Kemi Badenoch has said she “gets better every week” at prime minister’s questions.

In an apparent response to her critics, the Conservative Party leader insisted it is Keir Starmer that “gets worse”.

The comments came as the two leaders clashed over the economy ahead of the spring statement, delivered by Rachel Reeves on Wednesday afternoon.

Badenoch said: “Let’s go through what’s happening here – one minute they said it was right to take the winter fuel payment away… the next minute they said it was right to give it back. This is laughable.”

Starmer said: “Three weeks ago, I said I wanted more pensioners to be eligible for winter fuel. I’m really pleased we set out the threshold and the certainty that is needed.”

He added: “I think she said that she would be getting better [as Conservative leader] she could start with apologising for the Liz Truss budget – that would be better.”

Badenoch responded: “I get better every week! He gets worse.”

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Keir Starmer mocked Nigel Farage for taking a foreign holiday while the House of Commons is sitting at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday.

Farage, who is currently holidaying in France, missed the PM’s major statement in the commons on Tuesday marking the UK-EU “reset” summit and corresponding deal.

The prime minister’s rebuke came after Reform chief whip Lee Anderson asked a question about illegal migration.

Starmer responded: “It’s very good he’s standing in for the member for Clacton, I have to say – there was no sign of him yesterday at the EU statement.”

Referencing his deal with the EU, the PM added: “[Farage] was the first through the e-gates… Nice work if you can get it.”

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Keir Starmer has confirmed the government will reassess changes made to the pensioners’ winter fuel allowance.

Speaking at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Starmer told the House of Commons his government wants “to ensure more pensioners are eligible” for the payments.

It came after a question from Sarah Owen, the Labour MP for Luton North, who asked the PM what measures he will take to help “struggling pensioners” through the cost of living crisis.

Starmer responded: “We all know the economy was left in an absolute mess by the Tories. We had to stabilise the economy with tough decisions but the right decisions.

“Because of those decisions, the economy is beginning to improve. Those growth figures last year – the highest growth in the G7; interest rate cuts – four in a row; three trade deals.”

He added: “But I recognise that people are still feeling the pressure of the cost of living crisis, including pensioners. And as the economy improves, we want to make sure people feel those improvements as their lives go forward.

“And that is why we want to ensure that as we go forward, more pensioners are eligible for winter fuel payments.

“As you would expect, Mr. Speaker. We will only make decisions we can afford. That is why we will look at that as part of a fiscal event.”

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The prime minister has accused Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader of consistently talking “rubbish”.

The rebuke came as Keir Starmer was criticised for his warning that the UK risks becoming an “island of strangers” without changes to its immigration system.

Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru’s lead spokesperson at Westminster, said that the PM “once spoke of compassion and dignity for migrants and for defending free movement.”

She added: “Now he talks of ‘islands of strangers’ and ‘taking back control’ – somebody here has to call this out…

“It seems the only principle he consistently defends is whichever he last heard in a focus group. So I ask him, is there any belief he holds which survives a week in Downing Street?”

The prime minister responded: “Yes, the belief that she talks rubbish”.

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Keir Starmer has insisted that Sir Tony Blair’s stance on net zero is “absolutely aligned” with the policy of his Labour government.

In widely reported comments originally published in a foreword to a Tony Blair Institute (TBI) report, the former prime minister said that the current approach to hitting the target of net zero by 2050 was “doomed to fail”.

Starmer was prompted on these comments at PMQs on Wednesday afternoon, following a question from DUP MP Sammy Wilson.

Wilson said: “Does he not recognise that his net zero policy is not only bad, but it’s mad?

“And indeed his own former leader is now accepting this. Will he not accept the advice from someone within his own party, if he won’t accept advice from this side of the House?”

The prime minister responded: “If you look at the detail of what Tony Blair said, he’s actually aligned with what we’re doing here. These are the jobs and the security of the future.”

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Ed Davey has called for the prime minister to order an “urgent review” into the current arrangements whereby the United Kingdom shares its intelligence with the United States.

The Liberal Democrat leader raised the question in reference to the revelation that an American journalist was inadvertently included in a messaging group to discuss US plans for a strike on Yemen.

Speaking at prime minister’s questions, Davey said: “After president Trump’s national security adviser accidentally added a journalist to a group chat that was discussing military action in Yemen and given, I think, all the concerns that we share about president Trump’s relationship with Vladimir Putin and JD Vance’s insulting disdain for Britain and our armed forces, will the prime minister make it clear that he will order an urgent review into the security of the intelligence that we share with the United States?”

Keir Starmer responded: “We work with the United States on a daily basis, and I think the honourable gentleman would like to think of himself as sort of reasonable…

“But unpicking our relations with the US on defence and security is neither responsible nor serious.”

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Keir Starmer has been challenged over the morality of the government’s proposed welfare reforms and cuts, with veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott accusing ministers of balancing “the country’s books on the backs of the most vulnerable.”

At prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, Starmer insisted that the current system was “morally and economically indefensible”.

The comment came after SDLP MP Colum Eastwood asked the PM “what was the point” of ending Conservative rule if the government is going to act in such a way.

Eastwood said: “A lady came to see me recently who needed help. She had a disability [that] meant that her children have to help her cut up our food. They have to help her wash beneath the waist. They have to supervise her as she goes to the toilet on the tour.

“Under the Tory welfare system, we were able to get that lady on PIP. Under the prime minister’s new proposed system, she will get zero nothing.”

Later on in the session, Diane Abbott joined the criticism of the government, telling Starmer there was “nothing moral” about the plan.

She said: “This is not about morality. This is about the Treasury’s wish to balance the country’s books on the back of the most vulnerable and poor people in this society.”

The prime minister responded: “I think one-in-eight young people not in employment, training or education, that’s a million young people. I think that’s a moral issue.

“Because all the evidence suggests that someone in that situation, at that stage of their life is going to find it incredibly difficult ever to get out of that level of dependency.”

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Keir Starmer has reiterated his view that the United States under the leadership of president Donald Trump is a “reliable ally”.

The prime minister said that the United Kingdom works with the US “on defence, on security and on intelligence”, adding: “We have done for many, many years.”

The comment came as Starmer was questioned by Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who condemned president Trump’s decision to suspend all military aid to Ukraine.

Davey said: “President Trump has removed military aid from Ukraine and said that the British cannot share American intelligence with Kyiv.

“Both those decisions mean more brave Ukrainians will die and further embolden Vladimir Putin. So can the prime minister tell the House – does he still believe that president Trump is a reliable ally? “

Starmer responded: “We work very closely with the United States on defence, on security and on intelligence.

“We have done for many, many years. We are intertwined. And, of course, they are a reliable ally – we are operating on that basis, day in, day out across the world.”

He added: “Obviously, our main focus, our only focus is on a lasting peace in Ukraine. There are many moving parts. There are many discussions to be had.

“But what I’m doing is staying focussed on what I think is the single most important outcome, which is a lasting peace in Ukraine, which is good for Ukraine, for Europe, and of course, essential for the United Kingdom.”

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A Conservative MP and former minister has urged Keir Starmer to call out Donald Trump’s “childish nonsense” when the two meet in Washington DC on Thursday.

Simon Hoare said that when the PM meets the US president, whom he referred to as the “former leader of the free world”, he does so “with the hopes and prayers of this House and the country.”

The Tory MP for North Dorset added: “Whilst Ukraine will clearly dominate, will the prime minister undertake to raise with president Trump that Canada is a valued, respected and much-loved member of both NATO and our Commonwealth?

“This childish nonsense of a 51st State should be called out by the prime minister for what it is.”

Starmer responded: “The UK and Canada are close allies and have been for a very long time, with a partnership based on a shared history and a shared set of values and a determination to be an active force for good in the world.

“We work closely with them on issues of the Commonwealth on NATO, and of course Five Eyes intelligence-sharing. And we will work to strengthen that relationship.”

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Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch has condemned the prime minister for “patronising” her.

Keir Starmer and Badenoch clashed over defence spending during prime minister’s questions on Wednesday, as the Tory leader claimed the government had accepted her “advice” following the announcement on Tuesday.

Badenoch said: “Over the weekend, I suggested to the prime minister that he cut the aid budget and I’m pleased that he accepted my advice…

“However, he announced £13.4 billion in additional defence spending yesterday. This morning his defence secretary [John Healey] said the uplift is only £6 billion.

“Which is the correct figure?”

The prime minister replied: “I’m going to have to let the leader of the opposition down gently.

“She didn’t feature in my thinking at all. I was so busy over the weekend I didn’t even see her proposal. I think she’s appointed herself [as] saviour of the Western civilisation. It’s a desperate search for relevance.”

Starmer added: “If you take the numbers for this financial year and then the numbers for the financial year 27/28, that’s a £13.4 billion increase.

“That is the largest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, which will put us in a position to ensure the security and defence of our country and of Europe.”

Badenoch insisted the prime minister was not being “very clear”. She added: “The [Institute for Fiscal Studies] said today that the government is playing silly games with numbers. How does he find this difference in numbers?”

Starmer responded: “We went through this two weeks ago – going through the same question over and over again.”

The Conservative leader branded the PM’s response “patronising”, adding: “It’s not a substitute for answering questions.”

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Nigel Farage has said Labour is “panicking” as his party, Reform UK, continues to rise in the opinion polls.

Speaking at prime minister’s questions on Wednesday afternoon, Farage began by responding to an earlier question from Labour MP John Slinger.

Slinger had claimed Reform plans to introduce an insurance-based system for using the NHS.

The Reform leader said: “I can assure [him] that Reform want healthcare to be free at the point of delivery”.

After facing a series of heckles from Labour MPs, Farage went on to ask whether the PM thought it was right the winter fuel allowance is being cut while the government has reportedly agreed a multi-billion pound deal with Mauritius over the Chagos Islands.

Keir Starmer responded: “He talks of panic, the only panic is people using the NHS who know that under his policy he wants to charge them for using the NHS.

“What he should say to the people of Clacton – when he finally finds Clacton – is that they should vote Labour because we are stabilising the economy.”

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Kemi Badenoch has claimed the government’s deal to hand over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius amounts to an “immoral surrender”.

Addressing the House at prime minister’s questions, the Conservative leader said that “when Labour negotiates, our country loses”.

She said the deal with Mauritius would see money handed over which “belongs to our children and their children”.

“This is an immoral surrender so north London lawyers can boast at their dinner parties,” Badenoch added.

Keir Starmer responded: “This is a military base [Diego Garcia] that is vital to our national security. A number of years ago, the legal certainty of that base was thrown into doubt.

“Without legal certainty, the base cannot operate in practical terms as it should. That is bad for our national security, and it’s a gift to our adversaries.

“If the Leader of the Opposition is properly briefed on the national security implications, when she’s asking these questions, which she’s perfectly entitled to do, then she knows exactly what I am talking about in terms of national security and legal certainty.”

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Keir Starmer has mocked former prime minister Liz Truss’ cease and desist letter, which she sent over claims she “crashed the economy” with the 2022 mini-budget.

Starmer told the House at prime minister’s questions: “I got a letter this week from a Tory voter in a Labour seat. I hope they don’t mind me saying, well, it was Liz Truss.

“It wasn’t written in green ink but it might as well have been. She was complaining that saying she ‘crashed the economy’ was damaging her reputation.

“It’s actually crashing the economy that damaged her reputation.”

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Kemi Badenoch has suggested the prime minister is refusing to establish an inquiry into grooming gangs out of fear it may expose “complicit” Labour politicians.

Speaking at prime minister’s questions, the Conservative Party leader repeatedly called on Keir Starmer to legislate for a national inquiry to “join the dots”.

Badenoch said: “The prime minister cannot tell the House the full scale of the scandal. He doesn’t want questions asked of Labour politicians who may be complicit. He won’t listen to the victims. He won’t listen to the victims who are calling for a national inquiry.”

Starmer responded: “Her recently acquired a view that it’s a scandal, having spent a lot of time on social media over Christmas. Not once in eight years, did she stand here and say what she just said. Not once in eight years.”

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Keir Starmer has said the Conservative Party leader, Kemi Badenoch, championed an “open borders” policy as a minister in the last government.

Speaking at prime minister’s questions, Starmer responded to criticism that decreasing immigration had not featured among the “milestones” set out in his “Plan for Change” speech last week.

Badenoch said: “Let’s talk about immigration. He has relaunched yet again: many new targets, six milestones, five missions. But why was cutting immigration not a priority?”

The prime minister responded: “The figures [released] just a few weeks ago: nearly a million on net migration. That is unprecedented. A one nation experiment in open borders under the last government, and she was the champion.

“She stood up and praised the then-Tory home secretary for listening to her on removing caps on migration visas. So she was applauding it.”

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The prime minister accused Kemi Badenoch of asking “fantasy” questions at PMQs on Wednesday as he rubbished the Conservative Party’s economic record.

Badenoch, the Tory leader, argued the PM has nothing to offer expect “platitudes” and ridiculed the government’s “ideological budget”.

She told the House: “The fact is that they do not know what they’re doing. Their ideological budget was designed to milk the private sector and hope nobody would notice. Now his cabinet ministers are all queuing up for public sector bailouts to his tax mess.”

Badenoch asked: “If he is going to bail out the public sector, then can he tell us this? Does he think it is appropriate, as the ministry for housing has done, to approve a four day week for councils?”

Starmer responded: “Questions based on what we’re actually doing are usually better than fantasy questions made up.”

He went on: “What did they deliver in fourteen years? Low growth, a stagnant economy, a disastrous mini-budget, a £22 billion black hole. And now she wants to give me advice on running the economy. I don’t want to be rude. But no thank you very much.”

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Kemi Badenoch urged the prime minister to apologise for past comments made by David Lammy, the foreign secretary, about US president-elect Donald Trump.

Badenoch, in her first prime minister’s questions as Conservative leader, also called for Keir Starmer to ask the commons Speaker to extend an invitation to Trump to address parliament.

Badenoch said: “The prime minister and the foreign secretary met [Trump] in September. Did the foreign secretary take that opportunity to apologise for making derogatory and scatological references, including and I quote, ‘Trump is not only a woman-hating, neo-Nazi-sympathising sociopath, he is also a profound threat to the international order.'”

She added: “And if he did not apologise, will the prime minister do so now on his behalf?”

Starmer responded: “The foreign secretary and I did meet president-elect Trump just a few weeks ago for dinner for about a couple of hours. And we discussed a number of issues of global significance. It was a very constructive exercise.”

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In his final appearance at prime minister’s questions as a frontbencher, Rishi Sunak said he plans to spend the rest of this parliament advocating on behalf of his constituents in Yorkshire.

Addressing MPs for the last time as Conservative leader, Sunak said that once he is relieved of his frontbench duties, he will be “spending more time in the greatest place on Earth, where the scenery is worthy of a movie set, and everyone is a character.

“That’s right, Mr. Speaker. If anyone needs me, I will be in Yorkshire.”

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Ahead of Rishi Sunak’s final session of prime minister’s questions on Wednesday afternoon, the speaker of the House of Commons and PM paid tribute to the outgoing Conservative leader as “decent.”

Addressing the House, speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle said: “I would like to mark the fact that this is the last time the right honourable member for Richmond and Northallerton will appear at the despatch box during PMQs.”

Sir Lindsay added: “He has spoken at this despatch box as chancellor of the exchequer, the prime minister, the leader of the opposition, and after today we all look forward to his continued contributions from the backbenches.”

Keir Starmer then added: “Now, of course, we’ve had political disagreements, ideological disagreements — we’ve argued at some length. But I want to thank him for his hard work, for his commitment and for his decency in everything that he has done.”

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