Starmer joins those who say Farage should apologize to classmates who recall him being racist towards them at school
Starmer says he has a message for Nigel Farage in his living room.
Christmas is a time of forgiveness. It's never too late to apologize to people.
This is a reference to this story.
Key events
-
Starmer rejects Labor MP's claim that changing health worker rules is 'deeply un-British'
-
PMQ – instant verdict
-
Starmer rejects Corbyn's call for meeting to discuss hunger strike in Palestine
-
Starmer joins those who say Farage should apologize to classmates who recall him being racist towards them at school
-
UK will transfer £2.5bn of Abramovich's money to Ukraine fund, Starmer says
-
Starmer to meet Badenoch at PM
-
Former Labor mayor of north of Tyne Jamie Driscoll joins the Greens
-
Andrea Egan, a left-wing member of the Labor Party who now supports your party, has been elected to lead the UK's largest trade union, Unison.
-
Streeting refuses to tell MPs it is safe to pass the assisted dying bill, highlighting concerns that palliative care is not good enough
-
Streeting says hospices should be an “important part” of the health system and not so reliant on voluntary donations
-
Streeting says even with staff on strike, people should still go to hospital if they need emergency care.
-
Streeting says he is in a 'strong agreement' with the BMA to take action on resident doctors' jobs
-
Streeting apologizes to patients for the disruption, saying the government did “everything we could” to prevent a resident doctors' strike
-
UK inflation plummets to 3.2% as food price rises slow
-
Streeting giving evidence to the House of Commons Health Committee
-
Poll predicts Labor support will fall to 10% in Senedd election, with Plaid Cymru winning majority of seats
-
Labor Party says Farage's refusal to apologize for racism allegations shows he is 'unfit for high office'
-
Lib Dems have called on Starmer to ensure a return to Erasmus is the “first step towards a closer relationship” with the EU
Starmer rejects Labor MP's claim that changing health worker rules is 'deeply un-British'
During PMQ Work Member of Parliament Neil Duncan-Jordan said changing settlement rules for medical workers from overseas was “completely un-British”.
He said:
I have been contacted by a number of constituents working in the health and care sector over the past few weeks because they are concerned about proposed changes to the rules regarding indefinite leave to remain.
These people came to our country to do the job we asked them to do, and then halfway through we decided to change the rules.
Does the Prime Minister agree that if we want to be a proud, rules-based nation, then going back on our word to the people who contribute to our society and build lives here is not only unfair, but deeply un-British?
Currently, people coming to the UK to work can usually apply for settled status – the right to stay permanently – after five years. But instead the government increasing the basic waiting period to 10 yearswith people having to wait longer or shorter depending on a number of factors, such as the salary they receive or the benefits they receive.
AND Starmer replied:
We are replacing an inefficient settlement system with one that is fair and recognizes contributions. Applying stricter controls is the right thing to do and we are currently consulting on the right approach.
I recognize the enormous contribution of those who work in our NHS and will not change the rules for those who already have permanent status.
PMQ – instant verdict
It was like a PMQ. Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch they engaged in a relatively broad discussion covering a wide range of topics, but none of it made much sense, and it seemed as if both the leaders and their teams spent a little more time than necessary coming up with Christmas jokes. By the end, many of the lawmakers were probably in Grinch mode—they were fed up with it all. The only problem was that there was only one great joke – Starmer's about reforming Britain – and it came at the very beginning.
You can tell it was a good joke because it's still funny the second or third time you hear it.
This line – and the various other anti-Farage and anti-reform jibes in Britain that the Prime Minister throws in at almost every opportunity – does confirm that Starmer is now much more focused on reform as a threat rather than the Conservative Party. But we all knew that. Downing Street they read surveys too.
As for the news, the main announcement was the message about Roman Abramovich and his £2.5 billionwhich the government wants to appropriate for humanitarian purposes in Ukraine. But the details are unclear, and it's not entirely clear whether the money will actually be released or why the government didn't step in sooner. No. 10 is holding a briefing after PMQs and we may get a clearer picture when it ends.
Starmer rejects Corbyn's call for meeting to discuss hunger strike in Palestine
Jeremy Corbynformer leader of the Labor Party, says in the House of Commons yesterday the justice minister rejected his request for a meeting regarding eight hunger strikers linked to Palestine Action. According to him, all of them are in pre-trial detention center.
Another inmate has since been taken to hospital. He again asks for a meeting to discuss what he says are regular violations of the conditions that should apply to hunger strikers.
Starmer says there are laws and procedures in place to deal with hunger strikes in prisons, and he says the government is following them.
John Whittingdale (Con) asks Starmer to cancel planned trip to China unless Jimmy Lai is released.
Stuttering condemns Lai's conviction but does not comment on the proposed trip.
Starmer joins those who say Farage should apologize to classmates who recall him being racist towards them at school
Starmer says he has a message for Nigel Farage in his living room.
Christmas is a time for forgiveness. It's never too late to apologize to people.
This is a reference to this story.
Andrew Snowden (Cohn) uses his question to make a series of Christmas jokes about Labour's performance.
Starmer says Snowden asked people for ideas for the question. He says he made a proposal. He wanted Snowden to ask about the 6,000 jobs saved by Labor in his constituency of Fylde.
I think he meant this is an ad.
Antonia Bans (Lab) highlights the absence of Nigel Farage. Some deputies note that he is watching from the gallery. (See 12:03.)
Starmer says Farage is in the living room. He says that UK Reform the leader likes to go home early to France. He says Farage traveled to the US and actively called for sanctions against Britain.
Ben Maguire (Liberal Dem) claims Cornwall residents were poisoned by water in the 1980sand he says South West Water is poisoning his constituents by dumping sewage. He asks for a meeting to discuss all cases of water poisoning.
Starmer says the 1980s case was a terrible scandal and agrees to set up a meeting.
Stephen FlynnSNP leader at Westminster is urging Starmer to enjoy Christmas because it will be his last in No10.
Starmer says Scotland would be better off if it were led by Anas Sarwar rather than the Scottish National Party (SNP).
UK will transfer £2.5bn of Abramovich's money to Ukraine fund, Starmer says
Jessica Elgot has more details on Starmer's announcement to allocate £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea FC to Ukraine. She says:
Russian billionaire sold to Chelsea in 2022 under pressure from the British government after Russia's invasion of Ukraine.
Abramovich received a UK government license to sell Chelsea so far the money has been spent on supporting victims of the war in Ukraine. The proceeds were deposited in a UK bank account controlled by Abramovich's company Fordstam.
The money has since been frozen due to an impasse in talks with Abramovich over whether it should be spent exclusively on Ukraine or whether it can go outside the country.
The government has promised to set up a fund to pay out the money, led by Mike Penrose, the former head of UNICEF in the UK.
The ministers stressed that they had been trying for years to agree terms with Abramovich and gain his cooperation in transferring funds. Starmer said the government was prepared to take Abramovich to court to gain access to the money.
And this is the story.
Ed DaveyLib Dem leader is asking the government to adopt a comprehensive strategy to protect Jewish people in Britain.
Starmer says up to £28 million has been allocated to protect Jewish sites. He's proud to do it, but sad that it's necessary. The government is considering giving the police new powers. And this is the fight against antisemitism in the NHS.
Davey says patients were facing a winter crisis before today's strike. Patients are left on trolleys. Some people died on trolleybuses. Will the Prime Minister endorse a mass vaccination program to keep people out of hospital with the flu and address the care problem?
Starmer says more than 17 million patients have been vaccinated this year. But he wants to speed it up.
