Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced a combative final Prime Minister’s Questions of the year on Wednesday, as Kemi Badenoch repeatedly accused him of broken promises, rising unemployment and losing control of his Government, while the Prime Minister used the session to issue a direct warning to Roman Abramovich over frozen funds from the sale of Chelsea Football Club.
Sir Keir opened PMQs by condemning the anti Semitic attack at Bondi Beach, describing it as “sickening” and calling anti Semitism a “poison”.
He said the incident had deeply affected Jewish communities in the UK and referenced other recent attacks. He said the Government was increasing funding for Jewish security and had ordered a review of protest and hate crime laws.
Kemi Badenoch followed by arguing that Islamic extremism posed a threat to Western civilisation and said words of solidarity were not enough. She later returned to domestic issues, accusing the Prime Minister of failing to control unemployment, energy bills and taxation. She said unemployment had risen every month under Labour and claimed the only thing that had grown was “his list of broken promises”.
Sir Keir replied that 350,000 more people were in work this year and said inactivity was at its lowest level in five years, adding that unemployment had averaged higher under the Conservatives.
The opposition leader mocked the Prime Minister for blaming “levers” in Government that did not work and accused him of lacking control. Sir Keir responded by citing policies such as the workers’ rights bill and the Erasmus scheme.
Mrs Badenoch repeatedly attacked Labour over tax rises, claiming national insurance had increased and income tax thresholds had been frozen despite promises not to raise taxes on working people. Sir Keir said he was proud of the Budget, arguing it delivered record investment, stabilised the economy and reduced living costs.
She also criticised the Government’s handling of the doctors’ strike, urging the Prime Minister to ban industrial action by doctors. Sir Keir described the strikes as dangerous and irresponsible, saying doctors should not abandon patients.
The exchanges escalated as Mrs Badenoch described the Cabinet as “turkeys” and again referred to Sir Keir as a caretaker Prime Minister. She said Labour MPs were already plotting to replace him and joked that after damaging the economy he should be known as the “undertaker Prime Minister”.
Sir Keir replied that business rate relief introduced during Covid was always temporary and accused the Conservatives of hypocrisy.
Turning to pubs, Mrs Badenoch joked that Labour MPs had been barred from them and said businesses were suffering under Labour tax rises. She said the Prime Minister had lost control and claimed unions had bought him “for life”. Sir Keir dismissed her remarks as pantomime, likening them to a Christmas carol.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey then raised concerns about NHS patients being left on trolleys for hours and called for vaccinations to be treated as the Government’s top priority. Sir Keir said the conditions described were unacceptable and confirmed that vaccinations were a priority, noting that more than 17 million patients had been vaccinated this year.
Sir Ed also called for a comprehensive strategy to tackle anti Semitism and urged the Prime Minister to confront Donald Trump over foreign policy rhetoric. Sir Keir said Europe remained united behind Ukraine and democratic values.
Former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn asked the Prime Minister to meet representatives of Palestine Action hunger strikers. Sir Keir said procedures were being followed.
Nick Timothy, a Conservative MP, accused Labour of lacking a mandate for large spending increases. Sir Keir said the Government had inherited major challenges and accused the Conservatives of leaving a mess.
Andrew Snowden mocked the Prime Minister with a Christmas themed speech, suggesting Labour tax rises had cost jobs and confidence. Sir Keir responded by pointing to thousands of jobs secured in the MP’s constituency through a trade deal.
Stephen Flynn of the SNP asked how Sir Keir planned to spend his “final Christmas” in Downing Street. The Prime Minister highlighted investment in Grangemouth and urged support for Scottish Labour.
The session then turned to a major announcement on Ukraine. Sir Keir told MPs that the Government had issued a licence allowing more than £2.5 billion from the sale of Chelsea FC to be transferred to humanitarian causes in Ukraine. Addressing Roman Abramovich directly, he said: “The clock is ticking. Honour the commitment you made and pay up now, and if you don’t, we are prepared to go to court so every penny reaches those whose lives have been torn apart by Putin’s illegal war.”
Mr Abramovich sold Chelsea in May 2022 after being sanctioned following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. He pledged to donate the proceeds to war victims, but the funds remain frozen in a UK bank account amid disagreement over how they should be distributed. Downing Street has said Mr Abramovich objects to the money being spent exclusively in Ukraine pasted.
Sir Keir’s stance was welcomed by Labour MPs, including Chris Bryant and Marie Rimmer, who said football clubs should never bankroll a brutal invasion.
After PMQs, Mrs Badenoch continued her attack online, writing that Labour MPs were “drafting a succession plan” amid rising unemployment, taxes and business rates.
The Prime Minister later reiterated his warning to Mr Abramovich on social media, saying the Government was prepared to go to court if the funds were not released.
That concluded the final Prime Minister’s Questions of the year, with Parliament set to rise for recess before returning in January.
