The final Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) before the recess transformed into a brutal political arena as Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch unleashed a barrage of attacks targeting Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s personal credibility, economic management, and internal party chaos.

“The Only Growth is the Welfare Bill”

Opening the session, Badenoch mocked the contrast between Starmer’s confident image in July 2024 and his current state, having recently had to “beg” his own MPs to save his premiership in a disciplinary vote.

Turning to the economy, the Opposition Leader accused the Labour government of breaking its promises on growth. She presented a staggering figure: “The number is 1.5 million people [unemployed and on Universal Credit]. That is the entire population of Leeds, Cardiff, and Edinburgh combined.” Badenoch highlighted a grim historical milestone: for the first time, Britain is spending more on welfare than it collects in income tax.

In response, Starmer blamed the current welfare system on the legacy of the Conservative Party, while touting his Cabinet’s achievements, such as raising the minimum wage, lowering energy bills, and reducing NHS waiting times.

Clashes over Defense Spending and Inflation

The criticism intensified as Badenoch quoted former Labour Defense Secretary Lord Robertson, warning that Britain “cannot defend the country with a ballooning welfare budget.” She accused the Prime Minister of record borrowing to fund welfare instead of investing in defense, driving government borrowing costs to their highest level in two decades.

Prime Minister Starmer hit back by defending his record on increasing defense spending while counter-attacking Badenoch. He argued that rising borrowing costs were a consequence of the war in Iran and reminded the House that Badenoch herself had previously called for Britain to “jump in with both feet” into that conflict without regard for the economic fallout.

Internal Coups and “Game of Thrones” Mockery

Badenoch continued to probe Labour’s internal crisis, hinting that the Chancellor is at risk of being sacked while the former Deputy Prime Minister (Angela Rayner) maneuvers for an internal coup.

“This government is like a bad episode of Game of Thrones,” Badenoch quipped. “His own people have turned on him, and meanwhile, the Prime Minister hides in his castle, terrified of a visit from the ‘King in the North.’“

She summarized Starmer’s tenure as a series of disasters: appointing associates of a pedophile, breaking tax promises, policy U-turns, losing senior officials, and now begging a “tax-dodger” (a barb aimed at Angela Rayner) to return to the Cabinet.

Starmer dismissed the attacks as “political stunts.” He maintained that while the opposition played games, he was busy chairing COBRA security meetings to protect the British public from the repercussions of the Middle East conflict. He concluded with a jab at the severe depletion of Conservative seats under Badenoch’s leadership, pledging to push forward with Labour’s mission of reform.