Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch clash over the economy and Rachel Reeves at PMQs. The PM is also quizzed on anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq’s resignation. Ms Siddiq quit her government role yesterday after a row over links to her aunt’s ousted political movement in Bangladesh.
Wednesday 15 January 2025 15:01, UK
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Next up in the Commons is a statement on “winter pressures” in the NHS from the health secretary, Wes Streeting.
He opens by saying that his thoughts, and those of the whole House, are with the nurse who was stabbed “in a horrific attack” at Royal Oldham Hospital on Saturday.
“Nurses are the backbone of our NHS. They should be able to care for their patients without fear of abuse or violence,” Mr Streeting says, adding that: “We pray for her speedy recovery.”
Turning to the main part of his statement, the health secretary thanks all NHS and care staff for “their effort, stamina, and care in the most challenging of circumstances”.
“Even when patients are left waiting far longer than they should be, in conditions that they should never be made to endure, they are still at pains to stress that the staff are doing their best,” he says.
Mr Streeting declares that the experience of patients in the NHS this winter has been “unacceptable”, saying he saw “patients on trolleys lining the corridors where they were being treated, without the dignity or safety they should expect as a minimum”.
He says the health service has faced a “toxic cocktail of pressures”, which he says is as a result of “underinvestment” and a “lack of effective reform” under the Tories, coupled with a “tidal wave of rising pressures”, saying this year has been the busiest on record for A&E and ambulance services.
A huge increase in flu and respiratory illnesses saw 53,000 NHS staff off work sick in the first week of this year.
Overall, this has led to “patients let down by ambulances that don’t arrive on time, A&E departments that leave them waiting 12 hours or more, and the continued normalisation of corridor care”.
“This is not the level of care staff want for their patients, and it is not the level of care this government will ever accept for patients.”
To prevent it happening in future, he touts measures such as a new pay deal for NHS staff, investment allocated in the budget, the expansion of the flu vaccination program, and real-time tracking of where pressures are in the system.
He tells the House there is just one active critical incident, down from 24 last week.
But this is “not enough”, Mr Streeting argues, and touts his “reform agenda” to focus on preventative healthcare, moving care back into the community, a GP recruitment drive, and stripping back bureaucracy.
By Tim Baker, political reporter
195 days.
That’s how long it has been since Labour swept to power under Sir Keir Starmer on 4 July 2024.
And yet, it feels like the debates between the government and opposition on a Wednesday lunchtime have barely moved on.
Did you know, for example, that the economy is in a bad state – and Labour are blaming the Conservatives?
Well, that was one of the main theme of today’s “showdown” between Kemi Badenoch and Sir Keir Starmer.
Ms Badenoch went on to attack Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves over the cost of borrowing and the amount of money being paid to service government debt.
But as the rowdy Labour backbenchers pointed out, a huge amount of this borrowing happened under the Conservatives.
Even Liz Truss, former prime minister and the one who “crashed the economy”, according to Sir Keir, was mentioned by the PM in his defence.
But before Ms Badenoch could really drill down into the details, she changed tack.
What about Chagos? Ms Badenoch furiously accused Sir Keir of overseeing a deal that would be “disastrous”.
His response? The Conservatives started the negotiations and held multiple rounds before Labour took power.
Another switch! Something very contemporaneous then – the resignation of disgraced anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq yesterday?
Well, as Sir Keir promptly responded, Ms Badenoch’s shadow foreign secretary Priti Patel did not resign when an investigation found she had bullied staff.
Even the allegations from Ms Badenoch that compensation could be paid to Gerry Adams was dismissed as “nonsense” by the PM – and “unlawful” legislation from the Tory government.
Come the end of the peripatetic questioning from the leader of the opposition, Sir Keir concluded by accusing Ms Badenoch of just “complaining” with “no defence for their sorry record”.
Ms Badenoch had “no ideas”.
So, 15 minutes later – what more had we learned? Nothing, really – although Sir Keir did say he doesn’t want to give Mr Adams any money, if he can avoid it.
Oh well – only 1,673 days until 15 August 2029, the latest the next election can take place and a new government can start blaming the current one for all their problems.
Rachel Reeves is not having the easiest time reining in the economy.
Last week saw markets turn against Labour’s economic strategy – with the cost of government borrowing surging and the pound dropping to its lowest value against the dollar since November 2023.
On today’s Sky News Daily, Niall Paterson is joined by our economics and data editor Ed Conway to understand what is causing the UK’s growth to flatline.
And as the global economic landscape continues to respond to world events – including the imminent return of Donald Trump term – what can the beleaguered chancellor do to ensure the economy bounces back?
The government has just published a list of the regions which hope to become part of Labour’s bolstered devolution process.
However, the government made clear that “not all areas listed will go forward to be part of the devolution priority programme”.
A decision will be made “in due course”, the party said.
In an Urgent Question on the matter, local government minister Jim McMahon said: “This is a list of requests. It is not the final list that will be approved.”
He reiterated that there will be a “very high bar” on devolution.
The areas which have requested election delays in May are:
Additionally:
By Rob Powell, political correspondent, and Tanbirul Miraj Ripon in Dhaka, Bangladesh
Former anti-corruption minister Tulip Siddiq has been named in a third inquiry being launched by authorities in Bangladesh investigating money laundering and power misuse.
At a media briefing in Dhaka held hours after Ms Siddiq resigned as a minister, investigators confirmed they were working on another probe involving the Labour MP.
It is the third Bangladesh inquiry and comes on top of questions about London properties she lives in or has lived in with links to her aunt, the ousted Bangladesh prime minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League party.
Director general of the Anti-Corruption Commission Akhtar Hossain told Sky News the organisation was “preparing another investigation against Tulip Siddiq and her uncle Tarique Siddique for money laundering, power misuse, and illegally occupying Bangladesh government property”.
Mr Hossain also said the investigation team in Bangladesh would contact the UK authorities if additional information was required.
A spokesperson for Ms Siddiq said: “No evidence has been presented for these allegations.
“Tulip Siddiq has not been contacted by anyone on the matter and totally denies the claims.”
Sir Keir Starmer will not confirm a deal around the Chagos Islands before Donald Trump’s presidential inauguration, Downing Street has said.
There had been suggestions that the UK government was aiming to secure a deal with Mauritius about the archipelago before the oath-swearing ceremony on 20 January.
But the prime minister’s spokesperson has now said this wont be finalised before Mr Trump becomes president again.
The spokesperson added it is “perfectly reasonable” for the new US administration to look at the deal before it is signed.
The deal to transfer the Indian Ocean archipelago to Mauritius includes the tropical atoll of Diego Garcia, home to a military base used by the UK and the US that plays a crucial role in the region’s stability and international security.
Under the agreement, the base will remain under UK and US jurisdiction for at least the next 99 years.
By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire, business and economics reporter
The inflation data from this morning is undeniably rare good news for Chancellor Rachel Reeves and a government which has made growth its number one priority.
Prices are rising more slowly than before and at 2.5% the rate of inflation is lower than economists expected.
Chances of an interest rate cut next month are now higher, meaning cheaper borrowing sooner.
While there hasn’t been a reversal of the turmoil which began last week, the news has been welcomed by markets.
The pound is up and government borrowing costs are down.
After the announcement, the pound tipped back up to over $1.22.
The 10-year borrowing, a benchmark for government lending costs, fell to 4.8% from 4.9%, a level last seen on Thursday.
The fall was steeper for longer-term debt the gilt yield, the effective interest rate, on 30-year government borrowing, dropped to 5.38% from 5.45%.
The UK’s benchmark FTSE 100 stock index also got a 0.65% boost, while the more domestic FTSE 250 was up a big 1.35%.
There was little change in the oil price, however, as a barrel of Brent crude oil cost $80.12.
Such a price could push up prices but for now, Ms Reeves will be enjoying the good news while it lasts.
Tomorrow’s economic growth figures may pile pressure on her and her government again.
That’s it for Prime Minister’s Questions, but those in the Commons are now taking part in an Urgent Question on the emergence of foot and mouth disease in Germany.
Daniel Zeichner, the environment minister, says the UK is currently “free of foot and mouth disease and has been since 2007”.
He adds that DEFRA has taken “rapid action to protect the UK” since the disease emerged in Brandenburg earlier in January.
This includes “suspending the export of susceptible animals from Germany, and restricting personal imports of animal products from across the European Union”.
He says the government will do “whatever it takes” to protect farmers.
Risk levels have been increased to medium, Mr Zeichner added.
The import of cattle, pigs and sheep from Germany has been stopped.
“We will not hesitate to add additional countries to the list if the disease spreads.”
Tom Morrison, Liberal Democrat MP for Cheadle, is next to ask a question and notes that it is the anniversary of the murder of Holly Newton, a 15-year-old who was stalked and then stabbed to death by her ex-boyfriend.
He asks Sir Keir Starmer if he will look at calls to lower the age that a person can be recognised as a domestic abuse victim.
The prime minister says it is “an important issue” and he has been “continually shocked” by research showing that a younger age group are facing abuse in relationships.
“We do need to look at this at the earliest opportunity,” he says.
The most eye-catching intervention from this PMQs session may have come from the Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey.
He called for the prime minister to create a new type of visa for rich Americans who want to flee from Donald Trump.
Sir Keir Starmer said he would welcome all forms of investment to the UK.
The Lib Dems have been avoiding more gimmicky attacks like this since the election, but they clearly feel lining up against Donald Trump will play well with their supporters.
And to be fair to Sir Ed, he did use his other questions to once again call for an accelerated timetable for the ongoing social care review.
Many will find it depressing that this may have about as much chance of being agreed to by government as the Trump visa scheme.
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