PMQs 5th February 2025
Today’s PMQs took place against the backdrop of mounting scrutiny over the UK’s agreement with Mauritius on the Chagos Islands and a fresh diplomatic storm following Donald Trump’s assertion that the US should ‘take over’ Gaza to create a new economic hub. While the government had intended to spotlight its £2.65bn investment in flood defences, these international developments proved likely to dominate proceedings. It comes also on the backdrop of news of a newly formed group of 89 Labour MPs looking into the “threat” to Labour from the rise of Reform UK.
The deal to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, while securing a long-term lease for the Diego Garcia airbase, has triggered a political backlash. This morning, Shadow Foreign Secretary Dame Priti Patel criticised the government’s approach, arguing that Parliament has been left in the dark while “the Mauritian government and its people seem to know more about the agreement than British taxpayers.” The reported £18bn compensation package has raised eyebrows in Westminster, with senior Labour figures reportedly privately questioning why such a significant sum is being committed at a time of budget constraints. This left an opening for Leader of the Opposition and Leader of the Conservative Party Kemi Badenoch MP using PMQs to frame the deal as both a financial and strategic misstep.
Meanwhile, President Trump’s suggestion that Palestinians should permanently relocate while the US develops Gaza into the "Riviera of the Middle East" has been met with cautious responses from UK ministers. Foreign Secretary David Lammy, speaking in Kyiv earlier today, reaffirmed the UK’s commitment to a two-state solution and stated that the government will support Gaza’s reconstruction “alongside the Palestinian Authority and Gulf partners.” But this morning, Environment Secretary Steve Reed walked a fine diplomatic line—opposing forced displacement while avoiding direct criticism of Trump. During PMQs today, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer was pushed to take a firmer stance. Prior to PMQs, Leader of the Liberal Democrats Sir Ed Davey MP posted on social media about “Trump’s ramblings” and Green Party co-leader Adrian Ramsay MP referenced “Trump’s horrific comments amount to the start of ethnic cleansing in Gaza”.
The Prime Minister opened PMQs with a sombre acknowledgment of the tragic death of a young boy in Sheffield, before pivoting to his recent Brussels meeting, where he stressed his ambition to reduce trade barriers. But the Leader of the Opposition accused Starmer of weakness in negotiations and claimed his government had “bent the knee” over national security and energy policy. She pressed for answers on why legal support had been withdrawn in a case against environmental activists blocking the Rosebank oil and gas project and whether the Energy Secretary had received funding from “billionaire eco zealots.” Starmer, unmoved, hit back that the Opposition’s failure to seek security briefings on Chagos sovereignty negotiations showed their focus was more on courting Reform UK than serious policy.
Badenoch doubled down, accusing Labour of driving business away, citing AstraZeneca’s decision to invest elsewhere and declining confidence in the North Sea. Starmer dismissed this as more “harping from the sidelines,” defending GB Energy as a long-term investment in energy security. But Badenoch wasn’t done, branding the project a “vanity scheme” and condemning job losses under Labour’s watch as she accused the government of “freezing pensioners while shovelling money to Mauritius.” Starmer, unimpressed, mocked the Tory “reset” as policy-free, landing his closing punch: “If they want to give lectures—no thanks.”
Elsewhere from the Chamber, two questions from Reform UK as Nigel Farage faced jeers and yells from the Labour benches as he attempted to raise his question and address accusations earlier in the session from Labour MPs about Reform’s policies on the NHS. Dave Doogan from the SNP made animated accusations against the PM and his lack of support to the people of Scotland.
With the UK’s foreign policy credibility under scrutiny, No.10 is moving to reinforce its position. Last night, Starmer expressed support for Denmark’s stance on Greenland, following a working dinner with the Danish Prime Minister. This is widely seen as an attempt to counteract concerns over the Chagos deal and Britain’s stance on Trump’s expansionist rhetoric. But with criticism from both opposition benches and within his own Cabinet, the Prime Minister faced a delicate balancing act in the Chamber today as Ministers also continue to do during Urgent Questions on the same issues.
PoliMonitor has the full rundown of today’s PMQs below. Thanks, as always, for using PoliMonitor.
Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition
● The Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, began questions today by sharing that the whole House will be appalled by the death of a young boy in Sheffield on Monday, outlining that the government is doubling attempts to keep all young people safe. The PM set out that he had recently met with leaders in Brussels and is determined to reduce barriers to trade to deliver for the British people.
● The Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch, opened by stating that “when Labour negotiates, our country loses”. Badenoch asked why the Energy Secretary withdrew government lawyers from defending the case against ‘eco nutters’ to obstruct Rosebank’s oil and gas fields.
● The PM said that this is a vital military base to the UK’s national security, and that a number of years ago - as he said she knew - the legal certainty of that base was thrown into doubt. This cannot operate in practical terms as it should, he said. This is bad for national security and a gift to the UK’s adversaries, he further stressed. That’s why, he noted, that the last government started negotiations about sovereignty and about securing the long-term use of the base, emphasising the fact that they had conducted 11 of the 13 rounds of negotiations about sovereignty and about securing the long term use of the base. He said he will set out the details when they are finalised and present them to Parliament.
● The Leader of the Opposition asked how anyone can believe “that this man is defending the UK when he will bend the knee to anyone who asks, no wonder he needs a voice coach”. Badenoch continued by asking again if the energy and environment secretary had received a donation from the same lawyer on the Rosebank deal, asking for clarity on if the refusal was due to the Energy Secretary being funded by “billionaire eco zealots”.
● The PM noted that the Leader of Opposition didn’t say she was briefed on national security issues around the Chagos Islands, saying that Badenoch had not asked for a briefing despite his promises to her to provide it if she asked, and that is, he said, “because she is more interested in chasing Reform”. He continued, noting that oil and gas will be part of the UK’s energy supply for many years to come, but that they are going through a transition, which will lead to cheaper energy bills.
● The Leader of the Opposition called “this is a weak answer because he doesn’t know what is going on” and pushed the PM on whether he had “the guts to approve the licence applications when they are resubmitted”.
● The PM said that the Leader of the Opposition was aware of the status of all these applications and the process that needs to be gone through, ending that “all she can do is student politics”.
● The Leader of the Opposition said “I am speaking on behalf of the British people”, continuing that “when labour negotiates, our country loses”. Badenoch continued by outlining the lost investment from AstraZenca and that business is abandoning the north sea because of his decisions.
● The PM waved this off by stating that AstraZeneca was a commercial decision, accusing Badnoch of “harping from the sidelines, talking the country down”.
● The Leader of the Opposition said that it was “so hard to believe” anything he said, calling GB Energy a vanity project and that the job losses today were incomparable to the job creation in several years' time.
● The PM said GB Energy will drive the move to renewable energy and that its not about the jobs in HQ, but leading to give the UK energy security. He accused the last Government of losing control of the economy, and stated that they were “getting it back”.
● The Leader of the Opposition closed by saying “he can waffle on as long as he likes”, but that Labour promised to bring energy bills down and that they haven’t done that, accusing the government of freezing pensioners while shovelling money to Mauritius. She then pressed the PM on the Rosebank licence applications, asking why he found it so hard to do the right thing on this.
● The PM said that the Leader of the Opposition really needs to look into how licences work, concluding that “their reset seems to have no policies except cutting pensions”, with a final line of “if they want to give lectures, no thanks”.
5
Questions from the House
1. Dr Neil Hudson MP, Conservative, Epping Forest
○ Question: Sadly suicide is the biggest killer for people under 35. Suicide prevention was previously agreed to be included in the curriculum in an age
appropriate way. Will the PM meet with me to get this new guidance over the line and save lives.
○ Answer: Children’s Mental Health Week this week and the campaigners on this are inspirational. I will meet to push this agenda further.
2. Yasmin Quereshi MP, Labour, Bolton South and Walkden
○ Question: 86% of trains at local stations were cancelled or delayed in the last week. Constituents have reported that almost every day a train is cancelled. Can the PM confirm this government is committed to delivering railways.
○ Answer: Railways left in a terrible state by the previous government. We will launch GB Railways to focus on passengers and clamp down on. Northern Rail have announced a new investment this week to tackle this too.
3. John Slinger MP, Labour, Rugby
○ Question: Reform have said that anything is on the table to solve the problems in the NHS. Can the PM confirm this is not the case for Labour?
○ Answer: NHS will remain free at the point of use.
Sir Ed Davey MP, Liberal Democrats, Kingston and Surbiton, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Party
○ Question: Welcome the actions on tackling knife crime. Many constituents continue to suffer from the scandal around carers allowance with many hounded by the DWP. I know the PM accepted the problem and set up an independent review but a constituent has been summoned to a tribunal. Will the PM step and do the right thing, cancel the tribunal and all proceedings against all like constituents until the review has concluded.
○ Answer: Will look into this specific case and will report on the recommendations of the inquiry once concluded.
○ Question: I welcome this as I recently had a letter from the Work and Pensions Secretary saying she wasn't interested so thank you. Does he think that Trump recognises the dangers of his comments around the Middle East in regards to the ceasefire? I welcome the Foreign Secretary comments of the government’s position on a two state solution but will these be confirmed to the White House firmly?
○ Answer: The most important issue is that the ceasefire is sustained. I have two images fixed in my mind, one of the hostages being released and reunited with their families and of Palestinians walking through rubble to find their homes and communities in Gaza. They must be allowed home to rebuild and we should be with them on the way to a two-state solution.
4. Patricia Ferguson MP, Labour, Glasgow West
○ Question: Welcome the Heathrow expansion but will he meet to discuss how the materials can be provided from a hub to support the expansion and provide national returns.
○ Answer: Good for Scottish Salmon and happily will ensure a meeting happens.
5. Nigel Farage MP, Reform UK, Clacton
○ Question: Reform wants to keep the NHS free at the point of use. There seems to be some panic on that side of the House. I’d like some advice please, what do I say to 25,000 constituents in Clacton including 99 year old Jim who served in the army, while they are losing their winter allowance and losing their national base.
○ Answer: He should tell them to vote Labour.
6. Tony Vaughan MP, Labour, Folkestone and Hythe
○ Question: What is this government doing to tackle illegal migration?
○ Answer: A Bill going through Parliament next week will take steps to crack down on the illegal smuggling gangs and it will be interesting to see how the Opposition benches vote on it.
7. Richard Tice MP, Reform UK, Boston and Skegness
○ Question: After she was kidnapped and shot, Emily Damari was held in captivity by Hamas in UNRWA facilities. British people do not want aid stolen by Hamas. So will he direct our aid to other more trustworthy organisations.
○ Answer: We condemn Hamas and everyone else should.
8. Sarah Russell MP, Labour, Congleton
○ Question: Will the PM meet with me and Pregnant Then Screwed to discuss proposals for ring fenced paid maternity leave to bring about change
○ Answer: Workers rights are pro-growth and I welcome the new employment bill which will allow new rights from day one.
9. Gagan Mohindra MP, Conservative, South West Hertfordshire
○ Question: Will the PM provide assurances that his team, him and voice coach followed all covid guidelines.
○ Answer: In December 2020 I worked on the Brexit deal, while his party vomited up the walls in Downing Street.
10. Louise Haigh MP, Labour, Sheffield Heeley
○ Question: Welcome the restrictions of selling certain knives online in order to tackle the scale of the crimes but does the PM agree we need a whole of government approach to tackle the route causes.
○ Answer: Thoughts of the whole House with the whole community and family of victims in Sheffield. It is right that South Yorkshire Police undertake their investigation and we need to do everything we can to bear down on knife crime and hope it is a cross party issue.
11. James MacCleary MP, Liberal Democrat, Lewes
○ Question: I know the PM will share deep concern on the delays on adaptations to council housing to allow disabled people and children to live. How can we ensure that councils have sufficient funding to make the changes people need to live.
○ Answer: This government this week has announced £69bn for local councils and doubled funding for disabled facilities grant to allow more to live independent lives.
12. Gareth Snell MP, Labour, Stoke-on-Trent Central
○ Question: Can he promote buying British and ensure that jobs are protected as well as arrange a meeting for those who lost their jobs during the closure of the Royal Stafford Pottery Firm this.
○ Answer: We are working with energy companies and ensure that we will have the relevant discussions.
13. Calum Miller MP, Liberal Democrat, Bicester and Woodstock
○ Question: My constituent has had to wait 9 years for a neurodiversity diagnosis. CAMHS said that they could not see the person unless she was actively trying to kill herself. What is this government doing to help support those young people with mental health problems.
○ Answer: Far too many young people are waiting too young to receive mental health support and this government is taking steps to ensure this is resolved.
14. Claire Hughes MP, Labour, Bangor Aberconwy
○ Question: Shoplifting at retail places is increasing. What is the government doing to tackle it?
○ Answer: The last government effectively told the police to ignore shoplifting. This is not low level crime and this government is committed to tackle it.
15. Claire Young MP, Liberal Democrat, Thornbury and Yate
○ Question: Will the PM agree to look at the situation around carers allowance and ensure that the DWP supports rather than penalises carers.
○ Answer: Rightly set up a review and happy to look at individual cases.
16. Johanna Baxter MP, Labour, Paisley and Renfrewshire South
○ Question: Audit Scotland recently exposed the funding crisis facing councils in Scotland. Does the PM agree with me that instead of taking money out of workers’ pensions the Scottish government should fund councils properly.
○ Answer: Right to point out the failure of the government in Scotland. They have the funding, there are no excuses left.
17. Dave Doogan MP, Scottish National Party, Angus and Perthshire Glens
○ Question: When’s the PM next going to visit Scotland? Does he agree with Sir John Curtice that the UK PM is the worst thing to happen to Anas Sarwar and if he doesn’t, and he should, is he thinking it’s stripping Scottish pensioners of their winter fuel payment, or abandoning workers in Grangemouth or attacking
○ Answer: I look forward to going again very soon to Scotland.
18. Sorcha Eastwood MP, Alliance, Lagan Valley
○ Question: Will this government be the one to stand up for the people of Northern Ireland?
○ Answer: Restoration of the power sharing was a significant milestone and we will continue to work with all parties on that end.
19. Gill Furniss MP, Labour, Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough
○ Question: Will the PM set out how inequality will be torn down through our Plan for Change.
○ Answer: Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill will support all young people to give them the best start in life.
20. Dr Danny Chambers MP, Liberal Democrat, Winchester
○ Question: The previous government allowed maternity services to deteriorate to a point that many consider it a public health crisis. Will he commit to making it a top priority?
○ Answer: Women and babies deserve the highest standards of care. We are working with the NHS on their Maternity Action Plan.
21. MIchael Wheeler MP, Labour, Worsley and Eccles
○ Question: Does the PM agree with me that we must listen to those who work in job centres to support our most vulnerable in society?
○ Answer: Our Get Britain Working White Paper set out the biggest reforms to employment support in generation backed with investment.
