Keir Starmer faces Prime Minister’s Questions for the first time

Prime Minister’s Questions: A Lively Debut for Rishi Sunak

In a packed House of Commons, newly appointed Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced his first session of Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) since taking office. The session began on a sombre note, with Mr Sunak expressing shock at the recent attack on a British soldier in Kent. He offered thoughts and prayers for the soldier’s swift recovery, a sentiment echoed by Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer.

The Prime Minister then took a moment to wish Team GB good luck as they prepare to travel to Paris for the upcoming Olympic Games, setting a positive tone before delving into the day’s pressing issues.

The session quickly turned to domestic matters, with Labour MP Callum Miller raising concerns about water pollution in his constituency. He highlighted that Thames Water had pumped sewage into the River Evenlode for over 2,600 hours in the past year, while simultaneously withdrawing £7 billion in dividends. Miller welcomed the water bill mentioned in the King’s Speech but pressed the Prime Minister on whether he would commit to scrapping Ofwat and replacing it with a tougher regulator.

Mr Sunak responded by acknowledging the importance of the issue, stating that customers should not pay the price for mismanagement by water companies. He announced that immediate steps had been taken to put water companies under a tougher regime and that the Minister for Water would be meeting with the bosses of failing companies to hold them accountable for their performance.

The debate then shifted to a more sensitive topic when Labour MP Mia Whim raised concerns about restrictions on puberty blockers for young transgender individuals. She relayed the worries of a constituent who is the parent of a trans child, asking if the Prime Minister would meet with young trans people, their families, and supporting organisations to hear their perspectives on why these restrictions should be reversed.

Mr Sunak approached the question cautiously, emphasising that the government’s guiding principle must be the wellbeing of children. He referenced the Cass Review, which found insufficient evidence on the long-term impact of puberty blockers to determine their safety. The Prime Minister assured that the Health Secretary would consult with organisations supporting young people and families, and promised to arrange a meeting between the MP and the relevant minister.

The exchange between the Prime Minister and Opposition Leader Sir Keir Starmer focused primarily on foreign policy, particularly the ongoing situation in Ukraine. Sir Keir commended the UK’s consistent leadership in providing new military capabilities to Ukraine and offered his continued support for such decisions. He urged the Prime Minister to remain responsive to Ukraine’s requests to ensure they can decisively win against Russian aggression.

Mr Sunak expressed gratitude for the bipartisan approach to Ukraine, emphasising the importance of maintaining unity across the House on this issue. He assured that the government continues to engage with Ukraine about their needs in facing Russian aggression.

The discussion on Ukraine continued, with Sir Keir inquiring about the Prime Minister’s recent meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz. He asked whether Mr Sunak had raised the possibility of Germany providing long-range missiles to Ukraine, as the UK, US, and France have done. The Prime Minister confirmed that he had urged all allies at the recent NATO Council meeting to provide further support to Ukraine where possible.

Both leaders affirmed their commitment to Ukraine’s path to NATO membership, with Mr Sunak stating unequivocally that it is for NATO allies to decide who becomes a member of the alliance. He highlighted the progress made at the recent summit, where an “irreversible path to membership” for Ukraine was established.

Sir Keir then brought up the complex issue of seizing Russian assets to fund Ukrainian reconstruction. He indicated that thanks to legal and diplomatic work led by the UK, along with Canada and the US, there is now a sound legal basis to proceed with such actions. The Prime Minister welcomed this development, acknowledging the importance of the issue and indicating that discussions were already underway on how to take more effective measures.

The conversation then turned to domestic defence matters, with Sir Keir praising the government’s emphasis on the Tempest fighter jet programme. He mentioned initial discussions with Saudi Arabia about their potential participation in the programme and sought confirmation that these conversations would continue. Mr Sunak affirmed the importance of the Tempest programme and indicated that discussions were ongoing, including recent talks at the Farnborough Air Show.

In a show of bipartisan support on matters of national security, Sir Keir offered the Opposition’s backing should the Prime Minister need to use his prerogative power to respond militarily to protect British national security, even without prior notice to the House. Mr Sunak agreed on the essential nature of this power and expressed gratitude for the Opposition’s approach to such sensitive matters.

The session then moved on to other topics, including concerns about carer’s allowance repayments, raised by Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey. He highlighted the case of a constituent facing a large repayment bill from the Department for Work and Pensions, despite earning less than £7,000 a year as a part-time worker while caring for her elderly mother. Mr Sunak acknowledged the importance of the issue and expressed willingness to work across the House to address challenges in the care sector.

Scottish National Party leader Stephen Flynn challenged the Prime Minister on child poverty, referencing a recent campaign appearance with former Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown. Flynn questioned why Labour MPs from Scotland had been instructed to retain the two-child benefit cap, which he argued forces children into poverty. Mr Sunak defended his government’s approach, citing initiatives such as breakfast clubs, the abolition of no-fault evictions, and plans to make work pay. He also pointed out that child poverty in Scotland had increased by 30,000 since the SNP came to power.

The session covered a wide range of additional topics, including the situation in Gaza, education funding in Scotland, police funding in London, immigration policy, renewable energy projects, and measures to tackle violence against women and girls.

Throughout the session, Mr Sunak demonstrated a willingness to engage with opposition parties on key issues while also robustly defending his government’s policies and plans. He repeatedly emphasised the need for change after what he characterised as “14 years of failure” under previous governments, positioning his administration as one of service dedicated to addressing long-standing challenges.

As the new Prime Minister settles into his role, it is clear that he faces a complex array of domestic and international challenges. This first PMQs session provided a glimpse into how he intends to navigate these issues, balancing the need for cross-party cooperation on matters of national importance with a determination to implement his own policy agenda.