Engagements

In the House of Commons debate, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, began by congratulating Team GB's Olympic and Paralympic athletes and expressing condolences for the tragic incident in the Channel. He also acknowledged the publication of the Grenfell Tower inquiry's phase 2 report, stating that the thoughts of the House would be with the bereaved, survivors, and the local community. The Leader of the Opposition, Rishi Sunak, joined the Prime Minister in paying tribute to the Grenfell community and the country's record-breaking Olympians and Paralympians. However, he then criticized the Prime Minister's decision to take the winter fuel allowance away from low-income pensioners while awarding pay rises to highly paid train drivers. The debate that followed covered a range of topics. The Prime Minister defended the government's tough decisions to stabilize the economy, citing the £22 billion black hole they inherited. He argued that the previous government had failed to make difficult choices, leading to the current economic challenges. The Leader of the Opposition, in turn, accused the Prime Minister of prioritizing the interests of certain unionized workforces over vulnerable pensioners. Other issues discussed included the government's decision to suspend arms export licenses to Israel, the closure of the Bibby Stockholm barge in Dorset, the campaign for more support for carers and pensioners facing rising heating costs, the review of the Primodos hormone pregnancy test, the need for increased funding for the Police Service of Northern Ireland, the government's plans to tackle online ticket touting, the proposed windfall tax on the oil and gas sector, the need to speed up the planning process for new housing developments, and the government's review of the new hospital program, particularly for hospitals affected by RAAC. The debate highlighted the government's efforts to address the economic challenges it inherited, while also tackling a range of domestic and foreign policy issues. The exchanges between the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition reflected the ongoing political tensions and the government's determination to implement its agenda for change.