PMQs: Starmer Prevails While Badenoch Focuses on a Petition

Tories Stay on Brand
Trade Secretary Kemi Badenoch doubled down on a classic Conservative talking point by emphasizing that “it’s not government that creates growth, it is business.” She backed her stance with criticism from the influential business lobby group CBI, which has warned that government policies lack coherence. Badenoch also highlighted recent farmer protests over Labour’s proposed tweaks to inheritance tax, suggesting that Labour’s tax-and-spend approach alienates the very communities it claims to represent.

Labour Projects Maturity
While Labour leader Keir Starmer didn’t exactly deliver a firebrand performance, he managed to position his party as the sensible, governing alternative in contrast to what he characterized as the Tories’ noisy opposition. Badenoch inadvertently bolstered his case.

Petition Politics Misstep
Badenoch referenced a viral petition signed by 2.7 million people calling for a fresh general election. While it’s gaining traction online, Starmer brushed it off, pointing out that Britain has a population of 68 million and ridiculing the suggestion as overly dramatic. “She talks about a petition — we had a massive petition on July 4 in this country,” Starmer said, a nod to Labour’s electoral mandate. He added, “We spent years transforming our party from a protest movement into a governing force. They [the Conservatives] are moving in the opposite direction.”

G20 Criticism Falls Flat
Badenoch attempted to score points by criticizing Starmer for “hob-nobbing” in Brazil amidst domestic challenges — a swipe at the PM’s attendance at the G20 summit. However, her remark appeared out of step, given the G20’s global importance for the U.K. As a rebuttal, Starmer wryly observed: “I suspect on their current trajectory, they don’t know whether they will attend the G20 or not.”

A Misfire of a Joke
Badenoch raised eyebrows (and sparked some groans) when she quoted warnings from biscuit-maker McVitie’s about how Labour’s budget plans might affect the economy. She quipped about another “ginger nut” causing the PM issues — a likely dig at Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. The off-color joke received criticism, with POLITICO suggesting it might be time to “sack” whoever dreamed it up.

Automotive Job Losses Loom Large
A thornier challenge for Starmer came with this week’s closure announcement from Vauxhall’s major factory in Luton. The automaker’s owners cited stringent government deadlines for the transition to electric vehicles, coupled with lagging consumer demand, as factors driving the decision. Badenoch seized on the news, calling it the “real-world effects” of Labour’s green agenda. She demanded to know whether the PM would stick to the planned ban on petrol car sales by 2030, even at the risk of further job losses.

This back-and-forth showcases the evolving battle lines between Labour’s focus on long-term policy goals and the Tories’ critique of those plans as disconnected from immediate economic realities.