PMQs Live: Boris Johnson says 'we wouldn't have left lockdown' with Keir Starmer as PM

PMQs Live: Boris Johnson says 'we wouldn't have left lockdown' with Keir Starmer as PM
27 Wouldn t be out of lockdown if labour was
Ben Chapman

By Ben Chapman


Published: 27/04/2022

- 12:08

Updated: 27/04/2022

- 12:53

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer were embattled in a fiery exchange during PMQs

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Keir Starmer were embattled in a fiery exchange during PMQs.

The Labour leader questioned the Prime Minister over economic growth in the UK, leading to Boris Johnson hitting out at Keir Starmer, dubbing him "Captain Hindsight".


Taking to the floor in the Chamber, Keir Starmer accused the Prime Minister of encouraging his backbenchers to 'shout' during the PMQs session.

The Labour leader asked the Prime Minister why he is "failing to manage the economy".

Keir Starmer grilled the PM over the cost of living crisis.
Keir Starmer grilled the PM over the cost of living crisis.
James Manning

The Prime Minister bit back, insisting the UK is "tackling" the cost of living crisis "in all sorts of ways.

"Helping people with the cost of their energy, and a British energy security strategy to undo the mistakes of previous Labour governments.

"If we listened to him [Keir Starmer], we frankly would never have come out of lockdown in July last year".

Keir Starmer accused the Prime Minister of "pretending the economy is booming" and hit out at inflation "doubling" that of other countries in the G7.

Boris Johnson defended his Government's record, saying the living wage is going up "by record amounts", as well as employment figures.

The SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford took his opportunity to grill the PM by asking about the cost of living crisis.
The SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford took his opportunity to grill the PM by asking about the cost of living crisis.
Isabel Infantes

The Labour leader slammed the PM's "complacency" over the cost of living issue, saying "it was blindingly obvious" Brits would be facing a squeeze.

Boris Johnson said: "This Government and our Chancellor cut taxes on working people, the National Insurance contribution went down by an average of £330.

"If he's talking about the health and care levy, that is what is enabling us pay for 50,000 more nurses, to pay for clearing the Covid backlog".

The conversation soon turned to the local elections, as Keir Starmer stated: "A vote for Labour next week is a vote for a very different set of choices.

"We would ask oil and gas companies to pay their fare share and reduce energy costs.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced intense scrutiny from the Labour and SNP Westminster leaders.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson faced intense scrutiny from the Labour and SNP Westminster leaders.
Danny Lawson

"We wouldn't hammer people with the worst possible tax at the worst possible time, we'd insulate homes to get bills down, and close the tax avoidance schemes, that's a proper plan for the economy".

Hitting back, Boris Johnson stated: "This guy is doomed to be a permanent spectator.

"We have a plan to fix the NHS and social care, they have no plan, we have a plan to take our economy forward, they have no plan.

"He talks about the election in a few days time, let me remind him, everywhere you look, the Labour is a bankrupt shambles"

"Labour-run Hammersmith Council spent £27,000 on EU flags, Labour-run Nottingham council is bankrupt because of their investment in some communist energy plan, the kind he now favours and should apologise for".

The SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford soon took centre stage in the questioning of the Prime Minister, focussing on children who are going hungry as a result of the cost of living crisis.

He stated: "If he [Boris Johnson] is genuinely looking for ideas to tackle this Tory-made crisis, he'd be wiser to look beyond his Cabinet colleagues, who of course know he won't be there for much longer.

"As a parting gift, here's an idea for the Prime Minister, the Scottish Government has introduced and now doubled the game-changing Scottish child payment of at least £1,040-a-year.

"Is the Prime Minister prepared to match this payment across the UK to help families through this emergency?"

Boris Johnson responded saying the Government is "doing everything we can" to help families, with measures such as "massively increasing" the funds made available to local councils.

The PM continued: "It is another example of the vital strength of our economic union, and the importance of support from the UK Treasury".

This is a breaking story, more to follow.

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