Close to home: Stride, a former work and pensions secretary no less, began his debut PMQs outing with some clever jibes making Rayner wince. “We have a great deal in common,” mused Stride — they both disagreed with Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ tax policy. Rayner, a leading figure on Labour’s soft-left, could well have been a rebel if she wasn’t deputy PM. The shadow chancellor suggested “there are many sitting behind her” who wished Rayner taking PMQs was a “permanent arrangement.” Leadership gossip never ceases in Westminster.
Rebel just for kicks: The deputy PM welcomed the “latest wannabe” to the jousting match and insisted Labour wouldn’t be folding on welfare. “We won’t walk away and stand by and abandon” those in the welfare system, Rayner said — though she avoided criticizing her rebellious colleagues.
Date for the diary: Stride clocked that the most effective questions are the shortest. Asking if the welfare bill vote will actually happen next Tuesday, Rayner responded in the affirmative. Bookmark that promise in case it ages rather quickly …
Temporary kingmakers: If the rebels hold out, Tories have promised to help get the bill. How kind of them! It gave the Conservatives their first jolt of influence since getting thrown out of power. Stride asked about the Tories’ three tests for supporting the bill: more welfare cuts, higher employment and no tax rises. Could Labour meet them?
Taxing answers: Naturally, Rayner ducked those points and went on the offensive. She lambasted the “ballooned” welfare bill under the Tories and said they “had no shame.”
Klaxon alert: Stride had the receipts. He pointe out that Reeves had promised to not raise taxes in this autumn’s budget. Rayner was notably unwilling to repeat that promise, instead slamming tax rises and inflation under the Conservatives. Her refusal to deny tax rises played right into Stride’s hands, claiming “Britain’s businesses have today been put on notice” that taxes are on the up.
