In this week's Prime Minister's Questions, Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch delivered a performance that was, by all accounts, graceless and ineffective, while Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer maintained a composed and authoritative stance. The session, held on Wednesday, 24 June 2026, saw Badenoch attempt to land blows on Starmer over government policy, but her attacks fell flat.
Badenoch's Aggressive Start
Badenoch began PMQs with a series of pointed questions about the government's economic record, accusing Starmer of failing to deliver on promises. However, her tone was described as overly aggressive and lacking the finesse needed to unsettle the Prime Minister. Starmer, in response, calmly cited statistics showing unemployment at a historic low of 3.8% and inflation steady at 2.1%, according to the Office for National Statistics.
The Conservative leader then pivoted to immigration, claiming the government had lost control of borders. Starmer retorted by highlighting the recent decrease in small boat crossings by 25% compared to the previous year, as reported by the Home Office. Badenoch's interruptions were met with dismissive waves from Starmer, who maintained his composure throughout.
Starmer's Commanding Response
Starmer used his time to contrast his government's achievements with the previous Conservative administration's record. He pointed out that under his leadership, NHS waiting lists had been cut by 10%, and child poverty had fallen by 5% due to targeted welfare reforms. Badenoch, visibly frustrated, struggled to counter these points.
According to parliamentary sketch writer John Crace, Badenoch's performance was "graceless" and lacked the strategic acumen needed to challenge a seasoned Prime Minister. Crace noted that Badenoch's attempts to provoke Starmer only served to highlight her own inexperience. The session ended with Badenoch's questions going largely unanswered, as Starmer deftly turned each query into a platform for his government's successes.
Reactions and Analysis
Political commentators observed that Badenoch's approach may have further damaged her standing within her own party, as some Conservative MPs expressed dissatisfaction with her performance. One anonymous Conservative MP told the BBC, "We need a leader who can go toe-to-toe with Starmer, not one who gets brushed aside so easily." Starmer, meanwhile, left the chamber with increased confidence, having reinforced his image as a steady hand.
The sketch highlights the growing disparity between the two leaders, with Starmer appearing more prime ministerial than ever. As the next general election approaches, Badenoch will need to recalibrate her strategy if she hopes to challenge Starmer effectively.
