KEMI Badenoch has unleashed a blistering attack on “clueless” Sir Keir Starmer – accusing him of racking up endless U-turns and leaving the country governed by confusion.
The Tory leader welcomed the Prime Minister’s latest climbdown on digital ID, arguing it was a “rubbish policy” and Britain is better off seeing the back of it.
Her attack at PMQs came a day after the government abandoned plans to force workers to use a single digital ID card.
The PM had vowed it would be compulsory only a few months ago but today told the Commons: “I am determined to make it harder for people to work illegally in this country, and that’s why there will be checks.
“They will be digital, and they will be mandatory.”
The change in position marks the 13th U-turn from Labour.
Seizing on the chaos, Ms Badenoch said Labour MPs were being forced to defend policies they know will not last.
She said: “This Prime Minister treats his MPs so badly they follow his lead and he hangs them out to dry every time.”
The Tory leader added: “The reason he U turns all the time is because he is clueless.
“He is blowing around like a plastic bag in the wind, no sense of direction whatsoever.”
Defending the policy reversals, the PM hit back: “She talks about U-turns and consistency.
“From the party that used to recognize the challenge of climate change, and now they run from it, who promised to cut immigration, but then lost control of it, who once took great pride in our diversity.
“Now they talk of deporting our neighbours to achieve cultural coherence.
“On consistency, don’t get me started on five prime ministers, six chancellors, eight home secretaries, 16 housing ministers.
“They had more positions in 14 years than the Karma Sutra. No wonder they’re knackered and they left the country screwed.”
Labour’s U-turn List
WHAT has Labour U-turned on?
• Business rates: Backtracked on higher rates for pubs
• Family farms tax: Softened the inheritance tax raid on farmers
• Workers’ rights: Dropped day-one protection from unfair dismissal
• Benefits: Scrapped the two-child benefit cap
• Income tax: Shelved plans to raise the main rate
• Welfare reform: Abandoned planned changes
• Grooming gangs: Agreed to a national inquiry after resisting calls
• National Insurance : Hiked contributions for employers after earlier assurances
• Winter fuel: Reinstated payments for millions of pensioners
• Trans policy: Dropped the claim that trans women are women
• Schools: Watered down plans to curb academy freedoms
• Pensions: Dropped a pledge to act for women who lost pension cash
• Digital ID: Abandoned plans to make it compulsory for workers
Total: 13
