PMQs 2025-06-25

2025-06-25

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Response quality

Questions & Answers

Q1 Partial Answer
Context
The question follows criticism of the Conservatives for their approach to law and order, specifically regarding knife crime and antisocial behaviour.
The Conservatives gave up on law and order. They betrayed our country and let criminals run riot. Now, they desperately post wannabe superhero videos, shamelessly pointing at the problems they created. Last week, they had the chance to put it right, and what did they do? They voted against tough action on knife crime, on antisocial behaviour and on violence against women and girls. Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree that they should hang their heads in shame for failing to protect our streets?
First, it is nice to face the latest wannabe at the Dispatch Box. I will tell the right hon. Member why we are pressing ahead with our reforms: it is because we are investing a billion pounds in tailored employment support, in a “right to try” in order to help more people back into work, and in ending reassessments for the most severely disabled who will never be able to work. We will not walk away or stand by and abandon millions of people trapped in the failing system, left behind by him and his colleagues.
Assessment & feedback
The Deputy Prime Minister did not address whether she agrees that the Conservatives should feel ashamed for failing to take action on law and order issues. Instead, she shifted focus to her government's welfare reforms.
Sidestepped Question Changed Subject
Response accuracy
Q2 Partial Answer
Mel Stride Con
Central Devon
Context
The MP criticizes the government's welfare bill, noting that it does not commit to reducing the number of people on welfare benefits and expresses concern about future tax rises.
The right hon. Lady completely sidestepped my question. She cannot even defend her own Government’s policy. Can she at least assure the House that the vote on Tuesday will actually go ahead?
I do not know if the right hon. Gentleman listened to what I said, because he was reading off his script—I do not need a script—but I can tell him that we will go ahead on Tuesday.
Assessment & feedback
The Deputy Prime Minister did not clarify her position regarding the welfare bill's effectiveness in reducing the number of people on welfare benefits, instead focusing on confirming the vote would proceed.
Sidestepped Question Changed Subject
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Q3 Partial Answer
Mel Stride Con
Central Devon
Context
The MP challenges the Deputy Prime Minister to repeat the Chancellor’s promise of no tax increases, noting concerns from businesses and economists about future tax rises.
Britain’s businesses have today been put on notice: tax rises are coming. Specifically, in the right hon. Lady’s own area, despite Labour’s promises to freeze council tax, the Institute for Fiscal Studies says that the spending review will mean the biggest council tax increases in a generation—a £7 billion tax rise. Yet the Chancellor and the Prime Minister have repeatedly claimed that the Government will not raise taxes on working people. Why does the right hon. Lady think that council tax is not paid by working people?
Again, the Conservatives have an absolute nerve when council tax rose ever single year under their Government. In fact, I had to turn down the Tories on the Local Government Association who wanted me to take away the precept to ensure that they could raise taxes above the 5%. We have kept it there while delivering money for local government, while they had austerity, put taxes up and ruined the British economy.
Assessment & feedback
The Deputy Prime Minister did not address whether council tax is a burden on working people but rather criticized the previous Conservative government's actions regarding council tax.
Sidestepped Question Changed Subject
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Q4 Partial Answer
Mel Stride Con
Central Devon
Context
The MP expresses skepticism about public and parliamentary support for the government's economic policies, noting dissatisfaction with increased borrowing, unemployment, and inflation.
When you cut out the blather, is not the reality that this Labour Government have condemned us to higher taxes, more debt, fewer jobs and more pain for businesses up and down our country? Borrowing, unemployment and inflation are up, yet the right hon. Lady tells us that the Government’s plan is working. It is not just me who is not convinced; the Members behind her are not convinced either. Nor are the public. In fact, I am not even sure whether the right hon. Lady herself is convinced. Is she not just a little embarrassed to defend policies that she does not even agree with?
I am embarrassed every week that an Opposition Member comes here who does not apologise for the mess they left this country in. One party crashed the economy and left families to pay the price. We are putting working people first. I am proud that we have got a huge boost to the minimum wage, the biggest uplift in affordable housing in a generation and that we have expanded free school meals to half a million children. The Tories’ choice: billions of pounds in unfunded tax cuts for the very wealthy—we know where that gets us. It is the same old Tory failed approach. They have not listened, and they have not learnt a thing.
Assessment & feedback
The Deputy Prime Minister did not address whether she feels embarrassed defending Labour's economic policies but rather criticized the previous Conservative government's actions regarding the economy.
Sidestepped Question Changed Subject
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Q5 Partial Answer
Joe Morris Lab
Hexham
Context
The MP seeks to pay tribute to the staff, parents, and students at Prudhoe Community High School for their resilience and dedication during a difficult time.
Prudhoe community high school in my constituency was forced to relocate to Washington after its just over eight-year-old building, built under the previous Government, was found to have cracks in the infrastructure. This incredibly distressing news has required huge resilience and strength from the local community. Will my right hon. Friend join me in paying tribute to the staff, the parents and, most importantly, the students at Prudhoe community high school, and in commending them for their hard work and dedication during this incredibly destabilising time?
I join my hon. Friend in paying tribute to all those involved with Prudhoe community high school for their resilience and dedication during such a challenging time. The support from the local community has been remarkable, and it is heartening to see everyone pulling together to ensure that students can continue to receive a quality education despite these difficulties.
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Q6 Direct Answer
Ben Lake PC
Ceredigion Preseli
Context
The MP has met many veterans in his constituency who have experienced trauma and life-changing injuries from their service. Some have reported being required to undergo repeated disability assessments to access financial support.
I join the Deputy Prime Minister in thanking members of the armed forces community for their service. I have had the privilege in recent months of meeting many veterans in my constituency, some of whom still carry the trauma of war. Some, including amputees, have told me how repeat disability assessments are too often required of them in order to access financial support. Does the Deputy Prime Minister agree that veterans with life-changing service-related injuries should be exempted from repeat disability assessments?
Part of our reforms are to ensure that those who can never work are properly supported and not put through endless assessment, and I thank the hon. Member for raising this case. We are committed to renewing the nation’s contract with those who have served, and a range of support is in place for veterans, including dedicated medical and physical healthcare pathways in the NHS, employment, and housing. The new support system, VALOUR, backed by £50 million of funding, will provide a network of support centres to connect veterans with local and national services.
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Q7 Direct Answer
Debbie Abrahams Lab
Oldham East and Saddleworth
Context
In Oldham, there are currently 727 families living in temporary accommodation and over 8,000 on the waiting list for housing. The MP highlights that this situation has a devastating impact on children.
In Oldham, 727 families are currently living in temporary accommodation, and 8,000 families are on the waiting list. That obviously has a devastating impact, particularly on children in those families. Will the Deputy Prime Minister outline how she will use the £39 billion that was allocated to her Department in the spending review to fix the housing crisis left by the Opposition, so that families in Oldham, Saddleworth and wider can get the affordable homes they need?
My hon. Friend is right, and as neighbouring MPs we know the impact that temporary accommodation and children being homeless has on their life chances. She is absolutely right to raise the issue, and to highlight the excellent work of Dr Laura Neilson, who is supporting us to develop a cross-Government homelessness strategy. All children should have a safe and secure home. That is why I am so proud that we have confirmed the biggest boost to social and affordable housing investment in a generation. We are getting on with the job, after the mess that the Conservatives left behind.
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Q8 Direct Answer
Context
The Daily Mirror's investigation uncovered a scandal where thousands of troops were subjected to blood and urine monitoring during nuclear weapons testing, but the results were not included in their medical records. The veterans are seeking justice and an apology.
Last night, “Newsnight” covered the Daily Mirror’s three-year investigation into the nuked blood scandal, in which thousands of troops had blood and urine monitored and even chest x-rays during nuclear weapons testing, but the results were kept from their medical records and their suffering was denied for decades. I am a fierce supporter of those men and their families, and the Deputy Prime Minister has met them with me, so does she agree that, in this Armed Forces Week, time is now of the essence, and these elderly veterans deserve answers, justice, and an apology?
I commend my hon. Friend for her campaigning work on this issue. I have met some of those affected and know their strength of feeling; I have heard their deeply personal testimony of their experiences. Especially during Armed Forces Week, I pay tribute to all nuclear veterans and their enduring contribution to our nation’s security. We are looking into unresolved questions regarding medical records as a matter of priority.
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Q9 Direct Answer
Natasha Irons Lab
Croydon East
Context
Councils have faced significant cuts in funding for youth services, leading to the closure of youth centres and reduction of staff. Croydon borough is set to lose its last council-run universal youth provision.
Successive Conservative Governments stripped our councils of funding for youth services, pitting them against services that were under statutory protections. That has led to one in eight councils no longer having a youth centre. Croydon, which is London’s youngest borough, is about to lose its youth engagement team and its last crumb of council-run universal youth provision. Can the Deputy Prime Minister outline what this Labour Government are doing to support our young people? Does she agree that it is time to look again at statutory protections for youth services, so that all young people, no matter where they live, can get the services they deserve?
I completely agree with my hon. Friend that the Conservatives left a trail of devastation across education and youth services. We are making different choices—working with young people to draw up a landmark new national youth strategy, investing £145 million this year to provide stability to the youth sector, rolling out youth future hubs to expand access opportunities and reduce crime, and extending access to mental health support to nearly 1 million more children this year.
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Q10 Direct Answer
James MacCleary Lib Dem
Lewes
Context
Early years settings face a critical staffing crisis due to lack of applicants, low salaries, and high turnover. This could jeopardize the expansion of funded childcare.
The Government’s expansion of funded childcare from September is welcome, but early years settings face a critical staffing crisis that could make expanded provision practically impossible. Not enough applicants, a lack of qualifications, low salaries and high turnover mean that many nurseries are operating well below capacity. Many now find themselves operating at a loss, due to increased national insurance contributions. Can the Deputy Prime Minister outline what clear steps the Government are taking to address the crisis in early years staffing to ensure that all our children get the best possible start in life?
First of all, I will out one of my kids in the Gallery, because he has just completed his studies on early years, so hopefully that will add a little help. We inherited a depleted early years sector, but we are determined to make sure that all children have the best possible start in life. That is why we are delivering the largest ever uplift to the early years pupil premium, boosting family hubs and Start for Life, funded by £126 million this year, and investing £370 million to create tens of thousands of places in new and expanded school-based nurseries.
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Q11 Direct Answer
Chris Curtis Lab
Milton Keynes North
Context
The tech sector in Milton Keynes is rapidly growing, providing numerous job opportunities. However, there may be a need to ensure that these opportunities are sustainable and well-supported.
Milton Keynes has one of the fastest growing tech sectors in the country; one in three people now work in tech jobs at firms such as Red Bull Racing and the AI company Aiimi. Eleanor, a student in my constituency, is in the Gallery today. Can the Deputy Prime Minister let her and this House know how the Government’s new industrial strategy will support our tech sector and provide her generation with good-quality jobs in the future?
I am glad that I am not the only one who has a young person destined for the future in the Gallery today. My hon. Friend has been a huge champion for Milton Keynes, and he is right. After the Tory decline, it is time to turn the page. We have already created 384,000 jobs since the election, and our industrial strategy will create opportunities across the country and invest in jobs and industries of the future, including in Milton Keynes, where East West Rail will help to build 100,000 new homes and put £6.7 million a year in the local economy.
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Q12 Direct Answer
Cameron Thomas Lib Dem
Tewkesbury
Context
Veterans exposed to nuclear testing on Christmas Island have suffered various health issues, but the Ministry of Defence has never accepted liability for their conditions.
In 1957, my constituent Ronald Clark was among 22,000 UK personnel exposed to nuclear testing on Christmas Island. Those veterans and their descendants have suffered various cancers, crippling illnesses and deformities, but the Ministry of Defence has never accepted liability. I note the Deputy Prime Minister’s response to the hon. Member for Salford (Rebecca Long Bailey), but it does not go quite far enough. Time is running out. Will the Deputy Prime Minister meet me, my constituent and those veterans to determine appropriate compensation?
Again, I know the strength of feeling. I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman’s constituent Ronald and all the service personnel who participated in the British nuclear testing programme. I am sure that the Minister for Veterans would be happy to meet him and the veterans to discuss this issue.
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Q13 Direct Answer
Sureena Brackenridge Lab
Wolverhampton North East
Context
Free school meals were previously restricted to families earning less than £7,400, but the government has expanded eligibility to support more children.
Under the old guard of the Conservatives, families had to earn less than £7,400, often in low-paid and insecure work, to qualify for free school meals. Under this Labour Government, thousands more children in Wolverhampton North East and 500,000 more across the country will benefit from free school meals. Will the Deputy Prime Minister outline how Labour’s plans will put more money in parents’ pockets?
We are determined to tackle child poverty, which rose catastrophically under the last Government. That is why we are expanding access to free school meals to more than half a million children, which will lift 100,000 of the poorest children out of poverty and put £500 back into parents’ pockets. This is on top of 750 free breakfast clubs, worth £450 a year to parents, and a historic uplift in the national minimum wage, worth up to £2,500 to the lowest-paid workers.
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Q14 Evasion / No Answer
Context
Speculation about potential changes in government leadership and cabinet reshuffles has been ongoing.
Given that the right hon. Lady appears to be enjoying spending yet another week practising to be Prime Minister, maybe she can give us her view on who she would get rid of in the coming reshuffle. Would it be the Chancellor for killing economic growth? Would it be the Work and Pensions Secretary for the botched handling of the welfare Bill and the winter fuel cuts? Would it be the Environment Secretary for trying to destroy British family farms? Would it be the Foreign Secretary for giving away British sovereign territory and paying billions to rent it back? Or given that the Prime Minister is now polling as having had the most unpopular first year in modern British political history, would the right hon. Lady do herself and the country a favour and tell him to show himself the door?
Maybe the hon. Gentleman wants a go next week, because it has been quite a carousel. The Leader of the Opposition said that she was going to get better week on week—she already has in the last two weeks by not turning up. I am just wondering when she is going to give the shadow Justice Secretary, the right hon. Member for Newark (Robert Jenrick), a go.
Assessment & feedback
Speculation about cabinet reshuffles and changes in leadership
Avoiding Direct Answer Deflection
Response accuracy
Q15 Direct Answer
Bayo Alaba Lab
Southend East and Rochford
Context
The government has announced significant increases in defence spending, which is seen as crucial for national security.
I am proud and honoured to say that I have served this country as a reservist Parachute Regiment soldier. That is why I would like to take this opportunity to thank all our service members and their families during Armed Forces Week. This Labour Government have announced the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the end of the cold war. Will the Deputy Prime Minister set out how the Government will rebuild Britain and secure our defence for the future?
I thank my hon. Friend for his question and for his service. He is absolutely right—our armed forces represent the very best of Britain, and put their lives on the line for us every day. It is our responsibility to support those who defend us, so we are delivering the biggest sustained boost to defence spending since the end of the cold war. The strategic defence review sets out our vision for defence, driving jobs and investment across the nation, while ensuring we have a world-class military that can protect Britain’s interests at home and abroad.
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Q16 Partial Answer
Oliver Dowden Con
Hertsmere
Context
There has been an increase of houses in multiple occupation (HMOs) in quiet residential areas, causing antisocial behaviour and parking problems.
Quiet residential streets such as Tiverton Road and Organ Hall Road are being blighted by family houses being converted into HMOs. May I urge the right hon. Lady to look at enhancing the powers of local councils to stop these developments where they are not wanted?
Local authorities have planning powers to limit the proliferation of small houses being turned into houses in multiple occupation. The previous Government left a housing crisis, and I am getting on with fixing that through the 1.5 million homes that we are going to deliver.
Assessment & feedback
Enhancement of local council powers was not directly addressed
Changing Subject To Previous Government'S Failures
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Q17 Partial Answer
Vikki Slade Lib Dem
Mid Dorset and North Poole
Context
Axel, a young constituent, was given an education, health and care plan but his primary school place was withdrawn without replacement.
When my young constituent Axel was given his EHCP a year ago, his primary school place was withdrawn with no replacement. He is at home with his mum who cannot work. Can the Deputy Prime Minister commit to somewhere for him in September?
We are determined to fix the SEND system and support children before issues escalate. We are investing £3.4 billion this year, deploying specialist teams across early years and primary school settings, helping identify and respond to speech and language needs. Full plans on reforming SEND will be set out in autumn.
Assessment & feedback
Specific commitment for Axel was not made
Broad Statement About Reforms
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Q18 Partial Answer
Sarah Olney Lib Dem
Richmond Park
Context
London boroughs face a £500 million funding shortfall, with two councils in Richmond and Kingston set to lose out.
The money allocated to local authorities in London by the Government’s spending review fell 35% short of requested amounts. Is it the policy that London residents should continue receiving increasing council tax bills while their local authorities have less money?
We are fixing the foundations of local government after 14 years of austerity. We have put record funding into local government, with multi-year settlements: we are helping local government where the last Government ruined it.
Assessment & feedback
Specific policy on council tax was not addressed
Changing Subject To Previous Government'S Austerity
Response accuracy
Q19 Partial Answer
Elsie Blundell Lab
Heywood and Middleton North
Context
Local businesses and people in Middleton are facing connectivity issues, hindering economic growth. The area lacks mobile broadband connectivity.
In Middleton, many local businesses and people remain cut off from the economic growth of the wider city region due to a lack of mobile signal. How can we ensure that this Government’s mission to capitalise on the promise of technology is felt in all parts of the country, including Middleton?
The industrial strategy launched this week includes great ideas to ensure superfast broadband everywhere, making sure everyone can use their phones to get connected. The previous Government left people disconnected.
Assessment & feedback
Specific measures for Middleton and addressing the digital black spots directly were not mentioned.
Response accuracy
Q20 Partial Answer
Jeremy Corbyn Ind
Islington North
Context
86 people were killed in Gaza by Israeli forces, leading to international condemnation. The questioner raises concerns about British involvement through the sale of parts for F-35 jets.
Why does Britain still supply parts for the F-35 jets that have been used to take so much life in Gaza? How has this country got to a situation where it stands on the wrong side of international law regarding war crimes and genocide in Gaza and the west bank?
We strongly oppose the expansion of military operations, settler violence, and blocking humanitarian aid in Gaza. Free trade agreement talks have been suspended, and sanctions on extremists supporting settler expansion are in place. The determination of genocide is left to competent international courts.
Assessment & feedback
The specific issue about the supply of parts for F-35 jets was not directly addressed.
Response accuracy