On Day 1, PM Sunak quizzed on home secy pick, wife's wealth

Labour Chief Alleges Braverman Reappointed As A Quid Pro Quo For Her Support In Leadership Contest

- Naomi Canton

It was like a wrestling ring when PM Rishi Sunak faced off against Sir Keir Starmer in his first-ever PMQs on Wednesday. The Opposition had a series of blows ready, from the existence of non-dom status to Sunak's wealth to the reappointment of the home secretary, Suella Braverman. But Sunak was well prepared and gave back as good as he got. His first PMQs began to loud cheers and banging of furniture by the Tories, which led the Speaker to intervene and say, "Don't damage the furniture, cheer him by all means..."

Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour party, began by saying: "The first British Asian PM is a significant moment in our national story and it is a reminder that for all the challenges we face as a country, Britain is a place where people of all races and beliefs can fulfill their dreams. That is not true in every country." Then his tone changed and he asked angrily: "Was his home secretary right to resign last week for a breach of security?" He then suggested that Sunak reappointed Braverman as home secretary as a quid pro quo for her support in his leadership contest to fend off a challenge from a former PM, Boris Johnson. "He's so weak he's done a grubby deal, threatening national security, because he was scared to lose another leadership election," Starmer said, adding that it showed that the governing Conservatives put "party first, country second." Sunak then asked why Starmer supported Jeremy Corbyn a few years ago if he put country first. This sparked huge cheers from the Tory backbenches.