Badenoch falters against Starmer in heated PMQs showdown

In the United Kingdom, Sir Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch clashed during Prime Minister's Questions on July 16, 2025, marking their final debate before Parliament's summer recess. The session was particularly crucial as it came in the wake of a scandal involving a superinjunction linked to a major data breach that implicated the Ministry of Defence. This breach threatened the lives of nearly 100,000 Afghan individuals who sought asylum in the UK, leading to an unprecedented humanitarian effort amidst fears of Taliban reprisals. Badenoch, the Tory leader, faced the daunting task of trying to hold Starmer accountable for Labour's record, which has been critiqued for its missteps in governance during its first year. While she attempted to probe Starmer with questions about tax policies and alternatives to proposed tax rises, her queries often fell flat, and Starmer managed to fend off her challenges with relative ease. Although Badenoch managed to highlight points around the taxing of pension contributions and the concept of modest incomes, her overall performance failed to substantially undermine Starmer's confidence or paint the government’s record in a troubled light. As the session proceeded, topics like immigration policies and the recent agreement with France on a migrant deal surfaced, complementing the economic discourse that seemed to dominate the energy of the questioning. Despite the background of rising inflation, where prices unexpectedly climbed to 3.6% in June, Badenoch struggled to articulate a clear alternative for addressing the economic challenges presented to the government and the public. This lack of clarity left room for Starmer to successfully challenge her assertions, as they both traded points on their respective parties' approaches to tax and spending. Ultimately, the exchange highlighted the challenges Badenoch continues to face: her party's previous governance that contributed to the current economic condition and her inability to propose viable alternatives to Labour's strategies. Despite being under significant pressure, Starmer appeared somewhat buoyant, which could suggest he is confident in the Labour Party's trajectory and its handling of various issues, including the ongoing economic crisis. The session concluded without a decisive win for Badenoch, and the tone from both parties hinted at the intense debates that are likely to resurface when Parliament reconvenes in September.