The Conservatives have said Kemi Badenoch will not apologise for her language after a fiery Prime Minister’s Questions in which she repeatedly attacked government ministers.
During the Commons session, Badenoch said Labour MPs were cheering on Sir Keir Starmer despite there being “400 knives stuck in his back”, with Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle calling for a “little bit more decorum and respect”.
The Conservative leader also suggested many Labour MPs are “traitors and deserters” before branding Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson a “spiteful class warrior”.
Badenoch and Phillipson had a heated exchange in the moments after PMQs, and have since exchanged barbs on social media.
In the first Prime Minister’s Question session since Sir Keir Starmer announced his resignation, Badenoch said Labour MPs have “abandoned” him for a “pair of eyelashes and a black t-shirt” – a reference to leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham.
Sir Keir quit as Labour leader on Monday, paving the way for a new prime minister to replace him as early as next month.
Burnham, the new MP for Makerfield, is seen as the overwhelming favourite for the position.
Badenoch also accused Chancellor Rachel Reeves of “killing jobs” and Energy Secretary Ed Miliband of “killing industry”.
Sir Lindsay intervened to highlight the need to “think about the language” being used in the Commons, saying “when we leave this chamber, don’t be surprised when constituents feel they can use the same language”.
Asked if she would be apologising, a spokesman for Badenoch said “absolutely not”.
