During Prime Minister’s Questions, Keir Starmer criticized the Conservatives for attempting to advise the government on doctors’ strikes. The Prime Minister condemned the recent five-day strike by NHS resident doctors, calling it “irresponsible” and urging medical professionals not to abandon their patients. Starmer pushed back against the Tory leader who proposed making NHS strikes illegal, highlighting that the Conservatives oversaw a high number of strike days during their previous government.
In another instance, the Prime Minister delivered a Christmas joke aimed at Reform UK, poking fun at the party’s former leader in Wales allegedly accepting Russian bribes. Starmer humorously advised members of Reform UK to report any mysterious individuals bearing gifts to the police.
During the session, Starmer also addressed Nigel Farage, referring to him as the “member for Clacton relaxing in the lounge” and bringing up allegations of racism from Farage’s former classmates. The Labour leader emphasized the importance of addressing issues within the community.
Furthermore, Starmer issued an ultimatum to Roman Abramovich, the former Chelsea owner, demanding £2.5 billion from the club’s sale to support Ukraine. The UK Government threatened legal action against Abramovich if he failed to fulfill his promise to allocate the proceeds to the Ukrainian people.
The ongoing doctors’ strike led to a debate between Kemi Badenoch and the Prime Minister, with Badenoch advocating for a ban on doctor strikes during a flu crisis. However, Starmer reaffirmed that he would not accept criticism from the Tories, pointing out their historical record on industrial action.
In a separate development, Andrea Egan won the election to lead one of Labour’s major union backers, Unison, posing a challenge for Starmer. Egan’s victory could impact Labour’s National Executive Committee and the party’s relationship with Unison.
Moreover, the UK’s decision to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus student exchange program was announced, offering young people the opportunity to study abroad in European universities post-Brexit. This move is expected to benefit over 100,000 UK students in 2027, promoting international educational opportunities.