A weekly Prime Minister's Questions session erupted into acrimony and personal insults this week, as Sir Keir Starmer faced sustained pressure over his government's frequent policy reversals. The clash, led by Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch, saw the Labour leader resort to a crude and well-worn analogy before ultimately losing his composure.
Badenoch's Cool Taunts Meet Starmer's Heated Response
The confrontation began with Kemi Badenoch coolly welcoming the Prime Minister's "latest U-turn", adding in a pointed aside that she felt she was saying it every week. Her relaxed demeanour and the chuckles it drew from the House visibly irritated Sir Keir. Badenoch further needled him by quoting Health Secretary Wes Streeting's recent remark that it was better to "get it right first time," a comment made just the day before.
Sir Keir's prepared retort involved listing government achievements before launching a counter-attack on the Conservative record. He claimed the Tories had "more positions in 14 years than the Kama Sutra," a centuries-old text on sexuality. The analogy, widely criticised as stale and unoriginal, was followed by a jibe directed at Badenoch and her colleagues: "No wonder they're knackered and they left the country screwed!"
A Descent Into 'Disgusting' and 'Appalling'
Rather than engage with the vulgarity, Badenoch dismissed Starmer's answer as "waffle." She argued that the constant policy shifts were causing chaos for farmers, publicans, small businesses, and even Labour MPs, accusing the Prime Minister of "blowing around like a plastic bag in the wind." Behind Starmer, his backbenchers listened glumly.
As the session continued, Starmer's frustration grew. He attempted a laboured joke comparing the shadow cabinet to flat-pack furniture from Ikea, suggesting it was made of "old, dead wood" and that "every time you lose a nut it defects to Reform." The delivery fell flat. Under further questioning, the Opposition benches began a chorus of "U-turn! U-turn!" which visibly rattled the Prime Minister.
Sir Keir Starmer's composure finally broke. He began shouting at his opponents, branding their actions "disgusting" and "appalling." When the topic of Elon Musk was raised, he erupted with a stream of adjectives: "Disgusting! Shameful! Horrific! Disgusting! Weaponising! Absolute disgrace!"
Aftermath of a Fiery Session
The exchange highlighted the intense pressure on the Labour government over its perceived indecision. While Badenoch maintained a poised, teasing approach, Starmer's response—from the pre-scripted vulgarity to the final furious outburst—was widely seen as a sign of a leader struggling to defend a record of frequent policy changes. The episode leaves questions about the Prime Minister's temperament and the government's strategic direction as it faces continued scrutiny in the Commons.
