Strikes UK – live: Sunak ‘pathetic’ in trying to shift blame as schools hit by walkout
Teachers, train drivers, civil servants and university staff among professions taking action
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Rishi Sunak faced a testing Prime Minister’s Question time against a backdrop of Britain’s biggest strike day in more than a decade.
Sir Keir Starmer said the prime minister was “pathetic” for trying to blame Labour for the mass walkouts.
He told MPs: “After 13 years in power, trying to blame the Labour Party for his failure to sort out the strikes is rank pathetic. The Tory Party’s addiction to sleaze and scandal has done huge damage to this country and the cost to the public keeps adding up.”
Mr Sunak replied: “He can’t stand up to his union bosses, he can’t stand up for Britain’s schoolchildren today and he can’t stand up for the women in his party.”
Teachers, train drivers, civil servants, university lecturers, bus drivers and security guards are among half a million workers walking out today, as union bosses accuse the government of frustrating efforts to reach compromise on pay deals.
Around 85 per cent of schools are either fully or partially closed by strike action today, while the bulk of Britain’s train network is offline.
Former Tory chair snipes at striking civil servants
Jake Berry, Tory MP and former chair of the party, took a dig at striking civil servants over their alleged tendency to work from home.
The former minister has previously remarked on the matter, in October 2021 telling civil servants to stop “woke-ing” from home, as he claimed government workers were firmly on one side of a so-called culture war.
Sunak ‘pathetic’ in blaming Labour for strikes
Sir Keir Starmer used his final remarks to accuse the Conservatives of having an “addiction to sleaze and scandal”.
He told MPs: “After 13 years in power, trying to blame the Labour Party for his failure to sort out the strikes is rank pathetic. The Tory Party’s addiction to sleaze and scandal has done huge damage to this country and the cost to the public keeps adding up.
“We’ve got a justice system letting murderers walk the street, heart attack victims waiting hours for an ambulance, an economy that is shrinking quicker than his leadership, and even I couldn’t quite believe it when I saw that his Government is expecting taxpayers to pay the legal fees for the member for Uxbridge (Boris Johnson) defending himself over his lockdown rule-breaking. A quarter of a million pounds.
“Surely even this prime minister can put his foot down, stand up to his old boss and tell him he made the mess, he can pick up the bill?”
Rishi Sunak replied: “He can’t stand up to his union bosses, he can’t stand up for Britain’s schoolchildren today and he can’t stand up for the women in his party.”
Striking teachers gather outside BBC
Thousands of teachers gathered outside Broadcasting House on Wednesday as they prepared to march to Westminster.
Teachers chanted “Hey, hey, Sunak, ooh ahh, I want to know if you’ll fund my school” to the tune of “Hey! Baby”. They also carried signs demanding the government “pay up”. Wimbledon primary school teachers Jess Olivares, 26, and Laura Mears, 29, were among those marching.
Ms Olivares said: “We’re here today because change really needs to happen, we need more funding in our schools. This is about our children and the future of our children.”
She said that children with special education needs were being affected by a lack of funding for schools.
Sunak ‘raised more questions than answered’ with Zahawi sacking
The prime minister “raised more questions than answers” when he announced Nadhim Zahawi would be sacked as Tory party chairman at the weekend, Sir Keir Starmer said.
The Labour leader said: “When the Prime Minster briefly emerged form his hibernation at the weekend he raised more questions than answers.
“So in the interest of integrity and accountability, can he set the record straight? Did his now former chair tell Government officials that he was under investigation by the taxman before or after the Prime Minister appointed him?”
Rishi Sunak replied: “I appointed the independent adviser to investigate this matter fully. He has set out his findings in detail over the weekend and on receipt of those findings I took action, and I would refer him to the independent adviser’s report.”
Both party leaders also paid tribute to Welsh First Minister Mark Drakeford, whose wife died at the weekend.
Keir Starmer grills Rishi Sunak on Nadhim Zahawi's tax scandal
Sunak just like Boris Johnson, says Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer compared Rishi Sunak to Boris Johnson, saying he treats questions about conduct as “something to brush off”.
“The Tory party’s addiction to sleaze and scandal has done huge damage to this country.
“Surely even this PM can put his foot down and stand up to his old boss, and say, ‘He made the mess he can pick up the bill’.”
‘I take action’ says Sunak
Responding to Sir Keir Starmer’s accusation that he did nothing about bullying claims against Dominic Raab, Rishi Sunak said:
“When I was made aware of formal complaints I appointed a leading KC to undertake an investigation because I take action when these things happen.”
What about Raab? – asks Starmer
Sir Keir Starmer has moved onto Dominic Raab, the justice secretary who faces several bullying claims.
The Labour leader said Rishi Sunak was “too weak to do anything about it”.
House of Commons hears The Independent’s Zahawi reports
MPs heard how The Independent broke news of Nadhim Zahawi’s tax affairs, starting a chain of events that would lead to his sacking as Tory chair last week.
At PMQs Sir Keir Starmer asked Rishi Sunak about his knowledge of the former minister’s trouble with HMRC.
“Mr Speaker, in The Independent sixth of July: ‘New Chancellor’s finances secretly investigated by the National Crime Agency’,” he said in reference to this paper’s first report on what would become a huge scandal.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments