London politics latest LIVE: Rishi Sunak told nurses’ strike is ‘badge of shame’ as he faces MPs
Keir Starmer told Rishi Sunak the nurses’ strike was a “badge of shame” for the Government as they clashed at the final PMQs of the year.
The Labour leader told the PM to meet the nurses union and discuss pay to stop tomorrow’s strikes, saying “under the current PM, it’s “Tory politics first, patients second” and said he had “gone into hibernation” over winter crisis facing NHS.
Hitting back, Mr Sunak said the government had offered a fair pay deal to nurses and gave them a three percent pay rise last year when everyone else in the public sector faced freezes.
Mr Sunak is facing renewed pressure over the cost of living, with fresh figures showing that inflation has eased slightly but is still at 10.7 per cent.
He faced questions about a series of walkouts taking place across the economy, including this week’s 48 hour walk-out by the RMT rail union, and Thursday’s historic strike by nurses in England.
Mr Sunak opened proceedings by sharing his “sorrow” at the tragic loss of life in the Channel crossing boat tragedy.
It comes as at least four people died in a boat crossing tragedy in the Channel in the early hours of Wednesday, with the death toll feared to rise. Some 43 people were rescued from the capsized boat, many of whom had plunged into the Channel’s icy waters.
Home Secretary Suella Braverman will make a Commons statement about the incident after Prime Minister’s Questions, at about 12.30pm.
PMQs live coverage ends
14:38 , Josh Salisbury
Our live coverage of PMQs and the Home Secretary’s statement on Channel crossings.
Our full story on the latest with the Channel crossings tragedy which claimed the lives of four people this morning can be found here.
‘Thank you payments’ for those who have hosted Ukrainian families
14:13 , Will Mata
Families who host Ukrainian refugees for more than a year are to receive increased payments in recognition of their ongoing support during the cost-of-living crisis, the Government has said.
Hosts under the Homes for Ukraine scheme will get £500 a month after their first 12 months of sponsorship, the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) said.
Councils will also be given money to help prevent homelessness among arrivals and to acquire more homes for people fleeing conflict in places such as Ukraine and Afghanistan.
But the sum local authorities receive for each Ukrainian refugee who arrives into their area under the scheme will be reduced "in light of wider pressures on the public finances", DLUHC said.
Some 107,100 Ukrainians have arrived in the UK under the Homes for Ukraine scheme, with 144,600 visas issued, latest Government figures show.
'Five education secretaries, four chancellors, three prime ministers, two leadership coups and a partridge’
13:33 , Will Mata
A Labour former minister got into the festive spirit as she urged Rishi Sunak to call a general election with a play on words of the popular English Christmas carol The Twelve Days Of Christmas.
Dame Angela Eagle did not shy away from a healthy dose of Christmas humour at the last Prime Minister's Questions of the year, coming up with her own version of the carol.
She told MPs "the partridge has had to sell the pear tree to pay the gas bill" before arguing the best Christmas present Rishi Sunak could give to the British people is a general election.
The lower chamber erupted with laughter but the Prime Minister did not seem keen to respond with a joke, simply insisting Labour should tell its union bosses to call off the strikes.
Dame Angela said: "This year, the Tory party has given us five education secretaries, four chancellors, three prime ministers, two leadership coups and the partridge has had to sell the pear tree to pay the gas bill.
Cooper: Responsibility behind Channel deaths lies with criminal gangs
13:14 , Josh Salisbury
Speaking in the Commons, Labour’s Yvette Cooper said criminal gangs behind people smuggling “need to be caught, they need to be prosecuted, they need to be jailed for the loss of life in the cold sea. We need comprehensive action.”
She said: “We gathered in this House just over a year ago to lament the loss of 27 lives. None of us want to do so again.”
She added: “We need action before more lives are lost in peril on the sea.”
Five further complaints submitted against deputy PM
13:11 , Josh Salisbury
Five further formal complaints have been submitted against Dominic Raab relating to his time as Justice Secretary.
The Prime Minister's official spokesman told reporters: "I can confirm that the Prime Minister has now asked the investigator to include five further formal complaints relating to conduct at the Ministry of Justice as part of the ongoing investigation and in line with the existing terms of reference."
He confirmed that they are five further complaints on top of the three already being investigated relating to the period when Mr Raab was working at the Foreign Office, MoJ and the Brexit department.
This brings the number of total complaints to eight.
Cooper: Not enough action has been taken to stop criminal gangs behind this ‘tragedy'
13:08 , Josh Salisbury
Responding to the statement on the Channel crossing tragedy, Labour shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper has told the Commons: “This is truly tragic, deeply distressing news.
“All of our thoughts and prayers will be with those who have lost their lives, and their families and friends who have lost loved ones in the icy waters of the Channel.”
She says “it was just a matter of time” before more lives were lost because not enough action has been taken to disrupt criminal people smuggling gangs.
“They have profited as people have drowned,” she said.
Braverman insists UK will create ‘safe’ routes to stop Channel crossings
13:04 , Josh Salisbury
Home Secretary Suella Braverman said proposed legislation to deter Channel crossings "will save lives".
She said: "We will introduce new legislation to make it unambiguously clear that if someone comes to the UK illegally, they should not be able to remain here.
"Instead, they can expect to be detained and swiftly returned either to their home country or to a safe country, where their claim for asylum will be considered.
"Late or spurious claims and appeals will not be possible. Once someone has been removed, they will have no right to re-entry, settlement or citizenship.
"This will act as a deterrent and it will save lives."
She said the UK will "create more safe and legal routes", adding "people do not need to seek asylum if they are already in a safe country" and "it is ... literally vital that we end the illegal crossings in the Channel".
Braverman: ‘Small boats command’ will help tackle crossings
13:00 , Josh Salisbury
In closing her speech, Suella Braverman told MPs that the Channel tragedy showed that more action needed to be taken to tackle crossings.
She said the “largest-ever small boats deal with France" would help to tackle future crossings.
She added: "It was evident that we had to go much further, which is why the Prime Minister announced a new package yesterday.
"It includes a new, permanent, unified small boats operational command, bringing together the military, civilian capabilities and the National Crime Agency."
Braverman: We must stop ‘evil’ criminal gangs ‘who trade in human misery’
12:50 , Josh Salisbury
Speaking about Channel crossings wake of the boat capsizing, Ms Braverman said: “These are the days that we dread. Crossing the Channel in unseaworthy vessels is a lethally dangerous endeavour,
“It is for this reason above all that we are working so hard to destroy the business model of the people smugglers - evil, organised criminals who treat human beings as cargo.
“As the prime minister told the House just yesterday, it is not cruel and unkind to want to break the stranglehold of the criminal gangs who trade in human misery and exploit our system and our laws.
“He was right. This morning’s tragedy, like the loss of 27 people on one November day last year, is the most sobering reminder possible of why we have to end these crossings.”
Four dead in Channel crossing tragedy - Braverman
12:46 , Josh Salisbury
PMQs has now ended and Home Secretary Suella Braverman has risen to make a statement on the Channel crossing tragedy.
She confirms there have been four fatalities - up from three - but a search and rescue operation is ongoing.
Ms Braverman expressed “profound sadness” at the “terrible event” and expressed her gratitude those working on the search and rescue operation.
Liberal Democrat leader opens up about cancer loss
12:42 , Josh Salisbury
Leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, has opened up about losing his two parents to cancer at a young age as he quizzed Rishi Sunak about cancer targets.
Some 40% of cancer patients are not being treated in two months after an urgent referral from a GP, the highest wait time on record.
“I know the devastating impact of treatment delays on cancer patients and their families,” he said. He asked if the cancer backlog would be resolved, and asked when the cancer targets would be met.
Mr Sunak shares his condolences and says the NHS has announced new measures which would speed up the progression to treatment.
Sunak: ‘Disappointing’ Sadiq Khan is pressing ahead with expanded ULEZ zone'
12:37 , Josh Salisbury
Rishi Sunak has called it “disappointing” that Sadiq Khan has pressed ahead with plans for an extended ULEZ zone.
“The zone is expanded against the overwhelming views of residents and businesses and I urge the Mayor to be on the side of hard-working Londoners.”
MP for South Basildon and East Thurrock Stephen Metcalfe, had asked about the plans to extend the ULEZ zone to outer London boroughs, which would see some driving older models of cars having to pay a surcharge.
He said: “It will massively impact my consituents and those who share a border with London.” He urged the Government to intervene to reverse the “disastrous” decision.
However, transport is devolved and a decision for the Mayor.
Sunak and Starmer pledge show of unity on supporting Ukraine
12:28 , Josh Salisbury
Sir Keir finishes his questions by asking about the war in Ukraine.
“As a result of Putin’s barbaric attack on their freedom, millions [of Ukrainians] will spend their Christmas in sub-zero temperatures, without heating, electricity or hot water,” he says.
“Their suffering is unimaginable, but their bravery is awe-inspiring.”
He asks Mr Sunak to join him in saying that whatever their differences, politicians are united in supporting Ukraine.
Mr Sunak responds: “I appreciate his comments on Ukraine. They have been a point of incredible unity across this House and indeed this country.
“It’s something we can all be proud of in this country that we have stood behind Ukraine in its hour of need.”
Starmer: PM has ‘gone into hibernation’ over winter crisis facing NHS
12:23 , Josh Salisbury
In a heated exchange, Sir Keir accuses Mr Sunak of being “curling up into a ball and going into hibernation”.
“If he can’t act act on behalf of patients, or nurses, or everyone who wants these strikes called off, then surely the whole country is entitled to ask what is the point of him and what is the point of a Government that is supposed to be leading?”, he asks.
The Prime Minister defends himself, saying for instance Covid has caused an impact on ambulance waiting times.
“This Government is serious about its commitment to prioritise the NHS,” he says.
He says that the NHS in Wales, which is Labour-run, has the worst A&E response times in the country.
Sunak: Government has offered fair pay deal to nurses
12:19 , Josh Salisbury
Sir Keir says that the problems with the health service were not caused by Covid, citing a report which found that the NHS has suffered ten years of managed decline.
“Responsiblity is sitting right there,” he says, pointing at Mr Sunak. “The reason he can’t choose nurses over non-doms is because he’s took weak to stand up to tax avoiders.”
He says the Government hasn’t trained enough nurses for the last 12 years, asking why the taxpayer is footing the bill to “plug the gaps” of staff shortages.
Mr Sunak responds: “We’re actually listening to the independent pay review bodies ... We’ve offered a fair pay deal, they [Labour] can’t even decide on a number among themselves.
“We’re protecting the public, [Labour] are protecting their paymasters. For working people in this country’s it’s Labour’s nightmare before Christmas.”
Starmer: Why won’t Gov scrap non-dom tax status to pay for more nurses?
12:15 , Josh Salisbury
Sir Keir Starmer rises again to press again on the nurses strike.
“We’ve never seen a nurses strike like this before, they’ve been forced into it because the Government has broken the health system. Ask anyone in the NHS and they will tell you they don’t have enough staff,” he says.
“130,000 vacancies - there’s an obvious solution: scrap the non-dom tax status and use the money to bring through the next generation of doctors and nurses.”
He asks: “Why hasn’t he got the guts to do it?”
Mr Sunak replies: “We’re already investing billions more in the NHS, hiring thousands more doctors and nurses... What he always fails to acknowledge is the impact of Covid. That’s why we’re facing pressures.”
He says the Government has a plan to tackle backlogs. “If we had listened to him, the backlogs would still be growing and that’s because we’d still be lockdown!” he says.
Starmer and Sunak clash over nurses strike
12:10 , Josh Salisbury
Labour’s Sir Keir Starmer begins his questions by asking about the unprecendeted nurses strike on Thursday.
Mr Starmer asks: “Tomorrow will be the first-ever nationwide nurses strike. All the prime minister has to do to stop that is open the door and discuss pay with them ... So why won’t he?”
Mr Sunak responds by listing the Government’s efforts on pay negioations, saying nurses were offered a 3% pay rise last year, while other public sector workers had a pay freeze.
“We do work constructively, and we continue to back our nurses.”
Mr Starmer replies: “Nurses going on strike is a badge of shame for this Government.”
He raises the case of Alex from Chester, a schoolboy who has been off-school while waiting for a gall bladder operation. “All [Mr Sunak] needs to do is meet the nurses. Alex’s mum is listening to this ... She’s tuned in now because she wants to know what he’s going to do to resolve the nursing strike.”
Mr Sunak says saying “get around the table” is just a “political formula” used by Labour to avoid having a position on strikes. “If he thinks the strikes are wrong, he should say so ... What’s weak is he’s not strong enough to stand up to the unions.”
PMQs begins with Sunak sharing ‘sorrow’ at Channel boat crossing tragedy
12:04 , Josh Salisbury
PMQs is now underway, with Rishi Sunak opening proceedings by sharing his “sorrow” at the tragic loss of life in the Channel crossing boat tragedy.
The first question comes from John Stevenson, MP for Carlisle, who asks if the West Coast rail franchise will be removed from Avanti if performance doesn’t improve.
Mr Sunak says the Government is closely monitoring performance.
Pictured: Rishi Sunak leaves No10 for PMQs
11:50 , Josh Salisbury
Welcome to PMQs live coverage
11:47 , Josh Salisbury
Good morning and welcome to our live coverage of PMQs, which is due to start at noon.
After that, there will be a statement on the Channel crossings tragedy in the early hours of Wednesday in which at least three people lost their lives.
The boat was believed to be around five miles off the coast of Dungeness, in Kent, when it capsized. It is believed to have been carrying over 50 people.
