Starmer and Sunak clash over winter fuel allowance as PM says Oasis ticket price hikes ‘depressing’ – UK politics live

Leader of the opposition Rishi Sunak paid tribute to the “strength and patience” of Grenfell Tower survivors, some of whom were in the House of Commons public gallery.

Responding to the Prime Minister’s statement, the Tory leader said: “It is not hyperbole to say that we would not be here today without them.

“It was their tenacity and strength that brought the truth to light and for that, they deserve our thanks.

“Their search for truth and justice is a noble one, and for that, they have our full support.”

Sir Keir Starmer suggested it was “great” that Oasis are back together, but criticised the “depressing” ticket price hike for their reunion tour.

Fans were left shocked by standard tickets more than doubling from £148 to £355 on Ticketmaster over the weekend, prompting the government to pledge to look into the use of dynamic pricing in its forthcoming review of the secondary gig sales market.

“It’s great that Oasis are back together, from what I’ve determined, about half of the country were queuing for tickets over the weekend,” Sir Keir said.

“But it is depressing to hear of price hikes, I’m committed to putting fans at the heart of music.”

Sir Keir Starmer said: “I want to start with an apology on behalf of the British State to each and every one of you and, indeed, to all of the families affected by this tragedy. It should never have happened.

“The country failed to discharge its most fundamental duty to protect you and your loved ones. The people that we are here to serve. And I am deeply sorry.”

Sir Keir also said: “Sir Martin (Moore-Bick) concluded this morning, and I’m afraid there’s no way of repeating this that won’t be painful, he said the simple truth is that the deaths that occurred were all avoidable. That those who lived in the tower were badly failed over a number of years and in a number of different ways, by, as the report lays out in full, just about every institution responsible for ensuring their safety.

“In the face of an injustice so painful, so deserving of anger, words can begin to lose their meaning.

“Seven years still waiting for the justice that you deserve, I want to say very clearly, on behalf of the country, you have been let down so badly before, during and in the aftermath of this tragedy, and while Sir Martin sets out a catalogue of appalling industry failures for which there must now be full accountability, he also finds, and I quote, decades of failure by central government.”

PMQs has now stopped and the prime minister is now delivering a statement on the final report into the Grenfell tragedy.

Labour MP Emma Foody has raised a question about Oasis tickets being sold at a significant mark up and what the government will do about it

The prime minister said he was glad the band is back together but found the stories of price hikes “depressing”. He said the government is reviewing what can be done to stop this.

Analysis of PMQs from our political editor David Maddox

Rishi Sunak may be about to become yesterday’s man or arguably already is but there is still something for him to fight for in PMQs today.

While the former prime minister may be tackling sir Keir Starmer on the winter fuel payments being removed from many pensioners in favour of bumper pay rises train drivers earning more than £60,000 was an obvious line, there was something more to his attack.

When Mr Sunak called an early election he did so because he believed the data proved that he had fixed the economy following the impact of the pandemic and lockdown, the war in Ukraine and the cost of living inflation crisis.

Since winning power Starmer and his chancellor Rachel Reeves have been taking this “achievement” apart with their claims of a £22 billion black hole.

For a man who has led the Tories to the worst defeat in their 346-year history, Mr Sunak has little to grasp hold of in terms of legacy especially as he failed to get any flights to Rwanda off the ground or got his party back in order.

Sunak is not just fighting for pensioners but his place in the footnotes of history books written about this extraordinary period in British history.

Next, Mr Sunak brings up Labour’s decision to suspend the export of some arms to Israel and how it would help the release of hostages in Gaza.

The prime minister said the decision was a “legal decision not a political decision” and said the UK needed to comply with international law.

Mr Sunak asks Mr Starmer to reassure Israel that we are still allies. Mr Starmer responds that Israel has his support.

Mr Sunak retorts that his government delivered lower inflation and the quickest economic growth out of any of the G7. Mr Starmer reiterates that they’ve had to make the “tough decisions” on the economy due to the inheritance they have received.

Prime minister Sir Keir Starmer has defended his party’s decision to cut winter fuel payments as necessary to “stabilise the economy”.

Rishi Sunak said: “Government is about making choices, and the new Prime Minister has made a choice.

“(Sir Keir) has chosen to take the winter fuel allowance away from low-income pensioners and give that money to certain unionised workforces in inflation-busting pay rises.

“So can I just ask the Prime Minister, why did he choose train drivers over Britain’s vulnerable pensioners?”

Sir Keir replied: “This Government was elected to clear up the mess left by the party opposite, to bring about the change that the country desperately needs. Our first job was to audit the books, and what we found was a £22 billion black hole.”

He added: “So we’ve had to take tough decisions to stabilise the economy and repair the damage, including targeting winter fuel payments whilst protecting pensioners – 800,000 pensioners are not taking up pension credit.

“We intend to turn that around. We’re going to align housing benefit and pension credit, something the previous government deferred year after year after year.”