Moment Rishi Sunak mocks Tory turncoat Dan Poulter by reading out defector's ... trends now
Rishi Sunak took aim at Tory defector Dan Poulter at Prime Minister's Questions today, reading out a recent attack he made on Labour as the former minister made his debut on the opposition benches.
Dr Poulter, who also works as an NHS medic, crossed the floor last week ahead of the local elections after 14 years as the Tory MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.
He used his defection to lash out at the government's handing of the health service. But he faced clapback from former colleagues who suggested he had been performing his role half-heartedly for some time.
After Sir Keir Starmer welcomed his new recruit, the Prime Minister was greeted with laughter and cheers when he responded: 'I'm glad to actually see (Dr Poulter).
'That's because he recently pointed out that residents of his local Labour council are, and I quote in his words, ''charged much more in council tax but in return receive lower quality services''.
'He's been wrong about some things recently but on that point, he's absolutely right and this week, people everywhere should vote Conservative.'
Dr Poulter, who also works as an NHS medic, crossed the floor last week ahead of the local elections after 14 years as the Tory MP for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich.
After Sir Keir Starmer welcomed his new recruit, the Prime Minister was greeted with laughter and cheers when he responded: 'I'm glad to actually see (Dr Poulter).
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer opened Prime Minister's Questions by welcoming Dr Poulter to the Labour benches.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer opened Prime Minister's Questions by welcoming Dr Poulter to the Labour benches.
The leader told the Commons: 'I'd also like to welcome the member for Central Suffolk and North Ipswich to these benches. After nearly two decades as a Tory politician, and an NHS doctor, he's concluded that if you care about the future of our country and our NHS that it's time for change. It's time for this changed Labour Party.
'As of today, he's our newest Labour MP, but I'm sure he won't mind me saying that I hope he loses that title on Friday [when the results of the Blackpool South by-election are revealed].
'When a lifelong Tory and doctor says that the only cure for the NHS is a Labour Government isn't the time the Prime Minister admits he has utterly failed?'
Rishi Sunak later used PMQs to insist the state pension would not be cut to fund his ambition to scrap national insurance contributions altogether.
The Prime Minister said Sir Keir Starmer should 'stop scaremongering' after the Labour leader repeatedly pressed for details on how the move would be funded.
In the spring Budget, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt announced a 2p cut in national insurance and outlined a
