Keir Starmer has criticized the Conservative Party during Prime Minister’s Questions for attempting to advise the government on doctors’ strikes. The Prime Minister, engaging in a verbal exchange with Kemi Badenoch for the last time in 2025, condemned the five-day strike by NHS resident doctors as “irresponsible” and cautioned medical professionals against “abandoning patients.” Starmer rebuked the Tory leader, who proposed making NHS strikes illegal if they were in power, stating that he wouldn’t accept lectures from the Conservatives, given their past record of overseeing a high number of strike days.
During the session, the Prime Minister made a jest at the expense of Reform UK, mocking the party’s former leader in Wales for allegedly accepting Russian bribes. Starmer’s humorous quip advised Reform UK members to report any suspicious gift-bearing individuals from the East to the police. Starmer also took a dig at Nigel Farage, referring to him as the “member for Clacton relaxing in the lounge” and highlighting allegations of racism from Farage’s former classmates at Dulwich College.
The SNP leader, Stephen Flynn, extended Christmas wishes to the PM and inquired about his plans for the holiday season in Downing Street. Starmer responded by suggesting that Flynn should welcome investment into Grangemouth and criticized the SNP leader for not acknowledging it. Earlier, the government announced a £150 million support package to safeguard jobs at the Grangemouth ethylene plant.
Furthermore, Keir Starmer issued an ultimatum to Roman Abramovich, the former Chelsea owner, demanding £2.5 billion from the club’s sale to support Ukraine. The UK Government threatened legal action against Abramovich if he failed to fulfill his commitment to transfer the proceeds to the Ukrainian people.
The session also saw Kemi Badenoch urging the PM to ban doctors from striking, citing ongoing flu crises. However, Starmer dismissed the Tory criticism, pointing out that the Conservatives had a history of significant industrial action during their governance. Starmer condemned the resident doctors’ five-day walkout as irresponsible and emphasized the importance of not abandoning patients.
In a separate development, former Labour elected mayor Jamie Driscoll announced his decision to join the Green Party, citing dissatisfaction with British politics and the state of the country. The article also highlighted the election of Andrea Egan as Unison General Secretary, posing a challenge for Starmer due to her past expulsion from Labour and her pledge to review Unison’s ties with the party.
Moreover, the UK’s decision to rejoin the EU’s Erasmus student exchange program was noted as a positive development for young people post-Brexit. This move would enable British students to study at European universities again, benefiting over 100,000 individuals in the UK in the scheme’s first operational year.
Finally, thousands of resident doctors initiated a five-day strike after the British Medical Association rejected the latest government offer. This strike action, part of a prolonged dispute over pay and jobs, could result in up to half of England’s medical workforce ceasing work, impacting hospitals already dealing with a surge in flu cases.
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