Prime Minister will once again face Tory Leader of the Opposition in first session since Donald Trump’s spat with Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office
Sir Keir Starmer is set to field questions on everything from the economy to defence and foreign aid at PMQs after a momentous week in global politics.
It will be the Prime Minister’s first session of PMQs since meeting Donald Trump at the White House last week, and since the rapid developments in Ukraine – including Volodymyr Zelensky‘s furious clash in the Ov al Office and the US blocking more aid for Ukraine
It is likely the PM’s decision to slash foreign aid to fund a spending increase for defence will come up. Left-wing Labour MPs reportedly plan an ambush of Sir Keir at the Commons session.
There are no Reform UK MPs listed for a question, but there is set to be a rare interjection from former deputy prime minister Oliver Dowden.
Ex-Labour MP Rosie Duffield, who quit with furious criticism of Sir Keir, is also listed to ask a question, which may prove fiery.
JD Vance’s comments likely to come up at PMQs
Kemi Badenoch’s defence of JD Vance’s “random country” insult could come up at PMQs from midday.
The Tory leader said the vice-president did not call Britain a “random country”.
“A lot of people are getting carried away. They’re saying loads of things and getting quite animated. Let’s keep cool heads,” she said.
But even Reform UK leader Nigel Farage had said Mr Vance was “wrong, wrong, wrong”, adding that the UK “stood by America” for 20 years in Afghanistan.
It came after Mr Vance said a US stake in Ukraine‘s economy was a “better security guarantee than 20,000 troops from some random country that hasn’t fought a war in 30 or 40 years”.
Starmer in firing line over aid budget cuts
Keir Starmer is likely to be quizzed on his decision to cut the aid budget.
A cross-party committee of MPs wrote to the Prime Minister about their “deep concern” over the decision.
Sarah Champion, chairwoman of the International Development Committee, said the “brutal” cut to funds “risks undermining our soft power, as well as years of progress in areas such as healthcare, education, clean water and sustainable development”.
