Starmer goes for Sunak’s sore spot at PMQs

It can be difficult sometimes to declare a victor at Prime Minister’s Questions. Exchanges are often hard-fought, even-handed affairs in which neither opponent really lands a blow. But today was not such a day, with Keir Starmer recording the parliamentary equivalent of a three-nil thumping at the despatch box. Rather than dwell on last week’s Autumn Statement, Starmer opted to focus on record migration figures instead – a sensible move, given the very public Tory divides.

With polls pointing to its increasing salience as a political issue, the Labour leader laid into the government, repeatedly punching a self-inflicted Conservative bruise. Humour was a favoured gambit, with Starmer’s beginning his exchange with Rishi Sunak by making light of the Elgin marbles row: ‘The Prime Minster spent this week arguing about an ancient relic that only a tiny minority of the British public have interest in. But Mr Speaker, that’s enough about the Tory party…’

Sunak doubled down in his response, attacking his Greek equivalent for trying to ‘grandstand’ on his visit here.