Commons Sense

House of Commons · PMQs

PMQs

Wednesday 2 February 2022 · 25 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 15 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Esther McVey questioned the Prime Minister about abandoning mandatory vaccinations for NHS staff, to which he responded that vaccines remain the best defense and NHS staff have a professional responsibility to get vaccinated, though consultations will continue.
  • Keir Starmer criticized the government for raising taxes and described the Prime Minister and Chancellor as leading the country towards economic trouble, to which the Prime Minister responded by highlighting the government's economic recovery efforts and its investment in the NHS.
  • Ian Blackford questioned the Prime Minister about his whereabouts on a specific date and the implications of a letter of no confidence from the Defence Committee Chair, to which the Prime Minister responded by emphasizing the importance of delivering the covid recovery plan.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Esther McVey Con Tatton
Care & Healthcare Workers NHS
Context

The Secretary of State for Health and Social Care previously stated that mandatory vaccinations would be subject to a consultation.

Question

On Monday, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care said mandatory vaccinations would be subject to a consultation. Can the Prime Minister make it unequivocally clear—no ifs, no buts, no qualifications—that mandatory vaccinations for NHS staff will be abandoned? Will he also make it clear that that is also true for care workers, many of whom have already lost their jobs? What support will the Government be giving to get those care workers back into the care sector, and will those who have lost their jobs get compensation?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I thank my right hon. Friend for her thoughtful work on this. I want to stress that vaccines remain our best line of defence, and I think that NHS staff and all those who work in the care sector have a professional responsibility to get vaccinated. However, as my right hon. Friend the Health Secretary told the House on Monday, given the difference between omicron and delta, it is right—my right hon. Friend the Member for Tatton (Esther McVey) is right—that we revisit the balance of risks and opportunities. The Health Secretary has said we will launch a consultation and, subject to the responses and the will of this House, the Government will revoke the regulations.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The PM did not confirm or deny abandoning mandatory vaccinations for care workers or provide specific support and compensation details.

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Q2 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Taxation Democracy & Elections
Context

The Government has announced a range of measures to tackle the cost of living, including tax changes.

Question

Following your opening remarks, Mr Speaker, I want to say to Government Members that theirs is the party of Winston Churchill. Our parties stood together as we defeated fascism in Europe. Now their leader stands in the House of Commons parroting the conspiracy theories of violent fascists to try to score cheap political points. He knows exactly what he is doing. It is time to restore some dignity. One of the most absurd claims made on behalf of Operation Save Big Dog is the Prime Minister and the Chancellor writing in The Sunday Times that they are the “tax-cutting Conservatives.” Why do these alleged tax cutters keep raising taxes on working people?

Answer from Boris Johnson

On the right hon. and learned Gentleman's first point, I do not want to make heavy weather of this, but I am informed that in 2013 he apologised and took full responsibility for what had happened on his watch, and I think that was the right thing to do. On what we are doing to tackle the cost of living and taxation, our covid recovery plan is vital in helping people with the cost of living: lifting up universal credit payments by cutting the tax that people effectively pay, lifting the living wage, and helping councils with another half a billion pounds for those who are facing particular hardship. What we are also doing, and this is absolutely vital, is increasing the number of high-wage, high-skill jobs in this country.

Not addressed: The PM did not address the question about tax increases and instead talked about past actions by the Labour Party.

How: Changing Subject

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Q3 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Economy Taxation
Context

The Government has announced various tax measures, including an increase in national insurance contributions.

Question

It is not just the national insurance rise. Thresholds for income tax frozen—a stealth tax on working people. The threshold for tuition fees frozen—a stealth tax on working people. Local authorities forced to increase council tax—a stealth tax on working people. You can be as stealthy as you like, but you cannot hide reality. We have the highest tax burden for 70 years in the middle of an inflation crisis. I ask the Prime Minister again: why do he and the Chancellor keep raising taxes on working people?

Answer from Boris Johnson

What we are doing is helping people with the cost of living, cutting taxes for those on universal credit, as I have said, and helping people with the cost of their fuel, with the cold weather payments and the warm home payment—doing all the things that this country would expect. We are lifting the living wage, which this party introduced. This Government have increased that by a record amount. Above all, the most important thing we are doing is helping people into work, with 500,000 people off welfare and into work under our way to work scheme. There are more people in work now than before the pandemic began, and that is the record of this Government.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The PM did not address why taxes were being raised on working people but instead focused on measures to help with cost of living and job creation.

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Q4 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Economy
Context

The Government has faced criticism for raising taxes during an inflation crisis.

Question

Lots of words, lots of bluster, but no answers. A word of warning, Prime Minister: that will not work with the police. I will tell the Prime Minister why the Government are putting taxes up: low growth. In the decade of Tory Government before the pandemic, growth slumped. It was much, much weaker than under the last Labour Government. If the Tories matched our record on growth, we would have £30 billion more to spend on public services without having to raise a single tax. Surely even this Prime Minister does not need someone else to tell him that he and the Chancellor are having to raise taxes because the Tories failed to grow the economy over a decade.

Answer from Boris Johnson

No, I think everybody in this country can see that we have been through the biggest pandemic for 100 years and that we have looked after the people of this country to the tune of £400 billion, which we put into furlough and all the other schemes, with 11.7 million people protected. Everybody knows the cost of that. At the same time, despite all the difficulties we have faced, we have now got the fastest growth in the G7. That is absolutely true. We have youth unemployment at a record low. We have got three times as much tech investment coming into this country as France, and twice as much as Germany.

Not addressed: The PM did not address why taxes were being raised given low economic growth but instead talked about pandemic recovery efforts and current economic performance.

How: Changing Subject

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Q5 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Crime & Law Enforcement Employment
Context

The UK has faced significant economic challenges, including fraud and waste. The government is accused of writing off £8.7 billion on personal protective equipment.

Question

Why did this Government block the National Crime Agency from investigating all the billions they lost to fraud?

Answer from Boris Johnson

Of course we despise fraud and those who steal from the taxpayer, which is why we have already recovered £743 million in lost furlough money and £2.2 billion that was stolen in bounce back loans. We secured record quantities of PPE in record time.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Blocking the National Crime Agency from investigating fraud cases

How: Captain Hindsight, Attacking The Opposition

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Q6 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
NHS Economy Taxation
Context

The Prime Minister is accused of protecting oil companies and bank profits while increasing taxes on working people.

Question

Why are the Chancellor and the Prime Minister protecting oil companies and bank profits while putting taxes up on working people?

Answer from Boris Johnson

This Government has invested £408 billion in an unprecedented economic crisis. We are investing now in 45,000 more NHS workers this year than there were last year: 10,900 more nurses; about 5,000 more doctors.

Not addressed: Protecting oil companies and bank profits while increasing taxes on working people

How: Shift To Nhs Investments

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Q7 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
NHS Economy Taxation
Context

The Prime Minister is accused of misleading the public about cutting taxes at a time when taxes are actually increasing.

Question

Isn't it the case that he and his Chancellor are the Tory Thelma and Louise, hand in hand as they drive the country off the cliff, and into the abyss of low growth and high tax?

Answer from Boris Johnson

We are getting on with coming out of covid, and we are the second fastest, or the fastest economic recovery in the G7. We are fixing the NHS and social care when the Opposition voted against it, and they have no plan. We opened freeports across the country.

Not addressed: Leading the country to economic ruin

How: Shift To Economic Recovery, Attacking Opposition

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Q8 Caroline Dinenage Con Gosport
NHS
Context

Sophie Fairall, aged 10, died due to a tumour missed by her GP and only discovered at A&E. Cancer is the leading cause of death for children under 14.

Question

Sophie's GP failed to diagnose her cancer despite it being the biggest killer of children under 14. I would like to ask the Prime Minister to advocate for more and better training for general practice to identify childhood cancers as part of World Cancer Day on Friday.

Answer from Boris Johnson

I thank my hon. Friend for her question. I am very sorry to hear about Sophie's case and my thoughts are with her family and friends. She is right that research is crucial, but it is also vital that we do tests early enough, so not only has NICE updated its guidance on referring childhood cancers in February last year, but we are investing in 100 new diagnostic centres.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not explicitly commit to advocating for more training for GPs to identify cancer in children

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Q9 Ian Blackford SNP
Ukraine Democracy & Elections
Context

The Telegraph revealed that the Prime Minister attended a party in his flat on 13 November 2020, which contradicts his previous statement to the House. The police are now investigating this incident.

Question

I respect the authority of Mr Speaker but I have a duty to represent public anger with the PM for attending a party that he previously denied happened. Can the Prime Minister update the House on where he was on 13 November?

Answer from Boris Johnson

The right hon. Gentleman asked exactly the same questions a few days ago and knows that the process must go on. We have been delivering the fastest vaccine roll-out anywhere in Europe, getting people back to work, and helping to defy unacceptable threats against Ukraine.

Not addressed: Changed subject entirely without addressing the specific question of his whereabouts

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Q10 Ian Blackford SNP
Defence Democracy & Elections
Context

The Prime Minister has been previously questioned about attending a party that he denied happened. The Chair of the Select Committee on Defence submitted a letter of no confidence.

Question

The PM cannot even tell us where he was, and his colleagues' expressions show they agree. He thinks everything is owed to him but never thinks what he owes the public. What does it mean for the PM that the Chair of the Defence Committee has submitted a letter of no confidence?

Answer from Boris Johnson

It is more vital than ever to deliver our covid recovery plan, and we are doing that. That is what matters now.

Not addressed: Changed subject entirely without addressing the specific question of the no confidence letter

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Q11 Virginia Crosbie
Economy Energy
Context

The Prime Minister visited the constituency where he saw plans for a new nuclear power plant at Wylfa. The questioner believes nuclear must play a role in meeting carbon and net-zero goals.

Question

Nuclear power must be part of our carbon-neutral future, levelling up, and combating high energy prices. Does my right hon. Friend agree the rapid deployment of nuclear technology is crucial? If so, will he commit to financing Wylfa Newydd in this Parliament?

Answer from Boris Johnson

It was a great joy to visit my hon. Friend's constituency, where she informed me of her plans for Wylfa. It is a fantastic vision and site, and it remains a very interesting and attractive prospect for new nuclear power.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not commit to financing the project in this Parliament

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Q12 Colum Eastwood Social Democratic & Labour Party Social Democratic and Labour Party
Economy Taxation Northern Ireland Benefits & Welfare
Context

Universal credit has been cut, national insurance raised, and energy bills skyrocketed. The PM often claims 'we are all in this together', but working families feel left behind.

Question

While the Prime Minister was partying, working families lost £1,000 from universal credit, faced higher national insurance, and sky-high energy bills. Isn't it true that the PM only cares about himself and his rich mates?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I am in it to serve my country and the entire United Kingdom, proud of our biggest investment in Northern Ireland since devolution began, and cutting taxation on universal credit.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Did not directly address the negative impacts mentioned by the MP

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Q13 Chris Loder
Transport
Context

South Western Railway has cut off Dorset, Somerset, most of Wiltshire and Devon from direct rail services to London and slashed service in half.

Question

South Western Railway's actions have isolated these regions and halved the service. Will my right hon. Friend support me and neighbouring colleagues in restoring direct services to West Dorset and having a timetable fit for our region?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I thank my hon. Friend very much for his question; he knows whereof he speaks. He is an expert and has effectively lobbied for his constituents, reflecting their frustrations. The timetable is expected to return to December 2021 levels from Saturday 19 February.

Answered
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Q14 Alex Sobel Labour (Co-op)
Economy Energy
Context

A constituent faces significant fuel bill increases while another criticizes the government's lack of a plan for cost-of-living support.

Question

I was out speaking to constituents who have seen their bills increase from £100 to £170 per month due to poor insulation and higher costs. The Government failed to insulate homes and control fuel prices. My constituent called the Prime Minister despicable for having no plan to help families struggling with living costs.

Answer from Boris Johnson

The Government has delivered economic support worth £12 billion this year. We have a jobs-led recovery, which includes the fastest G7 growth.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Cutting VAT on energy and getting oil/gas companies to contribute more was not addressed.

How: Redirected To Brexit

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Q15 James Grundy
Transport Environment
Context

A proposed clean air zone in Greater Manchester is seen as economically devastating with daily charges of £60 per lorry driver, affecting taxis, vans, and buses.

Question

The proposed Greater Manchester clean air zone scheme will charge £60 per day for lorries and impact taxis, van drivers, and even buses. Will the PM intervene to stop Mayor Burnham from imposing this unworkable Labour scheme?

Answer from Boris Johnson

The proposed scheme by Greater Manchester's Labour Mayor is unworkable and will harm local businesses. An alternative that does not punish residents must be found.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No intervention or prevention plan was specified.

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Q16 Abena Oppong-Asare Lab Erith and Thamesmead
Context

The Prime Minister is under scrutiny for potential lockdown rule violations, as constituents question his accountability.

Question

If the PM receives a fixed penalty notice for attending or hosting a party during lockdown, will he inform the House and resign?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I will comply with the law once the process is concluded.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment to informing the House or resignation was given.

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Q17 Ian Levy
Transport
Context

Increased road congestion due to economic growth in Blyth Valley necessitates urgent infrastructure improvements.

Question

The green revolution in Blyth Valley is causing increased traffic and the need for better roads. Will my right hon. Friend meet me to discuss this problem?

Answer from Boris Johnson

My hon. Friend is championing Blyth Valley well. We are securing a Britishvolt gigafactory and working with the council on a bid for the Blyth relief road.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No commitment to meeting or specific actions were outlined.

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Q18 Rachael Maskell Labour (Co-op)
Economy Housing Benefits & Welfare
Context

The cost-of-living crisis in York, including high rent prices and food, energy, and tax increases, is pushing constituents into poverty.

Question

While the PM enjoys himself, my constituents face rising costs, with York among the top 10 places for a living crisis. When will he stop protecting himself and start helping them?

Answer from Boris Johnson

We have increased local housing allowance, the living wage twice by record amounts, and improved universal credit. Our jobs-led recovery is driving growth.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific plan or timeline for addressing cost-of-living issues was provided.

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Q19 Desmond Swayne Con New Forest West
Ukraine
Context

The Prime Minister's visit to Ukraine highlights the current tension and the need for Western support against potential Russian aggression.

Question

Will the PM brief us on his visit to Ukraine, where Russian troops are massing on the borders?

Answer from Boris Johnson

The mission was to stand with Ukraine against Russian aggression. We will lead in economic sanctions and support the Ukrainian army.

Partly answered

Not addressed: No specific briefing or detailed plan for engagement was outlined.

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Q20 Gareth Thomas Labour (Co-op)
Crime & Law Enforcement Economy Foreign Affairs
Context

After the publication of the Russia report, concerns were raised about the government's failure to prioritise legislation against illicit financial flows from Russia.

Question

Why has the Prime Minister not prioritised an Economic Crime Act despite warnings that dirty money from Russia poses a national security issue?

Answer from Boris Johnson

This Government have come down very hard on dirty money from Russia and everywhere else, bringing in unexplained wealth orders. We have sanctions on Russia following Crimea in 2014 and Magnitsky sanctions on those involved in the poisoning of Alexei Navalny. The economic crime Bill will be voted on in the third Session of this Parliament.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to legislating for an Economic Crime Act was not specifically addressed

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Q21 Henry Smith Con
Brexit
Context

The Government delivered on the Brexit decision despite a global pandemic, signing over 70 free trade agreements.

Question

Will the Prime Minister commit to appointing a Minister responsible for realising the freedoms and benefits of Brexit?

Answer from Boris Johnson

It is largely thanks to Brexit that we had the fastest vaccine roll-out in Europe, delivered freeports, and 60 or 70 free trade deals. I will not anticipate decisions about Government roles but think it would be a good idea to have a Minister driving the post-Brexit agenda.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Commitment to appointing a specific Minister was not explicitly made

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Q22 Gavin Newlands SNP
Democracy & Elections
Context

Multiple statements were issued regarding Downing Street parties during the pandemic, culminating in Allegra Stratton resigning.

Question

Why did Allegra Stratton have to resign if previous statements about partygate were true?

Answer from Boris Johnson

No one wanted Allegra to resign, and I was very sad that she did.

Not addressed: Circumstances leading to her resignation were not explained

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Q23 Simon Jupp
Women & Equalities
Context

A constituent campaign seeks a dedicated menopause clinic due to current travel distance issues.

Question

What steps are being taken to improve access to menopause services for women in Devon and the south-west?

Answer from Boris Johnson

We are committed to improving menopause care so that all women can have access. Menopause will be a priority in our women's health strategy, and we aim to establish a UK-wide taskforce.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific actions for Devon and the south-west were not detailed

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Q24 Angela Eagle Lab Wallasey
Standards & Ethics
Context

Questions arose about the Prime Minister's credibility regarding Downing Street parties and the need for an inquiry.

Question

Given the need for a Metropolitan police inquiry to determine if the PM attended a Downing Street party, how can he be fit to control the nuclear deterrent?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I hesitate to remind the hon. Lady that she campaigned actively for a Prime Minister who wanted to get rid of our nuclear deterrent altogether.

Not addressed: Did not address fitness to control the nuclear deterrent

How: Attacking Opposition

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Q25 Mark Eastwood
NHS
Context

Recognition of NHS workers, volunteers, and pharmacists for their role in the successful vaccine distribution.

Question

Will my right hon. Friend join me in thanking NHS staff and volunteers for making the vaccine roll-out a success in Dewsbury, Mirfield, Kirkburton, and Denby Dale?

Answer from Boris Johnson

I thank my hon. Friend for his representation of his communities and all involved in the roll-out in Dewsbury, Mirfield, Kirkburton and Denby Dale. It was an extraordinary national effort with pride seen in every vaccine centre.

Answered

Not addressed: null

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