As Britain gears up for Budget day, Kemi and Keir’s weekly tussle this week was largely focused on the economy, which Kemi claims has been getting worse and Keir claims has been getting better.
The Budget
The upcoming Budget cast a long shadow over yesterday’s session [19th November] of PMQs, as Tory leader Kemi Badenoch criticised the government’s inability to get on top of the widespread speculation about Rachel Reeves’ potential tax changes.
This is despite the fact that it the Budget has not actually happened yet, and Reeves’ plans will not be announced until next Wednesday [26th November].
It has been speculated that Reeves will break Labour’s manifesto pledges on tax, and seek to either increase taxes or freeze income tax thresholds. These measures would raise vital revenue for the government, but go against her golden fiscal rules, on which her economic credibility is built.
Badenoch criticised the government for making a “U-turn” over a rumoured increase in income tax: “This is the first Budget to unravel before it has even been delivered.”
Badenoch also said: “Inflation has nearly doubled since Labour came into office”
“That is making life miserable for all of those people out there.”
Starmer hit back at the Conservatives’ economic record when in office: “What we [Labour] will not do is inflict austerity on the country.”
He also hit at short-lived Tory Prime Minister Liz Truss’ disastrous mini-budget: “What we will not do is inflict a borrowing spree, like Liz Truss did, which also inflicted huge damage.”
Starmer highlighted Badenoch’s commitment to Truss’ economic regime during her time as a Treasury Minister in her ill-fated government: “She was a Treasury Minister during the worst decline in living standards on record.”
“She and the Conservatives have no credibility on the economy.”
Starmer affirmed Labour’s commitment to Chancellor Reeves’ fiscal rules, labelling them as “iron-clad.”
Later in the session, Starmer affirmed that there would be no return to austerity under Labour: “The austerity that the Conservatives imposed on the country destroyed our public services, and we are still paying the price.”
The oil and gas industry
Badenoch also raised the difficult situation currently faced by American oil and gas corporation Exxonmobil, which is set to close a chemicals plant in Fife, Scotland, putting over 400 jobs at risk of loss.
Badenoch said: “Last week, I had a roundtable with energy companies, and what they had to say about this Prime Minister and his Energy Secretary is unprintable.”
“Our oil and gas industry is dying.”
In response, Starmer pointed out that the Exxonmobil site in Fife was “currently losing £1 million a week.”
“We have been meeting the company for more than six months and explored every possible reasonable avenue.”
International Men’s Day
The issue of International Men’s Day, which was celebrated yesterday, was raised by Labour MP Luke Charters: “Will the Prime Minister, as a dad himself, agree that strength as a man means being open about our emotions, and that we should never face challenges on our own?”
This allowed Starmer to highlight the publication of the government’s first ever men’s health strategy for England, which Starmer said aims to: “Tackle challenges that disproportionately affect men, including certain cancers and suicide.”
Lee Anderson’s intervention
Reform MP Lee Anderson accused the government of peddling “dog-whistle politics.”
“Our Reform-led councils have already identified savings of more than £330 million in the first six months.”
“will he guarantee that all the cancelled elections from this year and the proposed local elections for next year will go ahead in May 2026? Go on—be a man.”
Starmer hit back Anderson: “I did not realise the hon. Gentleman was quite so good at stand-up comedy.”
He also criticised Reform leader Nigel Farage for failing to condemning the racist comments of fellow Reform MP Sarah Pochin, or a Reform UK councillor that labelled children in care as “evil.”
Final thoughts
The fact that the issue of the Budget and UK economy went unresolved in the session is symptomatic of its unresolved nature – only Reeves will be able to fully settle the issue when she makes her full budget announcements next week.
Until then, it’s likely speculation about Labour’s economic plans will continue to grow.
Featured image via House of Commons / Flickr.
