Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from the latest session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through.
What they sparred about: Keir Starmer’s shock PMQs announcement that he wants more pensioners to be eligible for winter fuel payments. Sound the U-turn klaxon.
How it went down: There have been plenty of rumblings that a handbrake turn is coming on the government’s significant paring back of a social security payment meant to keep all oldies warm after Labour’s dire local election performance. The PM took everyone by surprise by pretty much confirming he would back down at the top of the session.
Helpful backbench intervention of the week: The U-turn was nicely set up by Luton North MP Sarah Owen, who asked Starmer about the dwindling savings of pensioners in her constituency. It seemed like a hostile opening. But …
In his own words: “I recognize that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis, including pensioners. As the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements as their lives go forward. That is why we want to ensure that as we go forward more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments,” Starmer replied.
Hold your horses: As for the all important details … it would be looked as part of a “fiscal event,” Starmer said. You’ll have to wait for the budget, folks.
What Kemi did next: At one point it looked like opposition leader Kemi Badenoch might have missed the lede, but she eventually caught up. She asked how Labour MPs (and the public) would ever trust the PM again after going “over the top” to vote for the hated winter fuel cut last September. She may be onto something there.
There’s always a stunt: She also deployed the “hands up who here wanted winter fuel cuts” stunt. It might (or might not) work on the telly later.
Attack blunted: Badenoch had clearly come prepared to goad Starmer about reports of a leaked memo from Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner’s department calling for Chancellor Rachel Reeves to increase taxes prior to this year’s Spring Statement. She repeatedly asked the PM to refuse to rule out new tax rises. Winter fuel chat distracted from this line of attack, however.
Gag of the week: Nigel Farage usually gets a mention in PMQs — whether he is there or not. Today’s session was no different. Starmer had a half-decent quip about the Reform UK leader’s absence (he’s on holiday in France) declaring: “He was the first through the e-gates.” A reference to one of the wins Starmer had been trying to champion after his European Union reset earlier this week.
Totally unscientific scores on the doors: Badenoch 7/10. Starmer 7/10. The PM deftly managed to distract attention from the brewing Cabinet row about tax rises and spending cuts with his well-timed winter fuel intervention. It is still a mega U-turn though, and that could mean trouble ahead. The Tory leader could have responded more quickly to the breaking news, but she will get her winter fuel attacks on news bulletins, so all was not lost.
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