Badenoch Presses Starmer in Final PMQs Over Economy and Welfare — Keir Starmer Final Pmqs
Keir Starmer faced his keir starmer final pmqs in the Commons as Kemi Badenoch accused him of failing on the economy and welfare. She said he had broken his promise to grow the economy, while he defended his record and Rachel Reeves during the session.
Commons session with Badenoch
The exchange came during the final Prime Minister’s Questions of the parliamentary session, a setting that usually carries a lighter tone than the clashes Badenoch chose to force. Instead, she told Starmer the only thing that had grown was the welfare bill, and said 1.5 million more people were out of work and claiming universal credit since he took office.
Badenoch also said Starmer had been reduced to begging Labour MPs to save his own skin. She used the line, “Prime Minister was reduced to begging those same MPs to save his own skin,” after beginning the session by describing Labour MPs as “sycophantic” at the start of the parliamentary session.
Starmer backs Reeves
Starmer answered by pointing to his government’s work on employment, police numbers and energy bills. He also said the welfare system Badenoch attacked was the one the Conservatives put in place, and added that Labour is reforming welfare.
The argument widened to Rachel Reeves after Badenoch said Starmer and the Chancellor were not serious about the economy. Badenoch pointed to Reeves floating a rent freeze this week and asked Starmer to reshuffle her, saying, “It is time the Prime Minister gives her an easier job.”
Reeves and the reshuffle
Starmer praised Reeves in response but did not say she would not be moved. Badenoch then said, “it sounds like she’s toast!” and added, “that answer was as honest as his reasons for sacking Olly Robbins – perhaps he’d like to apologise for that right now.”
She had also quoted George Robertson on defence spending and welfare for a second week, keeping the focus on whether Starmer can hold his party together while defending his economic record. For readers watching the government’s next moves, the immediate question is whether Starmer keeps Reeves in place or lets the pressure around welfare and the economy define the next phase of the session.
