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cable satellite corp. 2024] announcer: next british prime minister keir starmer comments on the fall of the assad regime in syria. the prime minister also responds to questions on the humanitarian crisis in gaza and increase funding for the national health system.

>> after 14 years of conservative austerity can the prime minister confirm the spending review will not end but unwind austerity and provide resources needed to support our communities? >> i join him and thinking tribute to the mayor and all of the residents across the country could do a fantastic job under

the last 14 years of the tory government. we are boosting government by 4 billion pounds, investing 1.6 billion to improve roads, and i am proud to see the work on the carbon capture which will create 2000 new jobs. >> the opposition. >> mr. speaker, last week the prime minister did not want to seem to talk about appointing forces to his cabinet. he seemed to want to talk about immigration, so let's talk about immigration. he has a relaunch it again many new targets, five missions, but why was cutting immigration not a priority? p.m. starmer: last week she said she did not and for good reason. the previous government presented of a record high levels of immigration.

nearly one million on net migration. that is unprecedented. and she was the champion. she stood up and praised then tory secretary, so she was applauding it. now she is furious about what she was campaigning for. we will drive this down. we will drive lawful migration and drive down unlawful migration. >> she went to the one campaigning for free movement. i was in this house asking for lids unskilled migration. he was there supporting all of the people who should not have been in this country. he wanted us to relax immigration. as he is so keen to talk about the past, let's look at his record. four years ago the prime minister signed a letter demanding that foreign criminals be allowed to stay in britain. dozens of labour and liberal

party mps find these letters insisting that rapist and murderer be allowed to say here. one of those criminals has 17 convictions. after his deportation was blocked, les -- elias went on to murder someone. he was able to stay here and murder because people like this man campaigned against deporting criminals. will he apologized for signing these letters? p.m. starmer: mr. speaker, i remind her that under their watch of migrants coming into this country nearly one million is over four times the number one we were in the eu. they lost control of the border. the example is a failure under her government to take necessary measures to keep our country safe. >> mr. speaker, this is a

ludicrous assertion. he is the one who was repeatedly sending letters. he even offered support for deportation. he does not want to talk about his past, but that letter is the tip of the iceberg. there is more. the prime minister complained that the immigration system was working to deter migrants rather than provide support. she said he was proud to have served. he boasted that he took the last labor government to court for cutting benefits for asylum-seekers. he said he would never set a target based approach to immigration. let's talk about his record. we can talk about it all day. i have committed -- mr. speaker, if the prime minister says he wants to talk about immigration, i have

committed to it cap on migration. why won't he? p.m. starmer: she talks about my record. after five years or prosecuting people who went to prison, so while she was talking i was doing the hard job of convicting those who should be in prison. but she presided over record numbers of asylum-seekers in this country, a record number of level and irregular migrants. they said it cap for those 14 years. it did not stop people coming and it got a record number. they should apologize for what they have done with their open border policy. >> mr. speaker, he did not answer a single -- >> do you want to leave? if you have not got the guts to stand up to comments to should not be here. >> she never answers questions.

she went to talk about the past. he will never take responsibility. she will never take responsibility. the fact is -- since he came into government, boat arrivals have increased by nearly 20%. his own mps are complaining about having to house asylum-seekers, so can the prime minister attal the house how much more his government will spend on hotel accommodations because he scrapped the deterrence? p.m. starmer: mr. speaker, i would invite us to talk about what is going on with the less government, but it would take us all afternoon. we are going to smash of gangs running this trade. we signed a landmark agreement with germany this week. >> order.

mr. dole, you have been very loud. i think we are going to have a little bit of silence from you. p.m. starmer: this week we signed a landmark agreement with germany. she should be welcoming that because we could take enforcement action across the continent where it is needed. we set up security command. we are expending the powers and counterterrorism powers. we resigned 9400 people who should not be here. they talked about getting the flights. they did not succeed. we got the flights gone. >> mr. speaker, he says he wants to smash the gangs. the only think he has smashed his his own reputation. the fact is what he has been agreeing is not going to do anything. the cost is half a million pounds. that won't even buy a house and his constituency. many of the things he is taking

credit for our our agreements. the prime minister promised to end silent. she has the prime minister now. keep promise -- he promised. kids government is expanding the use of us on the motels because his government disarmed deterrence. in fact, a man who arrived by small boat seemed happy that labour party were in power. that man said the conservatives want to deport us, but the labour party are making procedures easier for us. p.m. starmer: mr. speaker, i really thought she would welcome the deal. she should also welcome the german deal we did this week. many of the votes of that are finding their way -- many of the boats that are finding their way from the channel are from germany. she should spend more time

researching that than her terrible jokes. she would know about it. we have taken enforcement action in germany to stop those folks from getting to the coast. that is effective action. she should welcome it. why does she think it is a bad thing? >> because the numbers are going up, mr. speaker. the prime minister has consistently backed criminals over law-abiding british people. he defended terrorists. he argued all immigration laws have a racist undercurrent. he voted against life sentences for people smugglers. he voted against more than 100 and measures to control migration. he even said it was wrong. he even said that it was wrong and the conservatives took away someone's citizenship. now he has appointed her defense lawyer as his attorney general.

mr. speaker, events in syria means we will see small boat arrivals. will he strip citizenship from jihadi terrorists who want to destroy this country. p.m. starmer: mr. speaker, i was director of public prosecution for five years. unlike anyone on their benches i was prosecuting for five years. i was working for three of those five years with that then home secretary theresa may who commended the work that i did at the end of those five years, i dedicated five meters -- because of my life locking up criminals. it would be easier to take the opposition seriously if they got this. a sliver of remorse for their constituents. it is like complaining about the

people trying to put the fire out, but all they do is come every week with more and more complaints. to get their hands on the people that are clearing up the mess. we are taking down the waiting list. that is what people voted for and we are delivering it. >> mr. speaker, in the last couple of months since i spoke to the prime minister here about the needs of social and industrial investment in cornwall, we have had a huge boost to international interest in clean and history -- clean energy industries. both epn -- will the pm join to meet with the industry first and to help britain become a clean energy superpower? p.m. starmer: mr. speaker, i think my

honorable friend. he is a champion of the extraordinary potential of cornwall, particularly clean energy aspirations by 2030. next week we will publish a paper sitting out our ambitions to move energy transitions from westminster to all parts of england. >> liberal democrats. >> thank you, mr. speaker. while they are rejoicing over the brutal overthrow of the assad regime, people around the world are worried about what comes next as the prime minister said, with the threats of extremism, isis terrorism and unsecured chemical weapons. only an open political process can bring peace and stability, but that will require the full backing of the international duty. does the prime minister share my concern that president-elect

trump said about trang, and i quote, the united states should have nothing to do with it. if america walks away and steps away, will he step up and work with other allies to provide british leadership over syria? >> prime minister. p.m. starmer: he is right. it is a serious moment. we all welcome the fall of assad , but i hope this can be a turning point for syria. that is by no means guaranteed, and that is what we have been speaking intently and intensely with our allies in the region and across the globe about how we ensure that this is peaceful. it is political, this rejection of terrorism and of violence. this could be a turning point, in the past we have always thought what comes next is necessarily better. that is why we are working so hard and showing leadership that

we expect from this government. >> i hope we can continue to work on across party basis to do britain's role in securing peace and stability in the middle east. moving onto to another subject, mr. speaker, british farmers are the best in the world. they are the best in the world because of our tradition of family farms, where from generation to generation a commitment to high quality food, to our precious environment is passed down. but the family farms were let done badly by the less conservative government. with their boss transition to new payment schemes and unfair trade agreements with australia at undercut british farmers, now many family farms feel the government's budget will be the final blow. so will the prime minister change course and recognize the

vital role that british family farms play? >> prime minister. p.m. starmer: as you know we put 5 billion pounds into forming over the next two years. that is a record number under the budget. last week alone 350 million pounds to support farmers in the united kingdom. in contrast to the last one. in relation to inheritance, and a typical family case of the threshold is 3 million pounds, and therefore the vast majority of farmers will be unaffected despite the fear mongering of the party opposite. >> mr. speaker, places of worship are vitally important and not just for practicing local faith but for heritage. it currently provides much-needed tax relief for buildings in need of renovation, but it is scheduled to end next year.

what assurances can the prime minister provide my constituents that the government will continue restoring our much cherished spaces of worship? p.m. starmer: i thank you for that question and recognize the important role that these buildings play. particularly at the time like christmas. there are a wide range of funds available for maintenance of the restoration, including the national lottery heritage funds places of worship schemes. details will be confirmed by departments at the spending review. >> mr. speaker, last week someone who served as a doctor and a classroom received the news they had been dreading. her mother and brother were among 23 killed in a tent among any israeli airstrike, and other family members are fighting for their lives in a barely functioning health system. the crisis in gaza is getting

worse and not better. none of us in this chamber can end their nightmare, but we can do more, and this government has rightly used every tool at their disposal, sanctions on arms and trades against vladimir putin's russia. when will israel be held to the same standards of genocide and when will the government confirm further sanctions, recognize the state of palestine and offers some sensitive leak of thousands of many millions watching on in horror? p.m. starmer: can i start by saying i am sorry to hear of the dreadful loss of the family of one of her constituents. that there are far too many examples like that. i was pleased to see there is now a cease-fire in lebanon. we desperately need that now in gaza. there are intense talks going on at the moment as she knows. that would provide the space for the hostages to be allowed out. they have been there for a very,

very long time. desperately needed aid to go in at speed and scale, but also the potential for pathway to a two state solution, which i believe is the only peaceful way to resolve this ongoing conflict. >> katrina murray. >> my constituents are experiencing a housing emergency. not just the families, but for those fleeing domestic abuse. does the prime minister agree with me that scottish government should be prioritizing housing, but also the funding of local authorities to address this crisis? >> prime minister. p.m. starmer: thank you for raising this, because in scotland to a whole, homelessness is at record numbers. this budget was the biggest settlement for scotland since the evolution.

they have got the power, they have got the money. what they have not got is any more excuses. >> the people of storm very have been promised -- for more than 20 years. it is a great relief to residents without the minister -- we are months away from seeing the final plan signed off. what assurances can do prime minister give me and are constituency that this is not just another hollow promise and the proposals will be approved swiftly? p.m. starmer: thank you for raising that, and it is a cause of concern for her constituents. we are determined to fix the broken nhs we inherited from the party opposite. we set out a plan for change last week. nhs england and the local care board of working together to deliver for patients in her

constituency. it is important we go through the proper business case as part of this rebuild, but i can make sure she gets meeting with the relevant ministers on behalf of her constituents. >> following years of intense cost of their funding, they have recently made a number of redundancies. it is hugely important to our communities and i pay tribute to their work. in the prime minister join me in thanking the work of saint catherine? p.m. starmer: i will join him and recognize the vital role hospitals play in providing support for people at the end of their lives. most received funding by providing nhs services and funding will be provided in the usual way. >> mr. speaker, losing a farm is

not like losing any other business. it is hard to come back. those are the words to the prime minister. which is what he said to the nsu in order to get his votes. again department is to understand why farmers are around the country now think that his administration is duplicitous? p.m. starmer: mr. speaker, i think everybody welcomes the 5 billion pounds over the next two years we put in the budget. the range of 50 million pounds in the last week -- 350 million pounds in the last week alone compared to that less government. the threshold is 3 million pounds, and that means that the vast majority of farmers will be unaffected. >> 14 years of the party opposite [indiscernible]

my constituents were shocked when the council proposed a closure. can the prime minister [indiscernible] and say what can be done to save our museum and together? p.m. starmer: the leader of the opposition said they were coming to terms with the failure, so i am struggling. i understand the huge loss to his constituency. they were at the front lines of the less government's ruin and economic figure. we have announced more than 4 million pounds. we will continue to do so and i will make sure he gets a meeting with the relevant minister. >> these last months of shown whichever party continues to target weakness in society and the target -- scottish government will continue to protect them.

while the labour party continues its benefit got from the conservatives, they said they are abolishing it. while the prime minister picks winter fuel allowances, john sweeney was reinstated. mr. speaker, given support for the labour party is plummeting and the word for scottish independence is once again leading into the fold, who does the prime minister leave makes the best decisions for scotland? p.m. starmer: those who were elected in a general election on the fourth of july sitting here. >> in centuries past, those that converse on the center of carlisle avenue made the city highly defensible against invading armies. in 1985, 2005 and 2018 those same rivers overpowered the city, leaving thousands

devastated by flooding. what assurances can the prime minister give my constituents that the flood defenses about the conservatives promised but failed to deliver will be completed under this government? p.m. starmer: can i start by wishing her a happy birthday? she raises a really important matter for our constituents. the most appalling flooding too many times and left in a state of absolute disrepair. we are investing 2.4 million pounds this year i did the environment agency currently studying options to improve protections in carlisle and i will make sure she gets a meeting to discuss specific options. >> in recent weeks of former head has warned that conflict between russia and the west is no longer coming. it has already come. with russia set to spend more than 3% on its military this

year, it will department us to recognize the urgency of the situation and commit to spending 2.5% of gdp on defense without further delay? p.m. starmer: she is right about the importance of national security, particularly at the moment. but the budget we delivered, 2.9 million pound increase in the budget. i was pleased to deliver the largest pay rise for our armed forces in 22 years. that target was met under the last labour government. it was not meant once in the 14 years they were in power. >> greg mcanally. >> mr. speaker, in october 2003 my can received a shattering news that 43 he had a neuron disease. since then he has done incredible work to raise

awareness of the condition. mark will speak to mps later. lead limit into recognizing mark and the work of his foundation and commit the government to do all we can to support efforts to find a cure for this devastating disease? p.m. starmer: i think my honorable friend for raising this. he mentioned it to me that i pay tribute to mark in the gallery and the work of his foundation. this diagnosis can so obviously be absolutely devastating. it is a testament to his bravery and compassion that he is raising awareness of the condition. i think many of us would question whether we are capable of doing what he is doing given the diagnosis he has had. i pay tribute to the inspirational cabins winfield --

kevin swinfield. >> ron cornelius has been detained in dubai for 17 years. he was received in a very un-judicious process. the prime minister has been to the uae. i went to as the prime minister weather when he went there did he now demand ron cornelius was free to given that the united nations came to the notion that his detention was arbitrary and in violation of international law, and following that when he makes engines deliverable on those responsible? p.m. starmer: this is an important case, and it has been raised by the government a number of times, including by the foreign secretary. it is a serious case and we will

continue to press for the alcon i know he and his family desperately want. >> stellantis could not invest for more from the workers, like every generation of worker, they meet every target said. they make every innovation demanded of them. they never give up. contrast this with the ceo who gave up a decision and looted quick. does the promise or agree stellantis should review the decision, do what is right and stay put for good until any alternative is found? p.m. starmer: i think her for raising it. it is obviously an issue of great concern to her constituents, and the government is totally committed to supporting the workers and their families at this uncertain time, and the industry minister will

meet the company this week to do sure -- to ensure they will continue to do so. >> otherwise known as an ocean ordinance will be across the atlantic next year. the task of raising 50,000 pounds. they are struggling with rising costs and planned increase in national insurance. will promised her join with me in wishing ben and henry the best of luck on their journey? p.m. starmer: a tribute to ben and henry and everyone supporting their campaign. it is important to receive the funding arrangements before they set out the full course. >> for retail workers come the busy christmas season is overshadowed by shoplifting which a later survey identified

threats and assaults. we welcome the government's commitment to cutting down on low level shoplifting and cutting down on repeat offenders. what more can the government do to support a retail workers during their critical holiday season? p.m. starmer: i think her for raising this. i am very concerned about shoplifting, and because the approach taken by the previous government it went out of control. it is not low-level. it has a particular impact on supermarkets, and that is why we are dedicating funding to train the police and retailers and supporting endless teams to track down all of the gangs targeting retailers. >> thank you very much, mr. speaker. in the last few weeks of the less government we awarded millions of pounds to remove train stations in my constituency.

in the first two weeks of that government -- this government that was scribed. will department is to give my constituents an early christmas present and give us our money back? p.m. starmer: i am grateful for him, because this is an important issue. the problem is the less government made lots of promises but never set aside the money. they made promises in relation to affected floods. they did not put aside the money to pay for it. we have had to inherit that, to clean it up. we will get on with delivery, but we had to balance the budget and stabilize the economy first. >> mr. speaker, this past weekend one of my market towns faced a devastating fire resulting in loss. the center was closed and many local businesses have been affected.

sunday was meant to be a day of celebration with christmas markets and community events, and instead the town faced a tragedy. can the prime minister tell me how the government will support communities to rebuild and recover after tragedies like this? p.m. starmer: i am grateful for for raising this awful situation and i can only imagine the impact this must've had on the town and the friends and families and the victims of this helpful strategy -- tragedy, and i commend the community which is come together in an extra ordinary way after this. i will make sure she has a meeting with the government. >> this week i was contacted by my constituents. she has called 999 on monday for a critically ill patient to try to get an ambulance but could

not because there were all stuck outside waiting to unload their patients. at the same time we know that across the country medically for patients are unable to be discharged because of the social care crisis, so can i ask the prime minister what is he doing to fix social care so that ambulances can get back to saving lives? p.m. starmer: i think her -- tha nk her for raising this case, and it is an example all too common because the less government broke the nhs. you should see the report republished on the state. they should be utterly ashamed of themselves. she raises a really important point. that is what we have got a record 25 billion pounds for nhs and set up our priorities what we need to do at the nhs.

she gets right to raise it. they should hang their heads in shame. >> that is prime minister's questions. >> are you a nonfiction book club are looking for a new podcast? this holiday season try listening to one of the many podcasts that c-span has to offer. on q&a, you will hear about subjects that matter. learn something new on book notes plus. after words brings together best-selling nonfiction authors with influential interviewers for a wide-ranging conversation. and about >>, we talk about the business of books with news about the publishing industry.

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