Sunak defends government's record on China and terrorism
Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has fiercely defended the government's stance on China and terrorism amidst a wave of national security controversies. During Prime Minister's Questions, Sunak described the case of terrorist escapee Daniel Khalife as "extremely rare". He also emphasized the government's commitment to addressing the challenges posed by China, despite recent allegations of a senior Tory researcher spying for the communist state.
Sir Keir Starmer criticizes Sunak as "inaction man"
Opposition leader Sir Keir Starmer, however, vehemently criticized the Prime Minister, labeling him as "inaction man". Starmer accused the government of presiding over chaos in the criminal justice system and cited instances of probation failures leading to a murder. He also highlighted the severe conditions in Wandsworth prison, stating that it should be shut down according to the Chief Inspector of Prisons.
Sunak hits back at opposition's claims
Rishi Sunak pushed back against Sir Keir's accusations by pointing out that prison escapes were ten times higher under the previous Labour government compared to the Conservatives. He highlighted the government's efforts in addressing staffing shortages in prisons, increasing prison officer numbers by 4,000, and enhancing prison security with measures such as X-ray body scanners. Sunak also challenged Starmer's record, reminding him of his time in Jeremy Corbyn's shadow cabinet where the Labour leader held controversial views on the military, Trident, and NATO.
Call for audit of UK-China relations
In addition to his criticism of Sunak's record, Sir Keir Starmer called for a "full audit of UK-China relations". This request comes amid rising tensions between the two countries and concerns about potential national security risks.
The exchange between Sunak and Starmer highlights the ongoing debate over the government's approach to national security and its relationship with China, as well as the opposition's attempt to hold the government accountable for perceived failures in the criminal justice system.
