Prime Minister

In the House of Commons debate, the Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, began by paying tribute to several notable figures who had recently passed away, including Alex Salmond, Sir David Amess, and Holocaust survivor Lily Ebert. He also acknowledged the service of General Sir Mike Jackson and wished the new England football manager, Thomas Tuchel, the best of luck. The Leader of the Opposition, Rishi Sunak, then responded, echoing the Prime Minister's words of tribute and raising concerns about China's military exercises in the Taiwan Strait. Sunak urged the Prime Minister to ensure the Foreign Secretary would condemn China's actions and stand up for democracy in Taiwan. He also pressed the Prime Minister on the case of Jimmy Lai, a British citizen imprisoned in Hong Kong, and the issue of Chinese businesses aiding Russia's invasion of Ukraine. The debate then covered a wide range of topics, including the removal of consultant-led maternity services from hospitals, the funding crisis facing charities supporting children with special educational needs and disabilities, the financial troubles of Thurrock Council, the carer's allowance repayment scandal, the situation in the Middle East, the impact of county lines drug gangs on young people in care, the NHS waiting lists in Wales, efforts to tackle knife crime and drug crime in Stockton North, the need for cross-party cooperation on issues like social care and special educational needs, the Employment Rights Bill, the lack of access to NHS dentists, the cycle of poverty, the mental health challenges facing young men, the case of Group Captain Lizzy Nicholl, the crisis in children's social care, the Government's promises to rebuild local hospitals, and the potential for further devolution in Cornwall. Throughout the debate, the Prime Minister and other government representatives defended their record and plans, while the opposition parties raised concerns and called for further action on a variety of issues affecting constituents across the country.