In a dramatic final confrontation before voters head to the polls, Sir Keir Starmer unleashed a scathing attack on Rishi Sunak during Prime Minister's Questions, directly targeting the embarrassing gambling allegations plaguing Conservative candidates.
The Labour leader didn't hold back, mocking the Prime Minister's inability to control his own party as multiple Tory figures face investigations for allegedly betting on the election date. "I'm not a betting man," Starmer declared to roaring laughter from opposition benches, "but if I were, I'd know this prime minister's days are numbered."
Sunak's Defensive Stance
Sunak appeared visibly uncomfortable throughout the exchange, attempting to defend his position while facing relentless pressure from both Starmer and his own backbenchers. The Prime Minister's responses grew increasingly defensive as Starmer pressed him on the ethical implications of the betting scandal.
"This isn't just about bad judgement," Starmer thundered across the dispatch box. "It's about the fundamental character of this Conservative government. While working people struggle with the cost of living, those in power are allegedly using insider information for personal gain."
Campaign in Crisis
The exchange highlighted the deepening crisis within Sunak's election campaign, which has been rocked by successive revelations about Conservative figures allegedly placing bets on the timing of the election. The scandal has dominated headlines and threatened to derail the Tories' final push to close the gap with Labour in the polls.
Starmer capitalised on the Prime Minister's discomfort, drawing sharp contrasts between what he called "Labour's serious plan for the country" and the "chaos and cronyism" of the Conservative campaign. The Labour leader's performance reinforced his party's commanding position in the polls with just days remaining until the election.
As MPs filed out of the chamber, the atmosphere was electric with the sense that this might be Sunak's final PMQs as Prime Minister. The betting scandal has become emblematic of what Labour hopes will be the final chapter of Conservative government after fourteen years in power.
