Badenoch accuses Starmer over Haigh appointment Starmer takes some short, opening questions from a number of backbench MPS before Tory leader Kemi Badenoch begins her questions. She opens with a question about the PM appointed a fraudster to be his transport secretary. She asked him what he was thinking and suggests this is the question on the lips of many Labour MPs. The prime minister has again refused to give more details on the resignation of his transport secretary over a fraud offence before she became an MP. Keir Starmer repeatedly refused to elaborate on the “further information” that came to light leading to Louise Haigh stepping down last week. Haigh resigned after it emerged she had pleaded guilty to a criminal offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013. It is understood the incident was disclosed to Starmer when she joined the shadow cabinet. During prime minister’s question time Starmer was repeatedly pressed by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch to explain why he “knowingly appointed a convicted fraudster” to his cabinet. Summary That’s it for this week’s PMQs. During the session Starmer ignored calls to provide further details on why Louise Haigh resigned as transport secretary over a fraud offence before she became an MP. The prime minister declined to elaborate on what “further information came to light”, despite being repeatedly pressed by Conservative party leader Kemi Badenoch to explain why he “knowingly appointed a convicted fraudster” to his cabinet. Badenoch joked the country needs “conviction politicians, not politicians with convictions”. Starmer highlighted the actions of previous Tory leaders. Haigh resigned last week after it emerged she had pleaded guilty to a criminal offence related to incorrectly telling police that a work mobile phone was stolen in 2013. It is understood the incident was disclosed to Starmer when she joined the shadow cabinet. Sir Ed also said “we’ll only get waiting lists down and keep them down if it’s easier for everyone to see a GP when they need it”, including a guarantee patients can see a GP “within at least seven days, or 24 hours if it’s urgent”. The Prime Minister said the Government would be “driving” down waiting lists and added: “We’ve already begun that work, to make sure we get those waiting lists down, and yes, of course that will also include making sure there’s better access to GPs and other measures that need to be taken.” Davey says he is disappointed with Starmer’s reply people and says he hopes Starmer to reflect on Labour’s policy. He moves on to NHS waiting lists. Daveys dsays more than 3million people have been stuck on NHS waiting lists for 18 weeks and insists this needs to be fixed. He says it is the worst legacy of the Conservative government and says it needs to be fixed. He asks Starmer if waiting lists can only be brought down, and kept down, if it’s made easier for people to see their GP when needed. Starmer says “proportional representation is not our policy” and that “we won’t be making time for it” and gently suggests that Davey didn’t do too badly under the current system. We move on and Ed Davey, the Liberal Democrat leader, asks the PM about reform to the electoral system saying it is crucial to restore trust in politics. He says the majority of the British public want this and asks Starmer to find government time so the bill can be considered. Badenoch asks why anyone should believe anything Starmer says and accuses him of ditching his bid to make the UK the fastest growing economy in the G7. Starmer presses on and says the UK will have the fastest growth in next two years suggesting that Badenoch hasn’t read the report from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) saying the Tories should never forget the damage they did to the country saying the Tories governed Britain like some “mad scientist’s experiment”. Starmer hits back and says the Tories left the UK with a £22bn black hole. “The party opposite broke the economy,” he says. Badenoch adds that the those on the benches are laughing but that Labour have no idea what the general public are dealing with as the government talks about increasing employers’ national insurance. She describes the budget as “catastrophic”. Badenoch says Starmer can’t even repeat the pledges that he made a few weeks ago. To increasing jeers she says the Conservatives are there to stop Starmer damaging the economy. Starmer says that he must “gently remind” Badenoch that two of her predecessors had convictions for breaking Covid rules, with many on the benches laughing and jeering. He also invites her to look at the OECD report of this morning which puts the UK on target to be the highest growing economy in the next two years. He suggests she should welcome this. Badenoch eventually decides to leave the subject of Louise Haigh but moves on to an “even bigger fraud” referring to Labour’s Budget. She says last week the PM failed to repeat the pledge of no more borrowing and spending. She says in his manifesto he committed to making Britain the “fastest growing economy” in the G7. She askes if he stands by his own pledge? Badenoch does not relent and pushes Starmer for the third time asking why Starmer appointed someone convicted of fraud to be transport secretary. She demands a publlic apology from Starmer on Louise Haigh. But Starmer swerves the question and instead speaks again about immigration. Badenoch says Starmer claimed that Haigh was only asked to resign when further information came to light. She asks what was that fvurther information? Starmer bats the question back and says he has no intention of disclosing private information. Badenoch accuses Starmer over Haigh appointment Starmer takes some short, opening questions from a number of backbench MPS before Tory leader Kemi Badenoch begins her questions. She opens with a question about the PM appointed a fraudster to be his transport secretary. She asked him what he was thinking and suggests this is the question on the lips of many Labour MPs. Keir Starmer starts by saying he looks forward to discussions about the new clean energy partnership with the Emir of Qatar. Keir Starmer faces Kemi Badenoch at PMQs PMQs is imminent. Here is the list of MPs down to ask a question.