Commons Sense

House of Commons · PMQs

PMQs

Wednesday 15 November 2023 · 8 questions

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

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 1 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Prime Minister welcomed David Cameron back to the Government as Foreign Secretary.
  • Supreme Court judgment confirms the lawfulness of removing asylum seekers to safe third countries.
  • Keir Starmer questioned the Prime Minister's ability to deliver on his promise to stop small boat crossings.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Richard Thomson
Standards & Ethics
Context

The MP questions the judgment about David Cameron's suitability for Foreign Secretary given his past involvement with Lex Greensill and Chinese state interests.

Question

When the Prime Minister took office, he promised to lead a Government marked by “integrity, professionalism and accountability at every level.” What is it about the judgment of David Cameron and his relationship with Lex Greensill, or his lobbying for Chinese state interests, that made the Prime Minister consider him a suitable candidate to be Foreign Secretary?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I am delighted that the former Prime Minister has rejoined the Government as Foreign Secretary. He brings unrivalled experience and relationships across the world, and will do a fantastic job championing British interests everywhere he goes.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The specific judgment about David Cameron's relationship with Lex Greensill and Chinese state interests was not addressed.

How: Brings Unrivalled Experience And Relationships Across The World

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Scott Benton
Asylum & Refugees Migrants & Borders
Context

The MP asks about the implications of this morning's Supreme Court judgment regarding the Government's plan to tackle illegal immigration.

Question

Tackling illegal immigration is a crucial issue for my constituents, many of whom will be extremely disappointed by this morning's judgment from the Supreme Court. Is the Prime Minister able to update the House on what that decision means for the Government's plan to tackle illegal immigration?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

I thank my hon. Friend for his question. I know he has championed this issue, and that it matters to his constituents. As I said, the judgment confirms that the principle of removing asylum seekers to a safe third country is lawful. The Government have already been working in advance on a new treaty with Rwanda, which we will finalise in the light of today's judgment to address the challenges that were raised.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Foreign Affairs Standards & Ethics
Context

The MP questions the Prime Minister's judgement in appointing David Cameron as Foreign Secretary given previous issues.

Question

The Prime Minister obviously thinks so little of his own MPs that he has had to peel David Cameron away from his seven-year exile in a shepherd's hut and make him Foreign Secretary. A few months ago, the Intelligence and Security Committee said that the now Foreign Secretary's role in a Chinese investment fund may have been—these are its words—“engineered by the Chinese state”. I hardly need to remind the Prime Minister of the threat posed by the Chinese Communist party or the intimidation of Members of this House. When will he instruct the Foreign Secretary to give full public disclosure of his work for Chinese interests?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

As I said, I am delighted that the former Prime Minister has rejoined the Government as Foreign Secretary. As an individual with unrivalled experience, he will help Britain to navigate an uncertain world in challenging times. Of course, like every other Minister, he will go through the normal process with the independent adviser.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The question of public disclosure was not directly addressed; instead, it was said that the Foreign Secretary would follow standard processes.

How: Like Every Other Minister, He Will Go Through The Normal Process With The Independent Adviser

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Context

The MP criticizes the PM for reappointing individuals involved in previous failures.

Question

For someone who has spent the last few weeks complaining about recycling bins, it is ironic that the Prime Minister's latest reset involves recycling the architects of 13 years of Tory failure. This is the Prime Minister who reanimated the career of the right hon. and learned Member for Fareham (Suella Braverman) in order to resuscitate his own, just days after she was sacked for a national security breach. Is he ashamed that he was so desperate to become Tory leader and so scared to face a vote that he put someone so totally unfit for office in charge of Britain's national security?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The right hon. and learned Gentleman mentions 13 years, but we should remember what happened at the beginning of those 13 years. It is this party that restored the country's financial security after the Labour party left no money behind.

Not addressed: The question about shame and desperation was not directly addressed; instead, it attacked Labour's financial management.

How: It Is This Party That Restored The Country'S Financial Security

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q5 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Migrants & Borders Community Security
Context

The MP challenges the PM to acknowledge past mistakes in national security management.

Question

The right hon. Member for Islington North is not even a Labour MP any more. It is a changed party with strong leadership. [Interruption.]

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Obviously the right hon. and learned Gentleman did not hear what I said about our approach to Rwanda. When it comes to stopping the boats, Rwanda is one part of our plan, which has already delivered a reduction in the number of small boats this year by a third.

Not addressed: The question about national security breach and current Labour stance was not addressed; instead, it focused on the Rwanda deal.

How: When It Comes To Stopping The Boats, Rwanda Is One Part Of Our Plan

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q6 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Immigration Asylum & Refugees
Context

The MP criticizes the PM's approach to illegal immigration, noting the growing backlog of asylum seekers.

Question

I am so glad that the Prime Minister agrees that this is a changed Labour party. While he was wasting his time on this gimmick, the asylum backlog has swollen to 175,000 people. Taxpayers are paying £8 million a day on hotel bills, and 615 people arrived by small boat last Sunday alone. Plan A has failed. After this session, whether he likes it or not, he will have to go back to his office, back to the drawing board and start from scratch. Can he assure the British public that he will drop what his former Home Secretary calls his “magical thinking” and start treating small boat crossings with the seriousness they deserve?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

The right hon. and learned Gentleman talks about a changed Labour party—perhaps we will see that this evening. He cannot even make his party do the right thing when it comes to standing by Israel in the vote later today. He talks about taking small boat crossings seriously. He has opposed every single measure that we have taken.

Not addressed: The question about dropping magical thinking was not directly addressed; instead, it attacked Labour's position on Israel and opposition to measures.

How: He Cannot Even Make His Party Do The Right Thing When It Comes To Standing By Israel In The Vote Later Today

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q7 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Migrants & Borders
Context

The Prime Minister had promised to stop boats carrying illegal immigrants by the end of the year. The question is prompted by the failure to achieve this goal despite multiple attempts.

Question

It is very straightforward: the Prime Minister promised that he would stop the boats this year. Today is 15 November. He has wasted all his time on a gimmick, and now he is absolutely nowhere. Will he level with the British public and finally admit that he has failed to deliver on his promise?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

This Government have done more to tackle illegal migration than any in the past. The right hon. and learned Gentleman has been on the wrong side of this issue his entire career, describing all immigration law as racist and opposing stricter asylum rules.

Not addressed: The Prime Minister did not admit failure or provide specifics on illegal migration policies beyond criticism of opposition views.

How: Attacking The Questioner'S Record

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q8 Keir Starmer Lab Holborn and St Pancras
Economy
Context

The Prime Minister had several reshuffles and a King's Speech with no substantial impact on the cost of living crisis. The question is prompted by criticism over inaction.

Question

If the Prime Minister was confident about his promise, he would have given an answer saying that he stands by it and will deliver it by the end of the year. He has had three reshuffles, a forgotten conference speech, an empty King's Speech—he even found time to fanboy Elon Musk—but not one of them has made the slightest difference to the lives of working people. Is he starting to feel that, as somebody once said, he was the future once?

Answer from Rishi Sunak

Today was the day we delivered on the most important pledge I made: to halve inflation. We are delivering on that commitment and easing the burden for families up and down the country. Everything from the Labour party would jeopardise this progress by borrowing £28 billion a year, undermining energy security and giving in to union backers with pay rises.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Prime Minister did not directly address whether his promises have had an impact on cost of living for working people.

How: Shifting Focus To Labour'S Policies

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)