During a parliamentary session, Starmer criticizes the Tories for pretending everything is fine with the economy, warning that if they continue to do so, they will be in opposition for a “very, very long time.” He highlights the disparity in pay rises and losses for different income groups, questioning the government’s priorities. Additionally, he addresses concerns about strikes and the need for functioning infrastructure to support economic growth. Starmer emphasizes the importance of addressing antisocial behavior and increasing police presence to ensure safety in communities. He also defends Labour’s decisions in response to economic challenges, attributing the current situation to the Tories’ mismanagement.
Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak clash over winter fuel payments and public sector pay at PMQs – UK politics live | Politics
Starmer says Tories will be out of office for ‘very, very long time’ if they pretend everything fine with economy
Sunak says a train driver on £65,000 will get a pay rise of almost £10,000. But a pensioner on £13,000 will lose money. Why?
Starmer says at the election he did not pretend everything is fine. If the Tories carry on pretending that, they will be on the opposition benches for a “very, very long time”.
We lost an average of 3 million working days a year to strikes under his watch. But you cannot fix the economy if the trains don’t work and you can’t fix the economy.
He quotes Kemi Badenoch on means-testing, saying she is favourite in the Tory leadership contest.
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Karen Bradley (Con) asks for an assurance that Staffordshire Moorlands won’t be forced into a devolution deal against its will.
Starmer says local people should be considered. But he implies reform is needed, saying he wants to ensure areas have ‘“skin in the game” when decisions are taken.
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Gurinder Josan (Labour) asks about a stabbing in his constituency.
Starmer says the government is determined to tackle knife crime. Zombie-style knives are being banned.
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Tim Farron (Lib Dem) asks about fatal accidents on the A66 in his Westmorland constituency. He says his constituents are worried about the announcement to put an upgrade on hold. Will the government review that?
Starmer says this is a serious issue. The government will conclude its review as soon as it can.
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Deidre Costigan (Lab) asks what the government will do to ensure people in places like Ealing feel safe.
Starmer says this is a serious issue. He goes on:
I have heard too many people say that antisocial behavior is some sort of low level issue. It really impacts lives across the country. We have to tackle it, and that is why we will put more police on the streets, we will have more effective powers to deal with antisocial behavior and produce a Young Futures programs to divert young people who are getting into trouble.
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Rebecca Paul (Con) says she is a new MP, but all MPs want pensioners to live with dignity. Will the PM consider broadening the eligibility for the winter fuel payment, so more low-income pensioners can get it?
Starmer says this decision has been taken because of the £22bn black hole in the economy. The Tories “broke the economy”, he says. He says Labour was elected to clear up the mess.
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Pete Wishart (SNP) says all Starmer is offering people is ‘things can only get worse”. He asks why Starmer is so unpopular.
Starmer says he remembers when the SNP used to sit somewhere else in the chamber (the seating for the third biggest party). So he won’t take lectures from them on popularity, he says.
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Alistair Carmichael (Lib Dem) asks why a windfarm in Shetland was recently paid not to produce energy.
Starmer says producers are sometimes asked not to produce energy to balance the grid. There is not enough capacity. But that is not good enough. It is a problem the last government did not fix. He says he will arrange a meeting for Carmichael with a minister to discuss this.
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Luke Charters (Lab) asks Starmer to confirm the government will speed up planning.
Starmer says he will do this, “a tough decision [the Tories] were not prepared to make”.
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Harriet Cross (Con) criticises the government for the increase in the windfall tax on energy firms, suggesting it will cost jobs in the north-east of Scotland (where she is an MP).
Starmer says he expects oil and gas to play a part in Britain’s energy for years to come.
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Emma Foody (Lab) asks about Oasis tickets being resold at a mark-up, and asks if the government will act to stop this.
Starmer says he is pleased Oasis have got back together. But it is “depressing’ to hear of price hikes, and the government is reviewing what it can do to stop this.
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Gavin Robinson, the DUP leader, thanks Starmer for visiting Northern Ireland last month and for meeting injured police officers. He asks if the government will increase funding for security in Northern Ireland.
Starmer says it was important for him to go to Northern Ireland, meet injured police officers and thank them. He says this is mainly a matter for the NI executive, but he has been talking to the Police Service of Northern Ireland about this.
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Read the full story on www.theguardian.com
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/live/2024/sep/04/keir-starmer-pmqs-treasury-state-pension-rise-winter-fuel-labour-conservative-leadership-uk-politics-latest-updates