers while highlighting a £270 billion defence spending increase. The session, the first since Starmer announced his resignation plan, saw Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle intervene to urge restraint in language.
Speaker Calls for Decorum
Sir Lindsay interrupted the exchanges, warning MPs: “When we leave this chamber, don’t be surprised when constituents feel they can use the same language against each other. Let us show a little bit more decorum and respect to each other.” The intervention came after Badenoch accused Labour ministers of being “traitors and deserters.”
Badenoch began by congratulating Starmer on Labour’s by-election win in Makerfield, where former Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham returned to Parliament. “I think I’m much happier with my new MP than he is with his,” she added, referencing Douglas Lumsden, who took Aberdeen South.
Defence Spending Under Fire
Badenoch challenged Starmer on defence funding, noting that Defence Secretary John Healey resigned the day after the PM claimed everything was under control. “What changed?” she asked. Starmer replied that the Conservatives won just 1.9% in Gorton and Denton and 2.2% in Makerfield, quipping: “At that rate it will take them 500 years to get back into power.” He added: “We’ve delivered the biggest sustained boost to defence spending since the 1980s – that’s £270 billion over this Parliament.” The government’s defence investment plan (Dip) will be published before the Nato summit on July 7.
Chancellor and Cabinet Targeted
Badenoch then attacked Chancellor Rachel Reeves, saying Starmer “wouldn’t be in this mess if his Chancellor had found money for the Dip.” Starmer defended Reeves, noting she “ended austerity inflicted on our country for 14 long years” and “got the economy growing.” Turning to Energy Secretary Ed Miliband, Badenoch accused him of “putting up energy bills and killing jobs” and described him as a “failed Labour leader.” She referenced Miliband’s past rivalry with his brother David and suggested he could become Andy Burnham’s chancellor if Burnham reaches No 10. “Does the Prime Minister think that this treachery should be rewarded by being appointed chancellor?” she asked.
Starmer countered by listing achievements: “the fastest fall in NHS waiting list for 17 years, money for new rights for renters and working people, and lifting half a million children out of poverty.” He added: “The test for every prime minister is handing over the country in better shape than you found it. I know I can do that, which is more than can be said for her predecessor, her predecessor’s predecessor, and her predecessor’s predecessor’s predecessor.”
Education Secretary Spat
Badenoch praised Starmer for sticking by his ministers, then targeted Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, accusing her of taxing private schools while teacher numbers fell. “It turns out appointing a spiteful class warrior as Education Secretary was a disaster,” she said. Starmer responded: “I am so proud that she is sitting there. She knows that for poor children, education is absolutely vital.”
On Labour backbenchers, Badenoch said they were “cheering so loudly while there are 400 knives stuck in” the Prime Minister’s back, borrowing the phrase “They don’t like it up ’em” from Dad’s Army – a remark that prompted Sir Lindsay’s intervention. She asked: “Does the Prime Minister feel betrayed by the people he got into Parliament?”
Starmer replied he would “miss” PMQs and said: “I’m very proud of every one of our MPs who’ve had a landslide Labour victory. We inflicted the biggest loss on the Tory Party opposite in the history of their party. We picked up our party, we turned it around.”
Liberal Democrat Response
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said he recognised “how difficult it was for the Prime Minister to make the decision he did on Monday. It is an important reminder, as we debate issues robustly in this House, that we are all human.”
A Conservative source claimed Phillipson aimed a barb at Badenoch as they left the chamber, with Badenoch responding: “I’ll fight you all the way – you’re destroying children’s lives.” A spokesman for Badenoch said she would “absolutely not” apologise for her language.
Starmer announced his resignation on Monday, setting the stage for a Labour leadership contest.
