News

Sir Keir Starmer vows Ukraine support in low-key first PMQs

Sir Keir Starmer had a gentle introduction to Prime Minister’s Questions, as Rishi Sunak asked him to continue the UK’s support for Ukraine. Their first Commons exchanges since the election were dominated by agreement on the need to continue sending military aid.

Mr Sunak, who is due to be replaced in November, avoided asking about any of Labour’s domestic priorities after its landslide election win. But Sir Keir was forced to defend the government’s approach to tackling poverty after a rebellion on the two-child benefits limit. On Tuesday, he suspended seven Labour backbenchers after they backed an SNP call for the limit to be scrapped.

The move was a sign of the new PM’s authority after winning a huge working majority, but risks further widening a rift with MPs on the left of the party. Sir Keir was greeted with a huge cheer from his own side as he arrived for his first PMQs since entering Downing Street earlier this month.

Continuing a theme since his election drubbing, Mr Sunak cracked a self-deprecating joke that he was “not the first person” British athletes heading to Paris for the Olympics would want to consult on how to win. It elicited pitying sighs from Labour’s enlarged cohort of MPs, struggling to fit on the green benches on the government side of the House of Commons.

He then used his six questions to ask Sir Keir about Ukraine and national security issues, subjects where the two main parties are heavily aligned, in a sign he may have wanted to avoid further Labour attacks on the Tories’ record.

Labour ministers have spent the weeks since the election laying into the state of public services and their financial inheritance, after returning to power for the first time since 2010. It was a theme Sir Keir continued at PMQs, telling MPs his government had “inherited” lots of crises, with “failure absolutely everywhere.

Source: BBC

In other news – Jennifer Lopez appreciates fans love in tough times amid split rumors

Jennifer Lopez has expressed deep gratitude to her fans following her lavish Bridgerton-themed birthday party.

Jennifer Lopez

Lopez celebrated her 55th birthday, which was held amidst ongoing rumors about her relationship with Ben Affleck. Read more

Back to top button