And Conservative leader Mrs Badenoch called on Sir Keir to stop being “all puffed up and self-righteous” and admit he made a mistake on winter fuel.

Nine million pensioners will receive the winter fuel payment this year. It means more than three-quarters of older people will get the allowance – worth up to £300 – this winter.

Kemi Badenoch blasted: “Let’s bring it back to the u-turn he’s running away from. The u-turn on the policy his MPs went out to defend time and time again.

“One minute, they said it was right to take the winter fuel payment away, there might be a run on the pound.

“The next minute, they said it was right to give it back. This is laughable. He stands there all puffed up and self-righteous. Why can’t he admit he made a mistake?”

Sir Keir hit back and said: “They left a £22 billion black hole that we had to fill and that is why we took the right decisions.

“Three weeks ago I said that I wanted more pensioners to be eligible for winter fuel.

“I’m really pleased we’ve set out the threshold for the certainty that is needed. She says I don’t want to talk about record. What about three trade deals, record investment, breakfast clubs, social affordable housing, defence review, Sizewell, we could go on all morning.”

He added: “At the weekend she said that she would be getting better in the role. She could start with apologising for the Liz Truss budget, that would be better.”Mrs Badenoch sought a promise from the Prime Minister that he would not put up taxes any further.

Sir Keir dodged the question and Mrs Badenoch said: “We all heard the Prime Minister. He didn’t rule out tax rises so they are going to have to put up taxes even more.”

Mrs Badenoch further called into question Sir Keir Starmer‘s claims that the books have been balanced since Labour came into power last year.

She said: “He must be talking about a different economy. All of us in this House heard about unemployment increasing. Unemployment has increased every month since Labour took office. Last year he said he was taking the winter fuel payment away to balance the books. But the books are not balanced, in fact they are worse.

“This year the deficit is forecast to be £10 billion higher since the budget. Not since since last year’s election, since the budget. In what way are the books now balanced?”

The Prime Minister replied: “She’s obviously missed the interest rate cuts, the growth figures for earlier this year, the strategic defence review, local transport £15 billion going in, free school meals, Sizewell, social housing.

“She stands there to lecture us, and I see Liz Truss is obviously back in vogue.