PMQs | Starmer and Badenoch clash at first PMQs since the budget | Wednesday 3 December 2025

Key Concepts

• Cost of Living Measures: Government initiatives to alleviate financial pressure on households, including frozen rail fares, prescription charges, and energy bill reductions.
• Infant Formula Affordability: New measures to reduce the cost of infant formula for parents and carers.
• Child Poverty Reduction: Government strategies and policies aimed at lifting children out of poverty, including the abolition of the two-child cap and the expansion of breakfast clubs.
• Economic Stability and Growth: Government's focus on creating conditions for economic stability, avoiding austerity, and driving growth through devolution and investment.
• OBR (Office for Budget Responsibility): An independent body that provides economic forecasts and analysis.
• Taxation and Public Services: Debates surrounding tax increases on working people, their necessity for funding public services, and the impact on individuals and businesses.
• NHS Waiting Lists: Government efforts to reduce waiting times for medical treatments and appointments.
• Small Business Support: Measures to assist small businesses, including business rate relief and flexibility in licensing.
• Gambling Addiction and Advertising: Concerns about the impact of gambling addiction and the need to regulate advertising.
• Criminal Justice System Reforms: Proposed changes to the criminal justice system, including potential alterations to jury trials.
• Water Supply Crisis: A specific instance of prolonged water outages affecting a community and the government's response.
• Irish Unity Discussions: Ongoing conversations and preparations regarding potential constitutional change in Ireland.
• AI Deepfakes and Democracy: The threat posed by AI-generated disinformation to democratic processes and the need for reform.
• Workers' Rights: Legislation aimed at strengthening employment rights and preventing exploitative practices.
• Islamophobia and Freedom of Speech: The balance between protecting freedom of speech and combating anti-Muslim hatred.
• Injustice of IP Sentences: Concerns about individuals serving lengthy prison sentences under Indeterminate Public Protection (IP) sentences.
• Pain Management in Healthcare: Plans to improve support for individuals suffering from chronic pain.
• Community Healthcare: Investment in neighborhood health centers to provide accessible local healthcare services.
• Ukraine Conflict: The ongoing war in Ukraine and Russia's stance on peace negotiations and NATO.

Government Initiatives on Cost of Living and Child Poverty

The Prime Minister announced new measures to tackle the cost of living, building on existing actions such as frozen rail fares, prescription charges, and a £150 reduction in energy bills for every family. A significant new initiative aims to make infant formula more affordable for parents and carers. This will involve clearer guidance for retailers and enabling parents to use loyalty points and vouchers, potentially saving them up to £500 before their child's first birthday. These measures are presented as part of a broader strategy to lift half a million children out of poverty, with a child poverty strategy to be published later in the week. The abolition of the two-child cap is highlighted as a key policy that will lift over 3,000 children in a specific constituency out of poverty. The government also claims to have boosted the national minimum wage by £1,500 and is driving economic growth through devolution and investment across the country.

Opposition's Critique of Government Economic Policy and Leadership

The Leader of the Opposition raised concerns about the government's handling of the economy, particularly in relation to the budget and the role of the Chancellor. They questioned whether the person at the top of an organization in "total shambles" should resign. Specific criticisms included the alleged forced resignation of the head of the OBR for stating the Chancellor did not need to raise taxes, and accusations of the Chancellor briefing the media to twist facts and break promises. The opposition also cited internal government comments, such as "The handling of this budget has been a disaster from start to finish," and that the Chancellor and Prime Minister "look weak and incompetent." They argued that tax increases on working people had real-world consequences, leading hundreds of thousands to draw down their pensions. The opposition also challenged the affordability of policies like removing the two-child benefit cap, noting the Prime Minister's previous stance and the removal of the whip from MPs who supported it. They characterized the government as the "party of child poverty" and questioned the Prime Minister's commitment to his own party's backbenchers.

Prime Minister's Defense and Economic Performance Claims

The Prime Minister defended the government's economic record, stating that growth is up, wages are up more than in the previous ten years of the opposition's tenure, and there have been interest rate cuts, reduced NHS waiting lists, and record investment. He contrasted this with the opposition's "austerity and reckless disparent on borrowing." Regarding the OBR, the Prime Minister paid tribute to its head and reiterated support for the OBR, stating that the Chancellor's speech was not misleading according to the OBR. He emphasized that the government is fixing the "mess" left by the opposition and highlighted the £150 off energy bills, frozen rail fares, and prescription charges as key measures. The Prime Minister also defended the abolition of the two-child benefit cap, stating it is a "moral mission" and that lifting half a million children out of poverty is good for children, the economy, and the NHS. He accused the opposition of driving hundreds of thousands of children into poverty and demanded an apology.

Specific Issues Raised During Prime Minister's Questions

1. Water Supply Crisis in Royal Tunbridge Wells: Sir Ed Davey highlighted a public health emergency in Royal Tunbridge Wells where tens of thousands of people had been without water for five days, the second such incident in three years caused by Southeast Water. He questioned whether the Prime Minister would convene Cobra and get a grip on the crisis. The Prime Minister acknowledged the seriousness of the issue and the repeated failures of Southeast Water, stating that the government is bearing down on the situation.

2. Irish Unity and the Good Friday Agreement: A question was raised about the deepening conversations regarding a new Ireland and the need for joint preparation by the Irish and British governments for constitutional change to avoid a "mess like Brexit." The Prime Minister affirmed support for the Good Friday Agreement and its process for future decisions, emphasizing the government's focus on working constructively with the executive in Northern Ireland.

3. Gambling Addiction and Advertising: Dr. Rosie Duffield welcomed the Chancellor's announcement to tax harmful online gambling products and urged action to tackle harmful gambling advertising to protect children. The Prime Minister acknowledged the surge in harm from online gambling, with a 91% increase in NHS referrals. He stated that the government is working with the industry to ensure adverts do not exacerbate harm and is investing £26 million to help the Gambling Commission crack down on illegal adverts.

4. Criminal Justice System Reforms: Paul Holmes raised concerns about proposed changes to criminal trials without juries, citing previous statements from the Justice Secretary and the Prime Minister. He questioned the public's trust in the government given issues with the Chancellor and Justice Secretary. The Prime Minister defended the proposed changes, stating that 90% of criminal cases go to magistrates' courts, 7% plead guilty in Crown Court, leaving only 3% for jury trials. He asserted that sensible changes are being made to ensure victims get justice, which he claims was denied under the previous government.

5. NHS Waiting Lists and Local Healthcare: Several MPs raised concerns about NHS waiting lists and the need for improved healthcare services. John Taylor highlighted long delays for X-ray results in his constituency. The Prime Minister stated that £29 billion in extra investment has been made in the NHS, with 250 neighborhood health centers opening and over 5 million extra appointments being delivered, resulting in a reduction of 230,000 waiting list patients. Jane Kirkham welcomed investment in Truro Health Park as a neighborhood health center, emphasizing its role in providing convenient access to services and protecting GP services.

6. Small Business Taxes and Support: An MP raised concerns from a constituent, Clare Howard Jewelry, whose taxes are increasing, contrary to the Chancellor's impression of tax reductions. The Prime Minister explained that temporary business rate relief from the pandemic is ending, leading to re-evaluation. He stated that the government is permanently lowering rates for leisure, retail, and hospitality, and introducing £4 billion in transitional relief to cap increases for small businesses. He also mentioned a small business strategy that includes measures like late payment support and licensing flexibility.

7. Neurology Care and Waiting Times: An MP, whose mother has multiple sclerosis, highlighted a 65% increase in waiting times for neurology appointments since 2020. He urged the Prime Minister to formalize efforts and support an NHS modern service framework for neurology. The Prime Minister confirmed the government's focus on reducing waiting lists and improving care, mentioning a 10-year health plan with a new modern service framework and actions to improve neurology care, cutting waiting times by over 15,000.

8. Service Charges for Leaseholders: An MP raised concerns about "outrageous rip-off service charges" imposed by housing associations, citing examples of charges for non-existent services and unexplained doubling of charges. The Prime Minister stated that the Leasehold and Freehold Reform Act is being implemented to strengthen regulation, protect leaseholders from abuse, and provide standardized service charge documentation, which will affect up to 1.75 million households.

9. Blasphemy Law and Freedom of Speech: An MP sought assurance that there would be no introduction or reintroduction of blasphemy law. The Prime Minister gave a clear assurance that this would not happen.

10. Welfare System and Unemployment: An MP criticized the government's approach to welfare, claiming unemployment is up and taxes are raised to spend more on a "bloated welfare and benefit system." The Prime Minister countered that the opposition broke the welfare system, driving up welfare spending by £33 billion, and that the current government is introducing reforms.

11. Child Poverty and Local Football Club: An MP congratulated his local football club for being top of the league and linked the budget's measures, including lifting children out of poverty, cutting energy bills, and expanding the warm homes discount, to it being a "family budget." The Prime Minister confirmed that every household will see £150 off energy bills and that 6 million of the poorest households will receive an additional £150 through the extended warm homes discount.

12. Hospitality Sector and VAT: An MP highlighted the struggles of small businesses in the hospitality sector due to spiraling costs, including business rates, VAT, and national insurance contributions. He called for an emergency cut in VAT for hospitality. The Prime Minister stated that the government has a small business strategy that was broadly welcomed and includes measures like late payment support and licensing flexibility, and that they will always look at other measures to help small businesses.

13. AI Deepfakes and Democratic Integrity: An MP reported being a target of an AI deepfake video and expressed concern about the threat to democracy. He sought the Prime Minister's agreement to work cross-party on appropriate reforms to protect democratic integrity. The Prime Minister agreed that it is an important issue requiring cross-party work and acknowledged the threat of AI deepfakes.

14. Workers' Rights and "Fire and Rehire": An MP raised concerns about warehouse workers being given an ultimatum to sign new contracts with reduced pay and breaks or lose their jobs. The Prime Minister stated that a landmark employment rights bill will strengthen workers' rights and end unscrupulous "fire and rehire" practices.

15. Islamophobia and Freedom of Speech: An MP raised examples of anti-Muslim hatred and questioned why the definition of Islamophobia adopted in opposition had been dropped in government. The Prime Minister condemned hatred in all its forms, including anti-Muslim hatred, and stated the government intends to act on it.

16. Injustice of IP Sentences: An MP presented the case of an autistic constituent serving a lengthy sentence under an IP sentence, with doctors deeming him safe for discharge. The Prime Minister acknowledged the shocking case and stated that the Justice Secretary will look into it and meet to discuss concerns. He reaffirmed commitment to supporting the progression of those serving such sentences.

17. Pain Management and Healthcare: An MP described a constituent suffering excruciating pain after opioid withdrawal, leading to suicidal ideations. She requested information on plans to help people manage pain and a meeting with the appropriate minister. The Prime Minister acknowledged the appalling case and stated that further protection and support are being put in place, agreeing to facilitate a meeting with the relevant minister.

18. Ukraine Conflict and Russia's Stance: An MP asked for the Prime Minister's assessment of President Putin turning down peace terms and Russia's readiness for war with NATO. The Prime Minister reiterated that Putin is the aggressor and is dragging his feet on peace. He emphasized the need to continue putting pressure on Russia through supporting Ukraine, maintaining sanctions, and damaging the Russian economy.

Conclusion

Prime Minister's Questions saw a robust exchange between the government and the opposition, primarily focused on the economy, cost of living, and public services. The government highlighted its efforts to alleviate financial pressures through various measures, including those related to infant formula and child poverty reduction, while defending its economic record against claims of mismanagement. The opposition, conversely, criticized the government's handling of the budget, tax policies, and overall leadership, citing internal dissent and negative consequences for working people and businesses. Beyond the core economic debate, a range of specific issues were raised, from water supply crises and gambling addiction to criminal justice reforms and the impact of AI on democracy, demonstrating the breadth of concerns addressed in Parliament. The Prime Minister consistently defended his government's actions, emphasizing progress in areas like NHS waiting lists and workers' rights, while attributing past failures to the opposition.