PMQs live: Kemi Badenoch challenges Keir Starmer over taxes and ‘emergency budget’ before next week’s spring statement

March 19, 2025

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Key events

John Hayes (Con) says crossbows can cost lives in the hands of killers. The last government launched a consultation on their use. They are as powerful as guns. Will the government give a clear decision before Easter on what it will do about this.

Starmer says Hayes is right to raise this. The government is working on this, he says.

Lee Dillon (Lib Dem) says President Putin is “playing for time” and not signing up to a ceasefire. He says now is the time to seize frozen Russian assets.

Starmer says the asset issue is “complicated”. The UK is working with other countries to see what is possible. But it is “not straightforward”.

Lee Anderson (Reform UK) says he comes to the Commons to ask sensible questions.

MPs laugh at this.

Anderson ploughs on, asking by how much the world’s temperature would fall if the UK achieved net zero tomorrow.

Starmer says Anderson knows his views on net zero. But he accuses Reform UK of “fawning over Putin”, and says they have not even got enough MPs to fit in the back of a taxi.

Uma Kumaran (Lab) says Straford and Bow, her constituency, has the largest number of high-rise buildings with dangerous cladding in the country.

Starmer says the government has signed a contract with developers to address this.

John Cooper (Con) says the MoD is using procurement systems designed for peacetime. Will the PM change this?

Yes, says Starmer. But he says the Tories left a mess, having not made the investment needed.

Anneliese Midgley (Lab) asks about the TV drama Adolescence, which explores the radicalisation of young men, and asks the PM to back a campaignt to tackle toxic misogyny.

Starmer says he is watching this at home with his teenage children, and it is very good. The radicalisation of young men online is abhorrent, he says. It is important to tackle this growing problem.

Nick Timothy (Con) asks about compensation for victims of the infected blood scandal, saying some victims are having compensation cut.

Starmer says the Tories committed to this compensation, but did not budget for it. The government is committed to acting on the inquiry’s recommendation, he says.

Brian Leishman (Lab) asks about support for workers at the Grangemouth oil refinery who are losing their jobs.

Starmer says every employee made redundant will get 18 months’ pay.

Alison Griffiths (Con) asks about the Santander bank closures. What is the government doing to ensure people are not left without access to banking services?

Starmer says the governmnet is rolling out 350 banking hubs.

Chris Murray (Lab) says there are more homeless children in Edinburgh than in the whole of Wales.

Starmer says this is an appalling indictment of the SNP’s record.

Danny Kruger (Con) asks why the governmnet is not consulting on some of its plans for disability cuts.

Starmer says the Tories had 14 years to improve the system.

Paul Davies (Lab) welcomes government moves to tackle problems caused by off-road bikes

Starmer says the government’s crime bill is addressing this.

Paul Kohler (Lib Dem) asks for more support for people with eating disorders.

Starmer says too many people with these disorders are not getting the help they need. He will update Kohler on what the government is doing about this, he says.

Carla Denyer, the co-leader of the Green party, says the economic system is deeply unfair. She says a wealth tax would be fairer than the disability cuts.

Starmer says the tax system is proportionate, and the rich are paying more. But the Green party’s manifesto proposed £80bn in extra borrowing – which would do what Liz Truss did to the economy, he says.

Laurence Turner (Lab) asks about resources for the police.

Starmer says the government is giving the police money to recruit 13,000 more officers.

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, also asks about the impact of the NICs increase on care providers. Peers passed a Lib Dem amendment to exempt the care sector. He asks Starmer to deny reports Labour MPs will vote to take out that amendment today.

Starmer says the government had to raise extra money. He says Davey cannot welcome the extra money in the budget, but oppose the measures needed to fund it.

Davey turns to illegal hare coursing. He says criminal gangs are terrorising rural communities. They are threatening farmers, and farmers are saying it is only a matter of time before someone is killed. He calls for a rural crime strategy.

Starmer says he is grateful to Davey for raising this important issue. The government has a rural crime strategy, but he will work with Davey to develop this further.

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PMQs live: Kemi Badenoch challenges Keir Starmer over taxes and ‘emergency budget’ before next week’s spring statement

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PMQs live: Kemi Badenoch challenges Keir Starmer over taxes and ‘emergency budget’ before next week’s spring statement

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