Tag Archives: rachel cunliffe

Ed Davey’s performance at PMQs today was described by New Statesman journalist Rachel Cunliffe as “devastating” to Keir Starmer. She compared and contrasted Kemi Badenoch’s mis-steps with Ed making Starmer “awkward” when faced with questions about the NI rise for GP practices.

At the very start of PMQs, Jardine set up the topic of the NI rise with a straightforward question on support for GP practices. Ed Davey then picked up the theme once Badenoch was finished, asking for a further commitment that GPs, pharmacies and other healthcare providers would be protected from the tax rise. His tone was mild, his question factual rather than aggressive. But it made Starmer more awkward than he had been at any point facing Badenoch. After the Prime Minister had answered, Davey said quietly: “I think patients and GPs listening to that will want more reassurance”. It was devastating.

Christine Jardine asked the very first question at PMQs today, on that NI rise, having spent last week meeting worried GP practices in her Edinburgh West constituency.

Changes to employers' National Insurance threaten the ability of GPs to deliver patient care. I asked the Prime Minister to explain to GPs, and others in my constituency, how they are meant to cope without extra support. pic.twitter.com/2Q9Ux3O9zF

— Christine Jardine 🔶 (@cajardineMP) November 13, 2024

In the two weeks since the Budget, several GP practices in my constituency of Edinburgh West, including my own, have contacted me with their genuine fears that the impact of the changes to national insurance employer contributions will threaten their ability to continue to offer the public the same standard of health service that they currently receive. And they are far from the only ones struggling, particularly in the health and social care sectors. Can the Prime Minister explain to me—perhaps he and his Chancellor would like to come to my constituency and explain to GPs, charities and others—how they are meant to cope without extra support from the Government?

The Prime Minister
Because of the tough decisions that we took, we have put forward a Budget with an extra £25.6 billion for the NHS and for social care. That includes an increase to carers’ allowance and £600 million to deal with the pressures of adult social care. We will ensure that GP practices have the resources that they need, and the funding arrangements between the NHS and contractors will be set out in the usual way.

Ed followed up with his first question

“Will the government at least exempt GPs, community pharmacists and other health and care providers from this tax rise?”@EdwardJDavey pushed the government to rethink the NI hikes on GP surgeries which could see millions struggling even more to secure an appointment. pic.twitter.com/C78JugqAfB

— Liberal Democrats (@LibDems) November 13, 2024

His second was on the importance of working with European leaders to support Ukraine given the impending Trump administration:

Today, I questioned the Prime Minister on his plan if Donald Trump abandons our brave Ukrainian allies.

If the US won't support Ukraine in its fight against Putin's war machine, the UK and Europe must – and we should use frozen Russian assets to do it. pic.twitter.com/GrmA6rehn1

— Ed Davey (@EdwardJDavey) November 13, 2024