It was a punchy Prime Minister’s Questions session today, with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch landing some punches on the PM over the economy. Sir Keir Starmer refused to say whether Chancellor Rachel Reeves would break Labour’s manifesto commitment to not raise income tax, national insurance contributions or VAT, and would not be drawn on whether she would freeze thresholds in next month’s Budget. How interesting…
Sir Ed Davey took a different tack, with the Lib Dem leader probing Starmer on Russia. Davey brought up the ex-Reform Welsh leader Nathan Gill who was found guilty of accepting bribes from Russia during his time in the European parliament. The Lib Dem man said that Gill was a trusted ally of Nigel Farage – and called for an inquiry into Russian interference in British politics.
Sir Keir then agreed that Russian meddling is a serious problem – before hitting out at Reform UK. The PM said Farage’s party would be ‘an absolutely disaster for our defence’, before adding scathingly:
We are a trusted member of Nato. We wouldn’t be a trusted member if we’re Putin-friendly.
Shots fired! For his part, Farage explained to Mr S on Monday:
I’m deeply shocked by Nathan Gill, who I’ve known for a long time and who, for goodness sake, was a bishop. He used to preach every Sunday morning in the Mormon church. I thought he was incorruptible. He wouldn’t even drink coffee!
Watch the clip here:
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