Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer deflected criticism of his top team and backbenchers at his first Prime Minister's Questions since announcing his resignation plan. Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch labelled Labour ministers as “traitors and deserters” and questioned whether Starmer felt “betrayed” by the MPs he led to victory two years ago.
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle intervened during the heated session, urging both leaders to choose their words carefully. “When we leave this chamber, don’t be surprised when constituents feel they can use the same language against each other,” he warned. “Let us show a little bit more decorum and respect to each other.”
Badenoch Targets Labour's Record
Badenoch congratulated Starmer on Labour’s by-election win in Makerfield, where outgoing Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham returned to Parliament. She quipped, “I think I’m much happier with my new MP than he is with his,” referring to Douglas Lumsden, who retained Aberdeen South for the Conservatives.
She then challenged Starmer on defence spending, noting that Defence Secretary John Healey resigned after claiming the Prime Minister was “unable and the Treasury unwilling to fund the defence of our country.” Starmer countered that the government had delivered “the biggest sustained boost to defence spending since the 1980s – that’s £270 billion over this Parliament,” and said the defence investment plan (Dip) would be published before the Nato summit on July 7.
Chancellor and Energy Secretary Under Fire
Badenoch attacked Chancellor Rachel Reeves, asking if Starmer felt “let down” by her failure to fund the Dip. Starmer replied that Reeves “ended austerity inflicted on our country for 14 long years – this is the Chancellor who 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 decision to stand against his brother David in the 2010 leadership race, saying, “When the going got tough, he jumped into bed with the mayor of Manchester – it’s not the first time he’s betrayed someone close to him, is it?” She asked if such “treachery should be rewarded by being appointed chancellor,” alluding to reports that Miliband could become Burnham’s chancellor if Burnham reaches Downing Street.
Starmer responded by highlighting his government’s achievements: “the fastest fall in NHS waiting list for 17 years, with the money for new rights for renters and working people – and we’re 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 Defended
Badenoch praised Starmer for sticking by his ministers but singled out Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, accusing her of having “taxed private schools to pay for more teachers but the number of teachers has gone down – it turns out appointing a spiteful class warrior as Education Secretary was a disaster.” Starmer defended Phillipson, saying, “I am so proud that she is sitting there, and so should everybody in this country who cares about social mobility. 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. They don’t like it up ’em,” borrowing a phrase from the sitcom Dad’s Army. Hoyle objected to this language. Starmer responded that he would “miss” PMQs and added, “I’m very proud of every one of our MPs who’ve had a landslide Labour victory, coming from all different backgrounds. 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 leader Sir Ed Davey acknowledged “how difficult it was for the Prime Minister to make the decision he did on Monday,” adding, “It is an important reminder, as we debate issues robustly in this House, that we are all human.”
A Conservative source claimed that Phillipson aimed a barb at Badenoch as they left the chamber, and Badenoch responded, “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.
