Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced a rigorous and wide-ranging interrogation from senior MPs on Monday, 15 December 2025, during a session of the powerful Parliamentary Liaison Committee.
Confrontation Over NHS Strikes and Budget Leaks
The session opened with sharp criticism of ongoing industrial action by resident doctors. Members of the British Medical Association (BMA) had earlier that day rejected a government package aimed at solving a jobs crisis in medicine. Starmer did not hold back, labelling the strike action as "irresponsible" and noting it was "not for the first time" the BMA had acted in such a manner.
In a related matter of discipline, the Prime Minister addressed the sensitive issue of leaks from government, particularly concerning the Budget. He stated that pre-briefing details was "intolerable" and vowed to stop it. While he revealed he had removed individuals for leaking in the past, he was not specific about the context of those previous actions.
Farmers' Fears and Delayed VAWG Strategy
One of the most emotionally charged moments came when Labour MP Cat Smith, who chairs the Commons Procedure Committee, raised the human impact of impending changes to inheritance tax for farmers. Smith told the Prime Minister that some farmers with terminal diagnoses were "actively planning to expedite their own deaths so they die before April", when the controversial changes are set to take effect.
Elsewhere in domestic policy, Starmer was pressed on the delay to the government's Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) strategy. Dame Karen Bradley, Chair of the Home Affairs Committee, warned of "real world consequences", stating that rape crisis centres had already been impacted by the wait. The strategy was initially expected in the summer. The PM responded that he wanted it published "as soon as possible".
Foreign Policy: A Warning on Ukraine
With a crucial meeting with European leaders in Berlin scheduled for that evening, Starmer turned his attention to international affairs. He issued a stern warning about the dangers of a botched peace deal for Ukraine. Emphasising the continued threat from Russia, he stated the UK must remain "alert" to the danger.
"We cannot let up in our efforts to bring about a just and lasting peace," Starmer told the committee, underscoring his government's commitment to supporting Kyiv amidst the ongoing conflict.
The two-hour session provided a comprehensive overview of the pressing challenges facing the Prime Minister, from domestic crises in health and agriculture to the enduring geopolitical struggle in Eastern Europe.
