PMQs: Keir Starmer wins despite all the drama

Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from the latest session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through.

What they sparred about: Workers’ rights and the economy. The Employment Rights Bill — unveiled Thursday — is a major part of Labour’s first-100-days agenda. Rishi Sunak (a former chancellor as well as an ex-prime minister, remember) probed Keir Starmer on the details of the big workers’ rights shake-up, plus multiple reports that the government is looking to rewrite the rules on state borrowing.

Shades of Gray: But before he got into the meat of it, Sunak wasn’t going to miss the opportunity to exploit Starmer’s massive Downing Street reset, fewer than 100 days into his administration. “When did the prime minister first become a convert to fire and rehire?” the outgoing Tory leader quipped with a reference to ex-Chief of Staff Sue Gray’s dramatic resignation this weekend. The PM ignored the charge, stressing he was proud of a bill that will give people “basic dignity at work.”

Open your wallets: Sunak tried to press the PM on whether the government’s election promise not to increase national insurance applied to employers as well as employees. Starmer didn’t really bite, quipping: “He of course was the experts’ expert on raising taxes.” You’ll note, however, that the PM didn’t rule out hiking national insurance for employers, only repeating his “absolute commitment in relation to not raising tax on working people.” Clear as mud.

Wahey! Sunak took an election pasting, but he’s clearly having fun in his final few weeks as leader of the opposition. “I don’t think even Lord Alli is buying any of that nonsense,” Sunak responded to one line, referencing the megabucks Labour donor who bought clothes and glasses for the PM.

Great debt: Sunak tried another tack. Will Chancellor Rachel Reeves, as has been reported, tweak the government’s debt target to allow for more investment. Sunak had the receipts, pointing out that Chancellor Rachel Reeves had once called a similar step “fiddling the figures.” Notably, Starmer didn’t rule out the reported change — and went back on the attack about the Tories’ economic record and elections rout.

Serious moment: Sunak did the serious thing again. He concluded by referencing warnings from MI5 boss Ken McCallum this week about multiple threats facing the U.K. from Iran, Russia and ISIS. He asked if the government will confirm the security services get “the power they need to tackle evolving threats.” Starmer responded in the affirmative. So that’s all fine then!

Falklands forever: The PM gave his clearest comments yet on the future status of the Falklands. Argentinian ministers have been quite excited after Britain handed over the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. But Starmer said: “My uncle nearly lost his life when his ship was torpedoed defending the Falklands. They are British and they will remain British.”

Helpful intervention of the week: Labour’s West Bromwich MP Sarah Coombes thanked the government for its work to help doctors and then asked Keir Starmer to detail all the help that government has provided. Scrutiny at its best!

Totally unscientific scores on the doors: Sunak had a good go on an area where’s he’s strong. But the PM just about got the edge by keeping schtum on the budget details and reminding the diminished team of Tory MPs about his landslide election victory — even with so many internal problems.

Starmer 7/10 … Sunak 6/10 …  Economic wonks desperate for the budget 100/10.