Everything is (not) fine: The PM hit back, pointing to a publicity blitz to help older people claim pension credit. He trotted out the familiar line that all of this is necessary because of the economic inheritance left by Sunak’s Tories.
Greatest hits moment: The chamber was transported back to the election campaign as Sunak highlighted falling inflation, lower debt and improved growth under his premiership. “The government doesn’t have to choose to take money off low income pensioners in order to give it to highly paid train drivers,” he ventured once again.
Enjoy opposition, lads: Starmer was having none of it. The Conservatives, he said, will be in opposition for a “very, very long time” if they claim everything was fine when they left office.
Further afield: The next dividing line was Israel. Britain has suspended some arms export licenses to Israel amid concern they could be used in Gaza in contravention of international law. Conservatives have criticized the move, while left-wing Labour backbenchers want the government to go further.
Equality before the law: Pressed by Sunak on how all this will help secure the release of hostages held by Hamas, Starmer channeled his inner lawyer. His declaration that the move was a “legal decision not a policy, decision” was met with cries of “nonsense” from Tory MPs.
And across the pond: Sunak pressed the PM on whether all of this had been squared with the U.S. The PM would only confirm “we have talked this through with our allies,” and tried to turn the tables on a Tory party that, in his words, doesn’t “think that international law matters.” Cue jeers from the Tory benches.