Starmer faces Badenoch at year’s final PMQs amid doctors’ strikes – UK politics live

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Stephen Flynn, the SNP leader at Westminster, urges Starmer to enjoy his Christmas, because it will be his last in No 10.

Starmer says Scotland would be better of being led by Anas Sarwar, not by the SNP.

UK will transfer £2.5bn of Abramovich cash to Ukraine fund, Starmer says

Jessica Elgot has more details of the announcement from Starmer about £2.5bn being set aside from the sale of Chelsea FC for Ukrainian causes. She says:

The Russian billionaire sold Chelsea in 2022 under pressure from the British government after the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Abramovich was granted a licence from the UK government to sell Chelsea as long as the money was spent supporting the victims of the Ukraine war. The proceeds were placed in a UK bank account controlled by Abramovich’s company Fordstam.

Since then, the money has been frozen amid deadlock in negotiations with Abramovich over whether the money should be spent exclusively in Ukraine or whether it can go outside the country as well.

The government has promised to establish a foundation to disburse the money, headed by Mike Penrose, the former head of Unicef UK.

Ministers have stressed that they have tried for many years to agree terms with Abramovich and seek his cooperation in the transfer of the funds. Starmer said the government was prepared to take Abramovich to court in order to access the money.

And here is the story.

Ed Davey, the Lib Dem leader, asks the government to commit to a comprehensive strategy to protect Jewish people in Britain.

Starmer says up to £28m has been set aside to protect Jewish places. He is proud to do that, but sad that it is needed. The government is looking at giving the police new powers. And it is tackling antisemitism in the NHS.

Davey says the patients were facing a winter crisis before today’s strike. Patients are being left on trolleys. Some people have died on trolleys. Will the PM approve a mass vaccination programme to stop people going to hospital with flu, and will he address the care crisis.

Starmer says more than 17 million patients have been vaccinated this year. But he wants to drive that up.

Jessica Morden (Lab) asks for an update on Ukraine.

Starmer says he can announce that the government is issue a licence to transfer £2.5bn from the sale of Chelsea FC. He challenges Roman Abramovich to approve that, so the funds can be released for Ukraine, as originally promised.

Badenoch says Starmer is not going to ban strikes because he “doesn’t have the baubles”. She says the unions bought him, not just for Christmas, but for life.

All Labour MPs want for Christmas is a new leader.

Starmer says we have the Muppets Christmas carol here. And all the Reform UK MP Sarah Pochin wants is a “white Christmas”, he says.

Badenoch jokes about Labour MPs being banned from pubs.

She says the doctors have gone back on strike despite Labour giving them a pay rise. She urges the government to ban doctors from going on strike.

Starmer says the strike is dangerous and irresponsible.

More days were lost to strikes under the Tories than in any year since the 1980s.

Badenoch says the government is full of turkeys.

She asks Starmer to admit pubs will close because of the budget.

Starmer says the temporary business rates relief for hospitality was always going to end.

Badenoch says Starmer promised not to put up taxes for working people. Will he admit he did not keep that promise.

Starmer says he is proud of budget.

But Badenoch has broken her own record, he says. Last week 21 former Tory MPs had joined Reform UK. Now it is 22. He quotes a shadow minister says the shadow cabinet is full of “non-entitites”. “That’s you lot,” he tells them.

Badenoch says Starmer promised growth, but the only thing that has grown is the list of broken promises. Why has unemployment gone up?

Starmer says under the Tories it averaged 5.4% – higher than it is today.

Kemi Badenoch says, with reference to the Bondi beach attack, Islamic extremism is incompatible with British values. She says it must be driven out of the country.

She says Starmer has admitted he is not in control. He says nothing happens when he pulls the levers. Does he blame himself, or the levers?

Starmer says he is announcing the violence against women and girls plan, coming out tomorrow. That is one lever. Other levers are Ineos, Erasmus, the employment rights bill. He could go on, he says.

Melanie Ward (Lab) asks if the government will extend the scheme allowing students from Gaza to come to the UK.

Starmer says he wants this to continue.

Keir Starmer starts by saying antisemitism attacks, like the one at Bondi beach, “are not isolated”.

He says he held a Hanukah reception at No 10 yesterday. He will do everything to ensure Jewish communities are safe and secure.

He wishes the speaker, and everyone in the Commons, a happy Christmas.

And he says he has some advice for Reform UK.

If mysterious men from the east appear bearing gifts, this time report it to the police.

Nigel Farage says on social media he is boycotting PMQs again.

PMQs today will be rigged again by the Labour party. I will sit in the gallery.