Andy Burnham won Makerfield

ronib

At least one university is warning staff of impending job losses due to the increased costs in national insurance. Savings are expected to be found- around £20 million! Well done Labour …. Not.

I was in the DWP the year Tories came into power, the amounts of savings all govt departments had to find was horrific, and for 7+ years absolutely no salary increases for almost all public sector workers, but each year NI increased for employees as did our pension contributions, (sadly I only joined the Civil Service in 2009, so I missed the golden hey days of very good pensions), and no increases in public spending.

Some people have extremely short memories.

What did this austerity achieve? Absolutely nothing!

LemonJam

ie spiteful to Phillipson....

Yes sorry - post was ambiguous - KB used the word spiteful about BO. I wouldn’t use the word to describe KB -her behaviour is far more serious than that

I think she will cope.

Galaxy

I think she will cope.

Well we’ll see,,,,

I think AB will cope with the eyelash t shirt comment without loosing sleep.

It's interesting that your takeaway of Badenoch's comments to/about BP for which she was admonished by the speaker is that BP will cope. Perhaps you condone Badenoch's comments and behaviours Galaxy?

BP's response If standing up for state schools makes me a spiteful class warrior, I’ll wear it with pride shows that she will cope.

I'm more worried about Badenoch......

I was actually talking about KB coping - not BP -she (BP) will definitely cope .

As others here have commented, it’s not really about the MPs themselves ‘coping’ - I suppose they have thick skins and will move on from ‘hurtful’ comments.

It’s about the ripple effect out into society. Using mocking language becomes normalised, without any thought for those who may be hurt by it.

No I meant Badenoch will cope if it is 'turned on her' as someone mentioned.

I am much more worried about the ripple effect on our society of people's attempt to control language. She was admonished by the speaker as many have been. I don't think that is in any way incitement.
Humour and mocking are a really important part of challenging those in power, always have been. PMQ s is by its nature combative, it us possible to argue how useful that combativeness is I suppose.

Badenoch mentioned a lot of killing- more than once at PMQs I hope she is OK as she does seem to be losing the plot

BBC report this afternoon: ‘The Conservatives have said Kemi Badenoch will not apologise for her language after a fiery Prime Minister's Questions in which she repeatedly attacked government ministers. During the Commons session, Badenoch said Labour MPs were cheering on Sir Keir Starmer despite there being "400 knives stuck in his back", with Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle calling for a little bit more decorum and respect.

The Conservative leader also suggested many Labour MPs are traitors and deserters before branding Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson a spiteful class warrior. Badenoch and Phillipson had a heated exchange in the moments after PMQs, and have since exchanged barbs on social media.

In the first Prime Minister's Question session since Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation, Badenoch said Labour MPs have "abandoned" him for a "pair of eyelashes and a black t-shirt" - a reference to leadership front runner Andy Burnham……

Badenoch also accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of killing jobs and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband of killing industry. Sir Lindsay intervened to highlight the need to think about the language being used in the Commons, saying when we leave this chamber, don't be surprised when constituents feel they can use the same language.

Asked if she would be apologising, a spokesman for Badenoch said absolutely not.

The pair exchanged words in the division lobbies afterwards, with a Labour source claiming that Badenoch told Phillipson: You are spiteful, I'm never going to stop talking about how spiteful you are Phillipson is said to have replied The public are going to find out who you really are.

A Conservative source said Badenoch also told Phillipson: I will fight you all the way, you're destroying children's lives...

Posting on social media, Phillipson later said "Kemi lost her head at PMQs - and afterwards too" and claimed the Conservative leader had previously compared her "to a Gestapo officer". She added: "I wonder what it is about a working class woman driving record investment in state schools by ending private schools' tax breaks that the Tories hate so much.”

Time will tell how Badenoch copes with the flak.

That’s an interesting question Galaxy. The most effective opposition leader at PMQ is Ed Davey, who doesn’t mock, but is very persistent in seeking answers to his questions. Ultimately that’s probably the most effective way of holding the government to account.

I agree Casdon- Badenoch doesn't really ask questions thereby wastes her opportunities. She asks mocking, rhetorical questions- like today- with killing' type aggressive language. She helps neither herself or her party.

Excellent post LemonJam.

Worrying language used by KB there. It’s ‘combative humour’ and ‘banter’ … until it’s not!

PMQs is absolutely no way to hold the government to account. It’s an incredible waste of everyone’s time - the hours and hours that go into preparing for it on both sides when that time could be used more productively.

It’s what PMQ is for though Tuliptree, it’s the main public insight into the workings of parliament. I don’t agree that it’s a waste of time, I think it’s important to our democracy to see how the government and the opposition of the day are operating.

Killing jobs is a perfectly reasonable phrase, if you google you will see the word killing used by politicians, even Burnham ( goodness knows how those who invented VAR will cope with him using the phrase killing spontaneity).
I think I probably agree about PMQs and what purpose it serves. I think it also alienates the general public to some extent.

I agree with the idea of watching democracy in action as well casdon, but I think it also somehow alienates the public.

We can see the style and rhetoric of the various party leaders as Casdon highlighted. I wouldn't have the insight into Badenoch's character so well without watching her performance at PMQs and listening to her language.

Bearing in mind how many seats her party lost at the last GE- how many MPs have defected to Reform- that her party secured under 2% of votes at Gorton and Denton and just over 2% votes at recent Markerfield by elections she is already in a dire place.

I hope she hasn't let the Aberdeen by election result go to her head- that is an outlier constituency and all about the oil. She can not win a GE losing all other by elections and losing MPs as she has- and not with that style. She will always be outgunned on aggression and divisiveness by Reform UK and Restore.

Casdon

It’s what PMQ is for though Tuliptree, it’s the main public insight into the workings of parliament. I don’t agree that it’s a waste of time, I think it’s important to our democracy to see how the government and the opposition of the day are operating.

It’s the absolute antithesis of providing an insight into the workings of parliament. It tells us nothing about how parliament works. It isn’t how the government and opposition are operating. It’s cheap garish theatre which demeans the really hard work done elsewhee in Select Committees or when a bill is being debated by the whole House. If PMQs is how people understand how Parliament works then no wonder we have such a politically illiterate electorate

If it alienates you- no need to watch.

I’ve seen all the insights I needed into KB from watching her in debates. Much much more telling then flashy PMQs.

Until PMQs changes- it what's we have weekly, when parliament is in session for the leader of the opposition to ask 6 questions and other party leaders questions also....It's a current holding to account process and party leaders use it wisely or not...

LemonJam

If it alienates you- no need to watch.

Irrelevant - I thought we were discussing its purpose, not whether I liked it. Come on.

PMQs is slightly different than a debate but I hear where you are coming from....