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This week, mounting pressure from MPs forces the government to take a stand, pushing for Putin’s prosecution and the return of abducted Ukrainian children as part of a potential peace deal with Russia. Meanwhile, Tory opposition intensifies over the government’s economic strategy, setting the stage for debate ahead of this month’s anticipated spring statement.
Ukraine
The ongoing peace talks between Ukraine and Russia were discussed in this week’s PMQs. Liberal Democrat MP for Tunbridge Wells, Mike Martin, opened the questions by asking if “British peacekeeping troops will be deployed to Ukraine only if the peacekeeping deal includes both the return of Ukraine’s children and Putin’s prosecution?” The Prime Minister reassured him that these issues will be raised with their allies.
In 2023, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for President Putin for war crimes committed in Ukraine. Putin was charged with the “war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.” PM Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the decision when he was Leader of the Opposition.
A US-backed plan for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine was sent to Russia earlier this week. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the “ball was in [Russia’s] court”. Russia responded—but it did not accept the terms of the truce. President Putin said that he supported the deal but he thought that there were details to be revised: “We are in favour of it, but there are nuances.” In response, President Zelensky claimed that Russia was drawing out the ceasefire negotiations.
There is still wide support for the deal, especially among European leaders, but large-scale operations continue across the country, regardless of talks between the two sides.
Economy
Kemi Badenoch, Leader of the Opposition, attacked the government’s economic performance. Badenoch attacked Starmer’s “job tax,” claiming it caused increases in child care costs, council jobs, care home fees and food prices. The Prime Minister retorted: “Under the Tories, inflation was 11%, with a £22 billion black hole and a mini-Budget that made us the laughing stock of the world, and they want to give us lectures on the economy? No, thank you very much.”
The Tory leader cited potential job losses of 130,000 to 300,000 due to increases in employers’ national insurance contributions. It should be stressed that these are only possible losses which are warned by retail companies. Currently, unemployment has risen from 4.3% in August to 4.4% in December. Retail industries are profitable but operate on low profit margins, so they may be vulnerable to dramatic changes in their costs, such as changes to national insurance contributions.
The government is due to announce the spring statement on the 26th of March. The spring statement will be an update on the nation’s economic performance, but details aren’t known yet.
Edited by Elizabeth Strassheim
Image: House of Commons Chamber during PMQs, by House of Commons via Flickr // CC BY 2.0
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