Badenoch will ‘absolutely not’ apologise for PMQs comments about Starmer’s downfall, spokesperson says – UK politics live

Key events

Here is video of Keir Starmer defending his record at PMQs.

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My colleague Alexandra Topping has more on the altercation that took place between Kemi Badenoch and ministers after PMQs that Jess mentioned earlier. (See 1.36pm.)

According to the Tory version, Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, delivered “a barb” at Badenoch, and Badenoch replied: “I’ll fight you all the way. You’re destroying children’s lives.”

According to the Labour version, it was Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, who criticised Badenoch as they were leaving the chamber, telling the Tory leader that what she said at PMQs was “absolutely outrageous”. And Badenoch apparently replied: “You are spiteful. I will keep talking about how spiteful you are.”

Badenoch will 'absolutely not' apologise for her PMQs invective against ministers, spokesperson says

Kemi Badenoch will “absolutely not” apologise for the language she used during PMQs, her spokesperson told reporters at a briefing afterwards.

The spokesperson said said he thought Badenoch had been nice to Keir Starmer in the chamber and she felt sorry for him. He said:

There was very little aimed at the prime minister. This was about a cabinet which has let him down, about a group of Labour MPs who have let him down and now they’ve got rid of him.

See 12.16pm for the Badenoch comments that prompted Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, to reprimand her for her language.

And see 1.31pm for a summary of her most harsh remarks.

Jessica Elgot says Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary, and Liz Kendall, the technology secretary, confronted Kemi Badenoch about her comments (see 1.31pm) outside the chamber after PMQs.

NEW - MPs say Bridget Phillipson and Liz Kendall confronted Kemi Badenoch about her language at PMQs today where she called Phillipson “spiteful” which Kendall said was outrageous. Badenoch reported to have said “I’m never going to stop talking about how spiteful you are”

Phillipson then hit back at Badenoch: “The public are going to find out who you really are.”

Labour sources say the Speaker’s intervention was about Badenoch’s comments about Phillipson.

Labour planning to complain to the Speaker and to the Tory whips - especially given Badenoch’s previous “Gestapo” comments

PMQs - snap verdict

Kemi Badenoch is probably very happy with that performance. But some of her MPs will worry that she crossed a line, and that she is finding it hard to differentiate between effective parliamentary attack and sheer nastiness.

When a PM stands down, it is normal for their opponents to show a bit of decorum, tone down the criticism a bit, say something complimentary and wish them well for the future. Given that this is not Starmer’s last PMQs, there was no need for Badenoch to do this today – although at least a nod in this direction was probably expected. Perhaps she will manage it on Wednesday 15 July (probably Starmer’s last PMQs), although you would not bet on it on the basis of today.

Badenoch was dismissive and patronising towards Starmer but what was striking was what she said about four of his colleagues. This may have be an indication that, with Starmer out of the way, she is now on the hunt for other targets.

Not for the first time, she was brutal about Rachel Reeves, the chancellor. Badenoch said:

Starmer wouldn’t be in this mess if his chancellor had found money for the defence investment plan. The prime minister gave her the second most important job in Britain, she was the first female chancellor, she lives next door to him, but wouldn’t even come out to stand by him during his resignation speech. She was too busy getting ready for a selfie with the new leader. Does the prime minister feel let down by his chancellor?

Next in line for attack was Ed Miliband, the energy secretary. Badenoch said:

The chancellor isn’t the only person who let him down, the energy secretary is putting up bills and killing jobs. He was a failed Labour leader, rejected by the electorate, brought back from the wilderness by this man, and when the going got tough, he jumped into bed with the mayor of Manchester. It’s not the first time he’s betrayed someone close to him, is it? Does the prime minister think that his treachery should be rewarded by being appointed chancellor?

These comments were harsh, but not unprecedented. More surprising was what Badenoch said when she lashed out at Bridget Phillipson, the education secretary who is not a particularly prominent figure in the government– but who is a hate figure in some Tory circles where people are having to pay VAT on their children’s private school fees. Badenoch said:

She taxed private schools to pay for more teachers, but the number of teachers has gone down. It turns out appointing a spiteful class warrior as education secretary was a disaster.

Badenoch then aimed her invective at the entire PLP, saying they had planted “400 knives” in Starmer’s back and that they were not Labour MPs but “welfare MPs”. At this point Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker, had had enough and delivered a reprimand to Badenoch for her language. This is rare, and a sign that at least one influential parliamentary thought she went too far.

Andy Burnham was not in the chamber, but Badenoch also took a swipe at him in her final question describing him as little more than “a pair of eyelashes and a black T-shirt”. This was probably the worst of all her jibes – not because it was rude (imagine a male MP saying something like that about a woman), but because there is nothing more fatal, or stupid, in politics than underestimating your opponents, and Burnham’s record in Makerfield suggests the Tories should be taking him very seriously.

Starmer dealt with this splurge of vitriol with good grace. He did win with any zingers, but he emerged from the exchanges as the better person.

Alistair Strathern (Lab) asks about Gareth Southgate’s TV documentary about young men, and asks what can be done to ensure there are more male teachers in schools to provide role models.

Starmer says the family hubs programmes will deliver more opportunities for young people.

Richard Foord (Lib Dem) asks if Starmer has any advice for his successor.

Starmer says his advice would be don’t deliver austerity. And, since Foord is a Lib Dem, he would also say don’t wear a wetsuit.

Becky Gittins (Lab) asks about a dance event in her constituency.

Starmer commends her for it, but says he was glad he was not asked to join in.

John Lamont (Con) asks if the PM will set up an inquiry into the SNP embezzlement case.

Starmer says the SNP has serious questions to answer. But it is not addressing them. That is totally the wrong approach, he says.

Alex Baker (Lab) says elderly Gurkha veterans were assaulted at an event in Aldershort. She asks the PM to condemn it.

Starmer says this attack was “utterly disgraceful”. He says the Gurkhas have made a great contribution.

Martin Wrigley (Lib Dem) asks if social media companies should be treated as publishers, not platforms, making them liable for their content.

Starmer sums up actions already taken by the government on social media, but says there is “more to do”.