King’s Speech: Sir Keir Starmer attacks ‘divisive brand’ of Suella Braverman – warning PM of her ‘ambitions’
Sir Keir Starmer has launched a scathing attack on Suella Braverman over her recent controversial remarks on homelessness – warning Rishi Sunak that “without a serious home secretary… he cannot be a serious prime minister”.
Speaking during a debate on Tuesday’s King’s Speech, the Labour leader slammed her claims that living on the street was a “lifestyle choice”, instead calling it a “political choice” resulting from the scrapping of government housing targets and not enough new homes being built.
Politics live: Tories joke about Johnson and Truss as MPs debate King’s Speech
Sir Keir also appeared to reference other contentious comments by Ms Braverman, including her description of pro-Palestine protests at “hate marches”, saying using security issues as “a platform for her own ambitions” was making the job of the police even harder.
The prime minister failed to defend his home secretary during his response, even after being pressed further by Labour shadow minister Sir Chris Bryant, who asked whether he agreed with Ms Braverman on homelessness or whether she should be sacked.
Instead, Mr Sunak claimed the “actions” of the Conservative government had seen rough sleeping fall by a third and the Homelessness Reduction Act had helped “relieve or prevent” over 640,000 people from being homeless.
During the debate, Sir Keir criticised the King’s Speech as “a missed opportunity”, calling Mr Sunak’s pitch as the change candidate for the next election “ridiculous posturing”.
Suella Braverman has caused controversy with her remarks on both homelessness and Palestinian protests
The Labour leader dubbed the government plans revealed by the King today as “more of the same sticking plaster politics”, adding: “Today we reach something of a new low because they’re not even pretending to govern anymore.
“They’ve given up on any sense of service. They see our country’s problems as something to be exploited, not solved.”
But the Labour leader saved his real ire for Ms Braverman and issued a warning to the prime minister over her recent controversies.
“We needed a King’s Speech that would draw a line under 13 years of Tory decline, a King’s Speech for national renewal and a serious plan for growth,” he said.
“But instead, we have a party so devoid of leadership, it is happy to follow a home secretary who describes homelessness as a lifestyle choice and believes that the job of protecting us all from extremists – the most basic job of government – is legitimate terrain for her divisive brand of politics.”
Read more: What exactly did Braverman say about homeless people?
Sir Keir added: “As director of public prosecutions, I worked closely with the police and counter-terrorism forces. Their job is hard enough already without the home secretary using it as a platform for her own ambitions.
“And so I say to the prime minister, think very carefully about what she is committing your government to do and think very carefully about the consequences of putting greater demands on public servants at the coalface of keeping us safe.
“Because without a serious home secretary, there can be no serious government and he cannot be a serious prime minister.”
Is Starmer preparing for Braverman as Tory leader?
Did we just witness a taste of the fierce Commons battles to come after the next general election?
The most blistering attack of Sir Keir Starmer’s speech in the debate on the King’s Speech was not directed at Rishi Sunak, but at Suella Braverman.
Plenty of MPs believe the home secretary’s controversial attacks on “hate marches” and rough sleepers making a “lifestyle choice” are all about playing to the Tory gallery ahead of a leadership campaign.
Some MPs even claim Ms Braverman is goading Mr Sunak into sacking her so she can launch a leadership bid before the general election.
So it’s highly significant the Labour leader launched such a harsh attack on the home secretary. Does he anticipate facing her across the despatch box if he wins the election?
Throughout Sir Keir’s attacks, Mr Sunak’s body language is highly revealing. He makes no eye contact with her and makes no attempt to shake his head during the onslaught.
And then, when the Labour MP Sir Chris Bryant joins the attack on Ms Braverman and challenges the PM to sack her if he disagrees with her “lifestyle choice” slur, he doesn’t even mention her and praises the veterans’ minister Johnnie Mercer instead.
So is she on borrowed time in the Cabinet ahead of launching a leadership bid? As soon as Mr Sunak finished his speech, she hurried out of the chamber.
Will she have relished Sir Keir’s attack on her? Almost certainly. And what about the lack of support for her from the PM? Good or bad news for her?
Probably bad news in the short-term, but probably not in the long-term, namely after the next election – when she no doubt hopes to be doing battle with Sir Keir across the despatch box.
While Mr Sunak did not have a response on the home secretary, who sat next to him throughout Sir Keir’s speech, he had lots to say about Labour’s plans for if they get into government.
He said the policies would lead to “higher inflation, more strikes, more immigration and higher borrowing”, and he said they would “give into inflation busting demands from their union paymasters”, calling such a move “dangerous”.
The prime minister also claimed Sir Keir “stands for the same old ideas”, while the government was “focused on the long-term decisions that will provide a better and brighter future for everyone”.
Read more: Will the pro-Palestinian march on Armistice Day go ahead?
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WATCH: The King’s Speech in 58 seconds
Mr Sunak also trumpeted a number of his government policies announced in today’s speech, including:
âą New licenses for gas and oil fields
âą A new bill to phase out smoking
âą Introducing whole-life orders for the most horrific murders
âą A new legal framework to enable self-driving cars to be used on Britain’s roads.
“This King’s Speech builds on the strong foundation of economy well on its way to recovery,” added the prime minister. “It rejects big government and instead backs people and businesses to thrive.
“It strengthens society with historic measures to support the nation, health and education. It secures our streets and borders with tougher sentences for criminals and powers for police.
“And above all this, King’s Speech delivers change. Change in our economy. Change in our society. Change in our communities. It takes long-term decisions for a brighter future.”
Politics
Rayner ‘hoping’ for winter fuel update within weeks – and says she ‘never’ wants to be Labour leader
Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner has told Sky News she “hopes” there will be an update on the winter fuel U-turn within weeks.
Ms Rayner also used her interview on Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips to say she “never” wants to lead her party.
Some had suggested recent leaks of her plans for when taxes should change were her testing the waters to run a challenge against Sir Keir Starmer.
Politics latest: Badenoch on two-child cap
Earlier this week, the prime minister confirmed his party was looking to make changes to its controversial slashing of winter fuel payments to pensioners at an upcoming “fiscal event”.
Little clarity was provided on when this would be – the budget in the autumn thought the most likely.
Angela Rayner says she wants the changes announced soon. Pic: PA
Ms Rayner has now suggested the 11 June spending review in just over a fortnight is her preferred date.
She told Sky News: “I think that we’ve got the upcoming spending review, and I’m sure that the chancellor will set it out when we’ve got the opportunity – at the first opportunity Trevor she will set out what we’ll be able to do.”
Asked if changes might be announced at the review, Ms Rayner said: “I hope so, but I don’t know. But I hope so.
“I mean, the prime minister’s announced it, so logically to me that indicates that the prime minister wants to do something in this area.
“And if the prime minister wants to do that, I’m sure the chancellor is going to look at how we can achieve that.”
Read more:
Starmer confirms U-turn on winter fuel
Decision needs ‘strong enough’ economy
Analysis: It could have profound consequences
Never wants to be leader
Some might suggest Ms Rayner’s stance was a bid to push Downing Street into an announcement faster than it previously wanted.
It would add to rumours the deputy prime minister is unhappy with the way Sir Keir and Rachel Reeves are running the government.
However, when asked by Trevor Phillips if she wanted to lead her party, Ms Rayner was unequivocal.
“No. I’m very happy and honoured to be deputy prime minister of this country,” she said.
“And I’ve got a lot in my in-tray to prove that I can do the job that I’m doing and deliver on the milestones for the people in this country.”
She continued: “I have no desire to go for the leadership of the Labour Party.”
đ Listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app đ
Asked to say the word “never”, Ms Rayner repeated “never”.
Ms Rayner also confirmed a leak inquiry was under way after her proposals on tax and spend sent to the chancellor ended up published in The Daily Telegraph.
Politics
Two-child benefit cap: Pressure grows on Starmer as Reform’s policy move parks tanks on Labour’s lawn
No U-turn comes without a political cost.
This weekend, it has become clear there is a price to pay for Sir Keir Starmer’s decision to row back on winter fuel payment cuts.
One MP said in a text message: “We all want to see more”, while former prime minister Gordon Brown told Sky News this week the two-child benefit cap was “pretty discriminatory” and could be scrapped.
Nigel Farage is expected to call for the two-child benefit cap to be scrapped
The cap, which prevents parents from claiming child tax credit or universal credit for more than two children, is a symbolic sore for Labour that saw seven MPs suspended from the party last year.
Now it’s back to cause more trouble.
A Downing Street source suggests little has changed in the last week, and looking at the cap has always been part of the (now delayed) Child Poverty Strategy.
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‘You’ve got to be fair to pensioners’
But, beyond the whispers behind the scenes, one thing has overtly changed this weekend – growing pressure from Nigel Farage.
We expect Reform UK to announce this week that it will reinstate winter fuel payments and drop the cap.
Mr Farage is parking his tanks on Labour’s lawn, trying to tap into working-class votes on uncomfortable territory for Mr Starmer.
How would they pay for it? A combination of closing asylum hotels, cutting aid, and scrapping net-zero targets, the party says.
Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch
Headline-grabbing move
The beauty of not being in power is not having to make all the sums add up right now, and it is a headline-grabbing announcement that will, at the very least, reignite the conversation about the two-child cap.
It’s also a reminder that Reform UK, who were beaten by Labour in 89 out of the 98 constituencies they came second in last year, have set their sights beyond the Conservatives.
As for the Tories, who introduced the measure in 2017, leader Kemi Badenoch is clear, saying: “If you can’t afford to have lots of children, then you shouldn’t do so”.
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Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner is hoping for an update on the winter fuel allowance
Blue water between Tories and Reform UK
So, there is blue water between the Conservatives and Reform, but it’s the prime minister and his party that Nigel Farage is targeting now, and Labour is unclear on where it stands.
Deputy leader Angela Rayner told Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips that “lifting any measures that alleviate poverty is not a bad idea”.
More from Sky News:
PM’s winter fuel claim ‘not credible’
Starmer-Reeves Downing St ‘rift’
With the spending review fast approaching, Sir Keir and Chancellor Rachel Reeves will be working out the actual cost, beyond the political one, of rowing back on winter fuel payment cuts.
But will the anger that the policy ignited among some Labour MPs end there? Or will it move to another uncomfortable subject?
As one MP puts it: “If there’s money for pensioners, why not children?”
Pakistan has allocated 2,000 megawatts of surplus electricity exclusively for Bitcoin mining and artificial intelligence centers.
The move is part of a broader digital transformation plan spearheaded by the Pakistan Crypto Council and backed by the Ministry of Finance, according to a May 25 report by local news outlet 24NewsHD TV Channel.
In the first phase, the government plans to channel excess power into AI infrastructure and crypto mining operations. Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said the decision is expected to attract billions in foreign investment while generating high-tech employment across the country.
The initiativeâs second phase will introduce access to renewable energy for mining operations, aiming to balance growth with environmental responsibility.
Related: Trump-backed World Liberty Financial partners with Pakistan Crypto Council
Pakistan unveils tax incentives to attract investors
Per the report, interest from international Bitcoin (BTC) miners and AI firms has already picked up. Officials confirmed that multiple foreign delegations have visited Pakistan in recent months to explore potential partnerships.
To further incentivize investment, the Ministry of Finance announced a package of tax incentives for AI centers and duty exemptions for Bitcoin miners.
Bilal Bin Saqib, CEO of Pakistanâs Crypto Council, reportedly welcomed the development, calling it a âturning pointâ for the countryâs digital economy.
Saqib claimed that with clear regulations and a transparent framework, Pakistan could emerge as a significant player in the global crypto and AI sectors.
Saqib first proposed using the countryâs runoff energy to fuel Bitcoin mining at the Crypto Councilâs inaugural meeting on March 21.
The meeting included lawmakers, the Bank of Pakistanâs governor, the chairman of Pakistanâs Securities and Exchange Commission (SECP), and the federal information technology secretary.
Related: Pakistan proposes compliance-based crypto regulatory framework â Report
Pakistan creates Digital Asset Authority
On May 21, Pakistanâs Ministry of Finance endorsed the creation of a dedicated body to regulate blockchain-based financial infrastructure in the country.
The Pakistan Digital Assets Authority (PDAA) will serve as a regulatory body to oversee licensing and regulating exchanges, custodians, wallets, tokenized platforms, stablecoins, and decentralized finance applications.
The PDAA will also be tasked with tokenizing national assets and government debt, facilitating monetization of Pakistanâs surplus electricity through regulated Bitcoin mining, and helping startups build blockchain-based solutions at scale.
Pakistan ranked highly in Chainalysisâ 2024 crypto adoption index, coming in ninth, mainly due to strong retail adoption and transactions at centralized services.
Data from Statista also shows Pakistanâs crypto market is âexperiencing rapid growth,â estimating the number of crypto users to amount to over 27 million by 2025, out of a population of 247 million.
Magazine: Bitcoin bears eye $69K, CZ denies WLF âfixerâ rumors: Hodlerâs Digest, May 18 â 24
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