🤔 Oral Answers to Questions

• The Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, expressed solidarity with Ukraine, mentioning a recent conversation with President Zelensky and the third anniversary of the Bucha massacre.
• The government is preparing for potential US tariffs, aiming to avoid a trade war through pragmatic and constructive talks for a wider economic prosperity deal with the US.
• Immediate support is being sent to Myanmar and Thailand due to recent crises.
• The Prime Minister paid condolences for Christina McKelvie, a Scottish National party member, highlighting her contributions.
• Discussions took place on the upcoming increase in state pension, attributing it to Labour’s economic stability measures post-Conservative governance.
• Conservative leader Mrs Kemi Badenoch challenged the Labour government’s economic decisions, particularly on business taxes, which she referred to as a “job tax.”
• The Prime Minister defended Labour’s approach, citing improvements in the national living wage, support for households via the warm home discount, and investment in the NHS.
• There was debate over the government’s handling of council tax and the economic fragility attributed to Labour’s policies, with specific references to Birmingham’s rubbish collection issues.
• The Prime Minister discussed global trade challenges, particularly with the US, and the need for a balanced approach.
• Concerns were raised about Northern Ireland’s trade situation post-Brexit, with the government promising to act in the national interest.
• Local issues were addressed, such as the need for devolution in the west of England, funding for hill farmers in the Lake district, and housing and infrastructure concerns in various constituencies.
• The Prime Minister highlighted investments in health and education, such as breakfast clubs and support for special educational needs.
• Discussions included the government’s response to industrial challenges like potential redundancies at Scunthorpe steelworks.
• Concerns about access to healthcare and the performance of the NHS in Scotland were debated, with comparisons to improvements in England.
• The session also touched on international issues, including the need for safe aid delivery to Gaza and justice for killed aid workers.
• Lastly, the Prime Minister responded to a query about the parole of a serious offender, stressing the need for strong penalties for heinous crimes.

The session exhibits a high level of disagreement, primarily between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, Mrs. Kemi Badenoch. The disagreements are evident in several exchanges, reflecting significant policy differences and criticisms of each other’s economic strategies and governance.

1. Economic Policies and Budget Decisions: There is a clear disagreement on the economic policies and the impact of the Budget. The Prime Minister defends the Budget decisions, emphasizing the need to clear up the mess left by the Conservatives and highlighting investments in the NHS and wage increases. In contrast, Mrs. Badenoch criticizes the Budget, calling it an ‘emergency Budget that fixed nothing’ and accuses the Prime Minister of breaking promises, particularly regarding council tax and the economic impact on families. This is evident when she states, ‘The only mess is the one that the Prime Minister made with his Budget,’ and the Prime Minister retorts by questioning her stance on the NHS investment and her past actions on council tax.

2. Triple Lock Policy: The session also shows disagreement over the triple lock policy for pensions. The Prime Minister credits Labour’s plan for the rise in state pensions, while Mrs. Badenoch asserts that the triple lock was originally a Conservative policy, indicating a dispute over who should take credit for the policy.

3. Trade and Tariffs: There is a notable disagreement on the approach to US tariffs and trade deals. The Prime Minister emphasizes a calm and pragmatic approach, while Mrs. Badenoch criticizes the Prime Minister’s handling of trade negotiations, particularly with the US, and the impact on the car industry. She states, ‘Labour’s record is a car industry in crisis, even before tariffs,’ while the Prime Minister insists on a balanced approach and not ruling out any options.

4. Council Tax and Local Governance: The disagreement extends to local governance issues, particularly with the situation in Birmingham. Mrs. Badenoch criticizes the Prime Minister’s handling of the council tax and the rubbish crisis in Birmingham, calling it a ‘Labour one.’ The Prime Minister counters by highlighting the Conservative’s past actions on council tax and their current manifesto’s stance on removing caps.

5. General Criticism and Defense: Throughout the session, there is a recurring theme of mutual criticism and defense. The Prime Minister frequently accuses the Conservatives of leaving a ‘mess’ and ‘crashed economy,’ while Mrs. Badenoch accuses the Prime Minister of making people poorer and failing to keep promises.

The intensity and frequency of these disagreements, coupled with the direct challenges and counterarguments, justify a rating of 4 out of 5 for disagreement displayed in the session.