PMQs - live: Sunak accused of playing games with people’s health as nurses’ strike looms
Prime minister and Labour leader square up in new Commons clash
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Your support makes all the difference.Rishi Sunak has been accused of “playing games with people’s health” as nurses prepare to go on strike tomorrow.
In the last Prime Minister’s Questions before Christmas, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the historic strike is “a badge of shame for this government”.
He said: “Instead of showing leadership, he is playing games with people’s health and there is a human cost.
“Alex from Chester has been waiting for a gallbladder operation for nearly six months, he is in so much pain he has been off school since then. His operation has already been cancelled twice. His mum, who I spoke to this morning, is worried sick, when she heard that strikes could be called off she was massively relieved.”
“All he needs to do is simply meet the nurses,” Sir Keir added.
Mr Sunak replied: “Now the honourable gentleman says to get round the table, but we all know what that means, that is just simply a political formula for avoiding taking a position on this issue.”
Nurses in England, Wales and Northern Ireland are due to begin strike action tomorrow in a row over pay after talks with the government broke down.
It comes as rail workers yesterday began their first 48-hour strike and Royal Mail staff started a national walkout on Wednesday, their third of six days in the run-up to Christmas.
We’re pausing our live politics updates for today.
Thanks for reading and join us again soon for all the latest updates in UK politics.
Have a good afternoon.
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live politics coverage.
We’ll be bringing you updates throughout the afternoon as Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer face off at PMQs.
Stayed tuned for all the action from the Commons clash.
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Starmer opens up with question about nurses strike
Starmer has used his first few questions to tackle Sunak on nursing strikes.
The Labour leader accuses PM of “playing games with people’s health”.
He says he’s not doing enough to prevent the walkouts.
‘Political formula'
After pressing Sunak on what he will do to avert the strikes, due to start tomorrow, the PM says getting around the table is a “political formula” for avoiding tough choices.
Sunak calls on Starmer to say if the strikes are wrong. He should say so if he thinks pay demands of 19 per cent are reasonable, Starmer adds.
He accuses Starmer of not being “strong enough” to stand up to unions.
‘Too weak to stand up to tax avoiders'
Sir Keir Starmer has accused Rishi Sunak of being “too weak to stand up to tax avoiders” as he criticised the prime minister for not negotiating pay with nurses on the eve of their historic strike.
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The influential Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) says its “best estimate” is that abolishing the measure would be worth around £3 billion a year.
But Mr Sunak has suggested the move could cost Britain money, by sending the mega-rich abroad.
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