Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch faced off at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday in what was widely described as a maddening and near-pointless exchange, with both leaders appearing to suffer from selective memory loss. The session, which followed a chaotic fortnight in Westminster, saw the two leaders talk past one another, failing to answer each other’s questions on the appointment of Peter Mandelson as US ambassador and the ongoing US war with Iran.
Badenoch, who had criticised Donald Trump’s insults about Starmer the previous day, chose to focus her six questions on Mandelson, demanding to know what Starmer knew and when. She asked whether the prime minister had spoken to Mandelson before his appointment was confirmed. Starmer, however, claimed he could not remember details, saying only that the process had been properly observed but was flawed. Critics noted that failing to answer a straightforward question made him appear evasive.
Starmer then turned the tables, accusing Badenoch of forgetting her earlier support for joining the US in bombing Iran—a war he said was deeply unpopular with Nato allies and the British public. He also pressed her on why she had not sacked shadow justice secretary Nick Timothy, who had tweeted that he was disturbed by Muslims praying together in Trafalgar Square, describing it as an act of cultural and religious domination. Badenoch defended Timothy, saying he was merely defending “British values”.
The exchange highlighted the deepening dysfunction in British politics, with both leaders seemingly unable or unwilling to engage with pressing national and international issues. The PMQs session ended without any clear answers, leaving many observers frustrated by the lack of substance and accountability.
