Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch made a confident debut at Prime Minister’s Questions this morning, maintaining a calm, pointed approach as she grilled Sir Keir Starmer across a range of topics in her first face-off as Shadow PM.
Badenoch’s performance won praise from Conservative MPs, with many calling it a strong start that sets the tone for her new leadership role.
Mrs Badenoch wasted no time with a pointed critique of Labour’s past attacks on US President-elect Donald Trump. Highlighting Labour’s criticism of Trump and the fact that several senior Labour figures openly campaigned against him, Ms Badenoch used her opening questions to apply pressure on Sir Keir, whom she accused of “student politics.”
“I am very sure that President Trump will soon be calling to thank him for sending all of those north London Labour activists to campaign for his opponent,” she quipped, drawing laughter from her side of the benches.
In a bold challenge, Mrs Badenoch urged Sir Keir to invite President Trump to address Parliament during his next UK visit, pointing out the inconsistency of Labour members who previously signed motions attempting to ban Trump from Westminster. “Will the Prime Minister show that he and his Government can be more than student politicians by asking the Speaker to extend an invitation to President Trump?” she asked, leaving Starmer visibly rattled.
Sir Keir attempted to brush off her question, labelling her remarks “a masterclass in student politics.” However, the exchange underscored Labour’s precarious position as the party comes to terms with Trump’s re-election and the potential for a closer UK-US alliance under his leadership.
Kemi Badenoch turned her attention to the Budget, describing it as “a copy and paste of Bidenomics” and warning that Sir Keir Starmer could be setting himself up for a one-term premiership.
She said: “It turns out that a high spending, high borrowing, high inflation approach is less popular than she may have thought. May I suggest he now urge her to change course or is he determined to be a one-term leader?” Sir Keir replied: “The one thing I learnt as leader of the opposition is it’s a good idea to listen to what the Government is actually saying…”
Mrs Badenoch also promised to reverse Labour’s controversial inheritance tax hike on family farms, a policy that has sparked criticism from the agricultural sector. “I am very clear that we would reverse Labour’s cruel family farms tax,” she said, calling on Sir Keir to explain how he plans to reassure farmers facing “uncertainty” about their future.
In response, Sir Keir cited an increase in farming budgets, defending Labour’s stance by noting that “the vast, vast majority of farmers will be unaffected.” Badenoch, however, held firm, with Tory MPs applauding her robust defence of family farms and criticism of Labour’s tax policies.
The debut performance impressed Conservative MPs, who are hopeful Badenoch’s strategic approach will continue to put pressure on Labour in future PMQs. Her confident, assured performance signals a new era for the Conservatives and suggests that Badenoch is ready to go toe-to-toe with Labour’s leadership.
She is hopeless.