Strikes UK – live: Sunak 'pathetic' in trying to shift blame as schools ...
All UK strike dates confirmed for February 2023
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Rishi Sunak faced a testing Prime Minister’s Question time against a backdrop of Britain’s biggest strike day in more than a decade.
Sir Keir Starmer said the prime minister was “pathetic” for trying to blame Labour for the mass walkouts.
He told MPs: “After 13 years in power, trying to blame the Labour Party for his failure to sort out the strikes is rank pathetic. The Tory Party’s addiction to sleaze and scandal has done huge damage to this country and the cost to the public keeps adding up.”
Mr Sunak replied: “He can’t stand up to his union bosses, he can’t stand up for Britain’s schoolchildren today and he can’t stand up for the women in his party.”
Teachers, train drivers, civil servants, university lecturers, bus drivers and security guards are among half a million workers walking out today, as union bosses accuse the government of frustrating efforts to reach compromise on pay deals.
Around 85 per cent of schools are either fully or partially closed by strike action today, while the bulk of Britain’s train network is offline.
Sir Keir Starmer used his final remarks to accuse the Conservatives of having an “addiction to sleaze and scandal”.
He told MPs: “After 13 years in power, trying to blame the Labour Party for his failure to sort out the strikes is rank pathetic. The Tory Party’s addiction to sleaze and scandal has done huge damage to this country and the cost to the public keeps adding up.
“We’ve got a justice system letting murderers walk the street, heart attack victims waiting hours for an ambulance, an economy that is shrinking quicker than his leadership, and even I couldn’t quite believe it when I saw that his Government is expecting taxpayers to pay the legal fees for the member for Uxbridge (Boris Johnson) defending himself over his lockdown rule-breaking. A quarter of a million pounds.
“Surely even this prime minister can put his foot down, stand up to his old boss and tell him he made the mess, he can pick up the bill?”
Rishi Sunak replied: “He can’t stand up to his union bosses, he can’t stand up for Britain’s schoolchildren today and he can’t stand up for the women in his party.”
Liam James1 February 2023 12:34
Jake Berry, Tory MP and former chair of the party, took a dig at striking civil servants over their alleged tendency to work from home.
The former minister has previously remarked on the matter, in October 2021 telling civil servants to stop “woke-ing” from home, as he claimed government workers were firmly on one side of a so-called culture war.
Liam James1 February 2023 12:55
Thousands of teachers gathered outside Broadcasting House on Wednesday as they prepared to march to Westminster.
Teachers chanted “Hey, hey, Sunak, ooh ahh, I want to know if you’ll fund my school” to the tune of “Hey! Baby”. They also carried signs demanding the government “pay up”. Wimbledon primary school teachers Jess Olivares, 26, and Laura Mears, 29, were among those marching.
Ms Olivares said: “We’re here today because change really needs to happen, we need more funding in our schools. This is about our children and the future of our children.”
She said that children with special education needs were being affected by a lack of funding for schools.
Liam James1 February 2023 12:26
The prime minister “raised more questions than answers” when he announced Nadhim Zahawi would be sacked as Tory party chairman at the weekend, Sir Keir Starmer said.
The Labour leader said: “When the Prime Minster briefly emerged form his hibernation at the weekend he raised more questions than answers.
“So in the interest of integrity and accountability, can he set the record straight? Did his now former chair tell Government officials that he was under investigation by the taxman before or after the Prime Minister appointed him?”
Rishi Sunak replied: “I appointed the independent adviser to investigate this matter fully. He has set out his findings in detail over the weekend and on receipt of those findings I took action, and I would refer him to the independent adviser’s report.”
Both party leaders also paid tribute to Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, whose wife died at the weekend.
(Reuters)
Liam James1 February 2023 12:24
Keir Starmer grills Rishi Sunak on Nadhim Zahawi's tax scandal
Liam James1 February 2023 12:19
Sir Keir Starmer compared Rishi Sunak to Boris Johnson, saying he treats questions about conduct as “something to brush off”.
“The Tory party’s addiction to sleaze and scandal has done huge damage to this country.
“Surely even this PM can put his foot down and stand up to his old boss, and say, ‘He made the mess he can pick up the bill’.”
Liam James1 February 2023 12:16
Responding to Sir Keir Starmer’s accusation that he did nothing about bullying claims against Dominic Raab, Rishi Sunak said:
“When I was made aware of formal complaints I appointed a leading KC to undertake an investigation because I take action when these things happen.”
Liam James1 February 2023 12:14
Sir Keir Starmer has moved onto Dominic Raab, the justice secretary who faces several bullying claims.
The Labour leader said Rishi Sunak was “too weak to do anything about it”.
Liam James1 February 2023 12:13
MPs heard how The Independent broke news of Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs, starting a chain of events that would lead to his sacking as Tory chair last week.
At PMQs Sir Keir Starmer asked Rishi Sunak about his knowledge of the former minister’s trouble with HMRC.
“Mr Speaker, in The Independent sixth of July: ‘New Chancellor’s finances secretly investigated by the National Crime Agency’,” he said in reference to this paper’s first report on what would become a huge scandal.
Liam James1 February 2023 12:10
Sir Keir Starmer has asked if Nadhim Zahawi told officials he was being investigated by HMRC before or afer Rishi appointed him.
Sam Rkaina1 February 2023 12:04
