In the face of national security scandals, Rishi Sunak stands his ground
In a display of defiance at PMQs, Rishi Sunak defended the government's record on China and terrorism. Despite recent security concerns, Sunak insisted that the case of terrorist escapee Daniel Khalife was "extremely rare". He also affirmed that the government takes the challenge posed by China seriously, even after a researcher for senior Tory MPs was arrested on suspicion of spying for the communist state.
Sir Keir Starmer accuses PM of inaction and chaos
Sir Keir Starmer did not hold back in his criticism of the PM, labeling him "inaction man". He accused Boris Johnson of presiding over chaos in the criminal justice system and highlighted recent failures that led to tragic consequences, such as the murder of Zara Aleena. Sir Keir also cited the Chief Inspector of Prisons' scathing report on the conditions in Wandsworth prison, calling for urgent action.
Sunak fires back with facts and figures
Unfazed by Sir Keir's accusations, Rishi Sunak hit back with facts and figures. He pointed out that prison escapes were ten times higher under the last Labour government than under the Tories. Sunak highlighted the government's efforts in improving the prison system, including the hiring of thousands of new prison officers, a 25% increase in staffing levels at Wandsworth prison, investment in prison pay and retention, and the implementation of new security measures like X-ray body scanners.
Auditing UK-China relations and political history
As the debate heated up, Sir Keir called for a full audit of UK-China relations, raising concerns about the government's approach. However, Sunak was quick to remind Sir Keir of his past political affiliations, pointing out that he previously served in Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet. Sunak criticized Corbyn's far-left policies, including his desire to abolish the army, scrap Trident, and withdraw from NATO.
