PMQs: Starmer Prevails by Deflecting Badenoch’s Tax Attack

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On the Offensive
Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized Labour’s active approach to governance, asserting that his party was “rolling up our sleeves” to address the nation’s issues. He showcased key policy initiatives, including a rise in the minimum wage, and sharply criticized the Conservative Party for what he described as severe neglect of public services, saying they had been left “on their knees.”

Trading Blows
Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch fired back, accusing Starmer of creating economic disorder through his budget. She claimed Labour had broken the public’s trust, citing the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), which projected that working families could be up to £3,536 worse off during this parliamentary term. “Why should anyone trust him again?” she asked pointedly.

Familiar Refrains
Responding to the criticism, Starmer dismissed the figure as a “fantasy,” comparing it to the economic strategies of former Prime Minister Liz Truss. Despite Truss having left office more than two years ago after just 49 days in power, Labour continued to reference her short-lived tenure as a symbol of Conservative economic failure.

Policy Contrasts
Despite their political sparring, Starmer suggested there might be more overlap in economic thinking than Badenoch would admit. He referred to a press conference she led earlier in the week, where she declined to say whether a future Conservative government would roll back Labour’s national insurance reforms. Starmer accused her of holding an “absurd position” — demanding investment while refusing to outline how to fund it. A luxury of being in opposition, he noted.

A Tangible Weakness
Badenoch shifted her line of attack to criticize Labour’s local governance, pointing to bin strikes in Birmingham, which led to an accumulation of 17,000 tonnes of uncollected waste. The visual — and olfactory — impact was hard to ignore. However, Starmer turned the tables by referencing Conservative-led council tax hikes, underlining the inconsistency of that criticism.

Questionable Claims
In one of the more eyebrow-raising moments, Badenoch claimed the Conservatives had handed over “the fastest-growing economy” to Labour last year — prompting audible laughter from across the government benches. Starmer swiftly countered by citing OBR data showing projected growth this decade, though he noticeably side-stepped the fact that the 2025 growth forecast had recently been downgraded.

Summary
The exchanges offered a revealing snapshot of the deep partisan divide — with both leaders keen to press their narratives ahead of the next election. Whether discussing economic performance or bin collections, each sought to frame the opposition as out of touch and unfit to govern — while the public, as ever, is left to sift through the political noise.