Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from this week’s session in POLITICO U.K.’s weekly run-through.
National unity moment: Labour’s Keir Starmer and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak took the chance to wish King Charles III all the best ahead of the coronation this weekend, which was nice of them. But that was as chummy as it got.
What they sparred about: With local elections looming, the two leaders soon stepped it back up. Starmer honed in on Britain’s chronic housing shortage and the woes facing people who have, or are seeking, a mortgage in the U.K. amid rising interest rates. Sunak in turn talked up his plans to give communities more control over house building targets.
Back to the future: But it all felt a bit … 2015. Starmer, for the second week in a row, opted to quote former Tory Chancellor George Osborne — who described Liz Truss’ very-short-lived Conservative regime as “economic vandals.” Sunak responded by, for the second week in a row, quoting former Labour heavyweight Ed Balls’ recent (mild) praise of the government’s economic policy.
Even the SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn got in on the act — describing Starmer’s decision to ditch his free tuition fee pledge as his “Nick Clegg moment.”
Zing: Starmer pointed out that it would take the average first time buyer four more years to save up the average £9,000 by which first time buyer deposits have increase … or, put another way, “roughly the annual bill to heat [Sunak’s] swimming pool.” An audible “ooooooh” rang out.
Zing II: Sunak retorted by referring to that letter from ex-Labour Treasury chief Liam Byrne: “We all know what happened the last time Labour were in government — there was no money left!” Starmer hit back and said the Tories would need an even “bigger note” when they leave government. Serious politics from a serious country.
Helpful backbench intervention klaxon: “Does the prime minister agree with me that local people can have their say on [Labour-run] Kirklees Council by voting Conservative this week?” said backbench Tory MP Jason McCartney at the end of a long-winded rant about this council’s apparent ills. It will not surprise you to learn that Sunak did agree.
Totally non-scientific scores: Both leaders hit the notes they wanted to — though it didn’t make for pretty viewing. What would the King think?
Sunak 7/10 … Starmer 7/10 … Putting aside their differences for the sake of the country as it ushers in a new era … 0/10.
