Sunak And Starmer Clash During Pmqs
Rishi Sunak hit back at Sir Keir Starmer with a maths jibe as the pair clashed during Prime Minister’s Questions today.
The Labour leader focused on the NHS as he grilled the Prime Minister in the final Commons session before Parliament’s summer recess.
Sir Keir questioned where the funding will come from for the Tories’ NHS spending plans and said Labour’s proposals would be paid for by axing the non-dom tax status.
But Mr Sunak accused him of using the non-dom plan to fund five different pledges.
Sir Keir said: “In that burst of nonsense what you didn’t hear was a single word about how he was going to be paying for it.
Join our free WhatsApp group to get all the latest by-election news
READ MORE: Rachel Reeves put on spot on GMB over ‘Sir Kid Starver’ trending on Twitter
“Labour’s NHS workforce plan is fully funded by scrapping the non-dom status that he so adores.
“The non-dom tax thing as he calls it that allows some of the wealthiest people in the country to avoid paying tax here.
“Is that loophole so important to him that he’d rather have billions in unfunded promises than simply making billionaires pay what they owe?”
Mr Sunak replied: “The same policy that has paid I think for five different things at this point.
“Everybody knows that I’m a fan of doing maths to 18, but he makes a very strong case for doings maths all the way to 61 quite frankly.”
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info
The Commons erupted with loud cheers from the Tory benches following the PM’s quip.
Sir Keir then hit back: “If he’s so good at maths he’d know I am 60, not 61.”
Elsewhere, Mr Sunak told the leader of the opposition to “stop taking inspiration from his friends outside and unglue himself from the fence” over whether he backs pay review body recommendations for striking doctors.
His comments came after the Labour leader asked him: “When he said the workforce plan was fully costed, I have never seen the Chancellor more bewildered.
“It’s less than a year since his party crashed the economy with their unfunded spending commitments and he hasn’t learnt a thing.
“So, let me ask it another way: is his uncosted spending coming from more tax rises, more cuts, or is it just the latest promise to fall from the Tories’ magic money tree?”
The Prime Minister reiterated the plan is “fully funded”, noting Sir Keir “will see that at the autumn statement”.
He went on: “We just had, in the last week, we have had the recommendations of independent pay review bodies, including for the NHS.
“Now, I believe the right thing to do was to accept those independent recommendations, but that involves taking difficult and responsible decisions to deliver those pay rises without fuelling borrowing, inflation, taxes and debt.
“On this crucial issue, while his MPs are back on the picket lines, yet again on this issue he simply refuses to take a position. It’s the same old story, he should stop taking inspiration from his friends outside and unglue himself from the fence.”
Source: Read Full Article