What's happened
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer challenges Prime Minister Rishi Sunak over the Tories' handling of national insurance, criminal justice, borders, and the NHS, while Jeremy Hunt admits that scrapping national insurance contributions will not happen in the next parliament.
Why it matters
The clash between Labour and the Tories over national insurance and election timing highlights key policy differences and accountability issues, impacting the upcoming election narrative and public perception of the parties' competence.
What the papers say
The Independent reports on Sir Keir Starmer's challenge to Rishi Sunak during PMQs, highlighting Labour's accusations against the Tories. The Mirror covers Rishi Sunak's refusal to rule out cuts to pensions and the NHS to fund the national insurance plan. BBC News and The Guardian provide insights into Jeremy Hunt's admission that scrapping national insurance will take time and economic growth.
How we got here
The debate over national insurance stems from Chancellor Jeremy Hunt's proposal to eventually abolish the tax, with Labour criticizing the plan as unfunded and potentially harmful to public services. The issue has become a focal point in the political discourse leading up to the general election.
Common question
More on these topics
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Jeremy Richard Streynsham Hunt is a British politician serving as Member of Parliament for South West Surrey since 2005. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet from 2010 to 2019, most recently as Foreign Secretary from 2018 to 2019.
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Rishi Sunak is a British politician who has served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party since 2022.
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National Insurance is a fundamental component of the welfare state in the United Kingdom. It acts as a form of social security, since payment of NI contributions establishes entitlement to certain state benefits for workers and their families.
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The National Health Service is the publicly funded healthcare system in England, and one of the four National Health Service systems in the United Kingdom.
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The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom that has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists.
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Sir Keir Rodney Starmer KCB QC MP is a British politician and former lawyer who has served as Leader of the Labour Party and Leader of the Opposition since 2020. He has been Member of Parliament for Holborn and St Pancras since 2015.
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Elizabeth Mary Truss, known as Liz Truss, is a British politician serving as Secretary of State for International Trade and President of the Board of Trade since July 2019 and Minister for Women and Equalities since September 2019.
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Prime Minister's Questions is a constitutional convention in the United Kingdom, currently held as a single session every Wednesday at noon when the House of Commons is sitting, during which the Prime Minister answers questions from Members of Parliament.