Starmer says UK ‘can’t just tax our way to growth’, as he brushes off Green party’s call for wealth tax
Adrian Ramsay, the Green party’s co-leader, says there is growing support for a wealth tax. So will Starmer stand by his call for those with the broadest shoulders to pay the heaviest burdern?
Starmer says he won’t take lectures from a party proposing unfunded spending commitments worth £80bn. And he says “we can’t just tax our way to growth”.
Key events
Catherine Fookes (Lab) asks Starmer to back plans for a new rail station in her Monmouthshire constituency.
Starmer says the government is looking at plans for this.
Jess Brown-Fuller (Lib Dem) says the Send system is broken and adversarial. The EHCP process is long and often degrading. She urges Starmer to introduce a national body for Send.
Starmer accepts that the system is broken. The government will share its plans with the house. It wants the greatest support possible for those plans, he says.
David Davis (Con) says there are 50 veterans who could be unfairly prosecuted for alleged offences during the Troubles as a result of the government’s plans to repeal the Tory bill that would have offered them immunity.
Starmer says the previous legislation was found to be unlawful. He says the government wants to find a way of dealing with these legacy issues that is lawful and proportionate.
Starmer says UK ‘can’t just tax our way to growth’, as he brushes off Green party’s call for wealth tax
Adrian Ramsay, the Green party’s co-leader, says there is growing support for a wealth tax. So will Starmer stand by his call for those with the broadest shoulders to pay the heaviest burdern?
Starmer says he won’t take lectures from a party proposing unfunded spending commitments worth £80bn. And he says “we can’t just tax our way to growth”.
Nigel Farage, the Reform UK leader, says people voted for Brexit ..
“Because they were lied to,” another MP shouts.
Farage goes on. He says people wanted to stop illegal migration.
Starmer says the government is fixing the mess it inherited.
He has serious proposals for serious problems. He goes on:
He goes on:
[Farage’s] proposal, for 10 years, wagging the Tory dog, has been to break everything and claim that’s how you fix things, to stick two fingers up at your neighbours and then expect them to work with us. And he votes against the borders bill, which gives more powers to our law enforcement.
Davey asks if Starmer agrees any new money for the French to help them deal with small boats should be conditional on them accepting a returns agreement.
Starmer says he will be discussing this with President Macron.
Ed Davey says his MPs will back Labour’s plans for Send reform if they pass 5 tests set by Lib Dems
Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, says the special educational needs and disabilities (Send) system has been neglected. But Labour MPs are planning another rebellion over the reform plans.
He says the Lib Dems have “72 votes to help”.
He asks Starmer to consider the five tests of Send reform published by the Lib Dems today.
Starmer says the government wants a new system that helps every child.
Here are the five tests set out by the Lib Dems in a press release.
1. Putting children and families first
Children’s rights to SEND assessment and support must be maintained and the voices of children and young people with SEND and of their families and carers must be at the centre of the reform process.
2. Boosting specialist capacity and improving mainstream provision
Capacity in state special provision must be increased, alongside improvements to inclusive mainstream provision, with investment in both new school buildings and staff training.
3. Supporting local government
Local authorities must be supported better to fund SEND services, including through:
-The extension of the profit cap in children’s social care to private SEND provision, where many of the same private equity backed companies are active, and
-National government funding to support any child whose assessed needs exceed a specific cost.
4. Early identification and shorter waiting lists
Early identification and intervention must be improved, with waiting times for diagnosis, support and therapies cut.
5. Fair funding
The SEND funding system must properly incentivise schools both to accept SEND pupils and to train their staff in best practice for integrated teaching and pastoral care.
We would welcome the chance to discuss these principles and priorities with you further. Together with our Liberal Democrat colleagues, we are eager to work with you on a cross-party basis, to make sure that the forthcoming reforms truly deliver for children with SEND and for their families.
Badenoch says Starmer just congratulates himself. The Tories left the government with the fastest growing economy in the G7. Taxes and unemployment are up. She says Starmer is dragging the UK back to the 1970s.
Starmer talks about Labour acheivements: extra NHS appointments, free school meals being rolled out, family hubs being rolled out, transport projects being extend, and immigration coming down.
Badenoch claims the budget has created a “domino effect” the government cannot control. It has damaged the economy. Unemployment is going up. And now the government is “flirting with Neil Kinnock’s demand for a wealth tax”. It would be a tax on savings, she says.
Starmer says the government stabilised the economy in the budget. There have been four interest rates cut. Wages are up more in four months than under 10 years of the Tories.
Badenoch asks if Starmer will admit that council tax is set to soar under Labour.
Starmer says he won’t accept that. It soared under the Tories.
He says Badenoch complains about the national insurance rise every week. But she won’t say what she would cut to reverse that.
Badenoch says freezing thresholds would drag pensioners into income tax. Will he rule out a “retirement tax” for pensioners?
Starmer says no government gives budget details in advance. But investment in the UK is rising, he says.
Starmer declines to rule out income tax or national insurance thresholds being frozen in budget
Badenoch says the chancellor used to oppose the freeze on tax and national insurance thresholds. Is that still her position?
Starmer says no government will write its budget in advance.
Kemi Badenoch echoes what Starmer said about the 7/7 attacks. And she pays tribute to Lord Tebbit too, saying he was a man of “iron integrity” who helped to save the UK from the chaos of the 1970s.
She asks if Starmer still stands by his election promises not to increase income tax, national insurance or VAT.
Starmer replies with one word: “Yes.”
Darren Paffey (Lab) praises the government’s 10-year health plan, and asks for a neighbourhood health centre in constituency.
Starmer says these health centres will make a big difference. And he says the government has delivered 4m more health appointments.
Keir Starmer starts by saying Monday was the 20th anniversary of the “despicable” 7/7 terrorist attacks. He thanks the emergency services, and sends condolences to the victims, survivors and bereaved.
And he sends his condolences to the family and friends of Lord Tebbit. He praises is bravery in response to terrorism, and his devotion to his wife (whom he carried for for the rest of her life after she was badly handicapped by the Brighton bomb attack).
After PMQs there will be an urgent question about the Leveson recommendations about jury trials. Robert Jenrick, the shadow justice secretary, has tabled it, and a justice minister will reply.
