Keir Starmer has criticized the Conservative Party during Prime Minister’s Questions for attempting to advise the government on doctors’ strikes. The Prime Minister engaged in a debate with Kemi Badenoch today, denouncing the five-day strike by NHS resident doctors as “irresponsible” and urging medical professionals not to neglect their patients. Starmer rebuked the Tory leader, highlighting the Conservatives’ past record of overseeing a high number of strike days and stating he would not accept lectures from them.
In a different exchange, the Prime Minister humorously targeted Reform UK by joking about the party’s former leader in Wales allegedly accepting Russian bribes. Starmer’s festive jab advised Reform UK members to report any suspicious Eastern gift-bearing individuals to the authorities.
During his final 2025 Prime Minister’s Questions session, Starmer extended Christmas wishes to MPs, parliamentary staff, and families before addressing Nigel Farage’s party. He cleverly quipped, advising Reform UK to report unusual gift-bearing visitors to the police, drawing laughter and a nod from Farage in the public gallery.
In another development, the UK government has pledged £150 million to safeguard 500 jobs at the Grangemouth ethylene plant near Falkirk. The issue of patients being left on hospital corridors for extended periods, resulting in tragic outcomes, was raised by Sir Ed Davey. The Liberal Democrat leader urged the PM to prioritize addressing this critical issue, with Starmer agreeing that the government considers it a top priority.
Furthermore, Keir Starmer has demanded that former Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich fulfill his commitment to donate £2.5 billion from the club’s sale to Ukraine. The UK government has threatened legal action against the Russian billionaire if he fails to comply with the promise made following his sanctions in 2022 due to alleged ties to Vladimir Putin.
On the employment front, Kemi Badenoch called for a ban on doctors’ strikes amid rising unemployment under Labour’s governance. However, Starmer pointed out that unemployment averages were higher during the Tories’ tenure. The Labour leader also emphasized the irresponsible nature of the resident doctors’ walkout and rejected the notion of abandoning patients.
In a different political move, former Labour elected mayor Jamie Driscoll has switched allegiance to the Green Party, citing concerns over the state of British politics. Driscoll criticized the current economic situation and highlighted the Green Party’s commitment to governing in the long-term interests of the people.
Moreover, Starmer faced a setback as a left-wing candidate, Andrea Egan, won the race to lead one of Labour’s major union supporters, Unison. Egan’s victory poses challenges for Starmer, as she intends to review Unison’s ties with the Labour Party, potentially influencing Labour’s National Executive Committee balance.
Additionally, the UK’s decision to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus student exchange program is set to benefit young people, allowing British students to study in European universities post-Brexit. This move is expected to benefit over 100,000 UK individuals in 2027, marking a significant positive development for educational opportunities.