Starmer condemns Sunak for making jibe about trans people while Brianna Ghey’s mother watching PMQs from gallery – UK politics live

Starmer condemns Sunak for making trans jibe while Brianna Ghey’s mother watched PMQs from gallery - UK politics live | Politics | The Guardian

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Wed 7 Feb 2024 07.38 ESTFirst published on Wed 7 Feb 2024 04.10 EST

Vicky Foxcroft (Lab) asks why the PM downgraded the role of minister for disabled people.

Sunak says the minister for disabled people (Mims Davies) will do a fantastic job, because she cares about the issue.

This is the last question, he he says he wants to address a point to Brianna Ghey’s mother. He says:
I said earlier this week what happened was an unspeakable and shocking tragedy. And, as I said earlier this week, in the face of that for her mother to demonstrate the compassion and empathy that she did last weekend, I thought demonstrated the very best of humanity in the face of seeing the very worst of humanity, and she deserves all our admiration.

Elliot Colburn (Con) says every year 6,500 people contemplate suicide. He says he went through this himself in 2021. Luckily his attempt failed, he received amazing care. He thanks people who helped him and asks Sunak to back him in saying, if other people are going through this experience, they should realise they are not alone.

Sir Jeffrey Donaldson, the DUP leader, thanks Sunak for his work on the Safeguarding the Union paper and says the union is stronger as a result. He asks about this week’s Policy Exchange report on Ireland and defence, and asks if he agrees Northern Ireland should play a bigger role in UK defence.

Sunak says he will look at the Policy Exchange report. But the command paper already talked about a bigger defence role for Northern Ireland, he says.

Starmer says Sunak should not be talking about tax cuts when he is “literally the country’s expert on putting taxes”. He mentions the £1,000 bet and asks if Sunak realises why people think he is out of touch.

Sunak says he won’t take any lectures from someone who thought it was right to defend terrorists.

Starmer says Sunak said it would be on him if he did not keep his promises. What he he mean?

Sunak says Starmer has broken almost all his promises. He says he has counted 30. He lists some of them, including on the difference between a man and a woman, although that is only a 99% U-turn, he says.

UPDATE: Sunak said:

We are bringing the waiting lists down for the longest waiters and making progress, but it is a bit rich to hear about promises from someone who has broken every single promise he was elected on.

I think I have counted almost 30 in the last year. Pensions, planning, peerages, public sector pay, tuition fees, childcare, second referendums, defining a woman, although in fairness that was only 99% of a u-turn.

The list goes on but the theme is the same, it is empty words, broken promises and absolutely no plan.