Angela Rayner and Oliver Dowden conflict over Covid Inquiry at PMQs
The deputy celebration leaders went head-to-head on Wednesday rather than Rishi Sunak, who’s within the US for assembly with enterprise leaders and senior figures in Congress, and Sir Keir Starmer.
Ms Rayner began off by taking purpose on the Covid-19 Inquiry, saying the Tories had “set up the inquiry to get to the truth” then “blocked it” from getting data that they had requested for.
She mentioned: “Speaking of the last election, the Tory manifesto promised to end the abuse of the judicial review, how’s it going?”
Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden replied: “Let me just remind (her) of a few facts about the Covid inquiry.
“We set up the Covid inquiry, we have provided it with more than 55,000 documents so far.
“We have given it all the financial resources it needs so that we can learn the lessons from the pandemic, but Mr Speaker in Wales they also had a pandemic, and what have the Labour-run Wales authorities done there? No independent inquiry in Wales.
“As ever one rule for Labour and another for everyone else.”
The conflict comes as new polling exhibits Labour could be on track to win 470 seats at the next general election, compared with 129 for the Conservatives.
However, the primary survey of voters finished beneath new constituency boundaries, resulting from be launched later this 12 months, suggests Labour’s recognition is diminishing.
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SNP: PM ‘trashing the economy just a wee bit slower than predecessor’
The SNP’s deputy Westminster chief mentioned the Government’s largest achievement was “trashing the economy just a wee bit slower than their predecessor”.
Mhairi Black informed the Commons: “When the Prime Minister took office he said he would put economic stability and confidence at the heart of this Government.
“Today, UK interest rates are one of the highest in the G20 and mortgage rates are rising nearly back to where they were after the former PM crashed the economy.
“Is it not the case that this Government’s biggest achievement is that they are trashing the economy just a wee bit slower than their predecessor?”
Dowden responds that the OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) has “upgraded” Britain’s development forecast. including: “And one month ago, the whole nation came together celebrating that wonderful moment of pomp, pageantry, and pride in our nation, and what did she describe it as? I quote, a pantomime.
“Well, the real pantomime is the SNP in Scotland.”
Unpaid carers ‘saving more than entire NHS budget’
Lib Dem leader Ed Davey calls for the Government to give carers “the financial support they deserve”.
He tells the Commons about his constituent Karen – a carer for her husband who has dementia.
Carers like Karen save the government more than the entire NHS budget, Davey tells MPs.
Dowden replies that Government has provided £2.3billion for social care support, and is committed to “putting people at the heart of social care”.
Labour slammed for Just Stop Oil links
Dowden has accused Labour of being influenced by Just Stop Oil.
The party has taken around £1.5million in donations from Dale Vince, who has also funded the climate protest group.
Last year, Mr Vince said he had donated “around £10,000” to Just Stop Oil.
Dowden sayd: “While we are driving down inflation and energy bills, Labour is taking £10,000 from Just Stop Oil protesters, adopting their policies, blocking new production that would force the importation of more foreign oil and gas.”
Just Stop Oil in Parliament Square
/ Just Stop OilDowden Defends Schools Record
The Deputy PM defended the Government’s document on colleges, and says a register of lacking kids stays beneath beneath evaluate.
He provides the Government has offered £4billion additional funding for colleges this 12 months, with the identical deliberate subsequent 12 months.
This has resulted within the “highest reading standards in the western world”, he says.
Labour ‘on course for a landslide’
PMQs is going down simply hours after new polling prompt Labour is heading in the right direction for a landslide victory on the subsequent basic election.
However, the celebration’s margins are falling throughout the nation, in accordance with the primary megapoll beneath new constituency boundaries to be launched later this 12 months.
Sir Keir Starmer’s celebration may win 470 seats in contrast with 129 for the Conservatives, the internationalist Best for Britain marketing campaign group mentioned.
The evaluation is predicated on a survey by pollster Focaldata, which requested 10,140 folks in Great Britain between April 20 and May 9 which celebration they’d vote for if a basic election had been held tomorrow.
The findings are more likely to pile strain on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, within the US right now.
Although he may take some consolation from predictions that Labour’s majority may very well be in danger throughout the nation.
Labour’s vote share can be at about 35 per cent, 12 proportion factors forward of the Tories, the modelling confirmed.
But that’s decrease than final autumn when polling gave Labour a 42 per cent share.
Even in a worst-case situation for Labour, it might nonetheless be the largest celebration in a hung Parliament, in accordance with the evaluation.
Tug of War
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle kicks off PMQs by confirming the House of Commons beat the House of Lords 4-0 in a tug of warfare competitors on Tuesday.