Prime Minister was left squirming in the House of Commons after he was ridiculed for a series of policy reversals
Kemi Badenoch quizzes Keir Starmer in Parliament (Image: UK Parliament)
Sir Keir Starmer was ruthlessly mocked by Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch following his latest humiliating U-turn over digital ID. She branded the Prime Minister “clueless” and warned Labour MPs were getting sick of being told to defend controversial policies – only for the Government to change its mind.
Mrs Badenoch urged the Government to carry out yet another change of policy by scrapping plans for a massive rise in business rates for high streets. Mrs Badenoch said: “The reason he U-turns all the time is because he is clueless. He is blowing around like a plastic bag in the wind, no sense of direction whatsover.”
Sir Keir tried to turn the tables by reminding MPs that another senior Tory, Nadhim Zahawi, this week defected to Reform. But Mrs Badenoch said: “The Prime Minister doesn’t need to worry about me. I’m all right.”
The exchange, which delighted Conservative MPs, came as the Government abandoned plans to require anyone starting a new job to use a digital ID scheme to prove they have the right to work in the UK.
This would effectively have made digital ID compulsory for everyone, but the Government has backtracked after the plan proved unpopular.
Ministers say workers will still need to prove they are entitled to accept employment in the UK, as part of a plan to control immigration.
This is just the latest change of policy, after Labour also announced measures to mitigate controversial new inheritance tax changes for farmers, which threatened to close family farms, as well as rethinking cuts to winter fuel allowance and disability benefits and more.
Mrs Badenoch pointed out that Health Secretary Wes Streeting had urged his Government colleagues to “get it right first time” and asked Sir Keir if he agreed.
She demanded Sir Keir “apologise for the misery he has caused countless farmers”. She said: “The Prime Minister treats his MPs so badly. They follow his lead and they hang him out to dry every time.”
Demanding an explanation for the Government’s plan to help pubs hit by massive business rate rises, she said: “He didn’t answer the question about business rates. It sounds like he doesn’tknow what his policy is. And this has been a farce from start to finish.”
Mrs Badenoch accused Sir Keir of “a catastrophic series of missteps”. And she said Labour MPs were considering “rolling the dice on a new leader”.
