Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of being more interested in “blaming others” rather than making any effort to resolve rail strikes, as the Labor leader has repeatedly criticized the prime minister for not doing his job.
Directly confronting the government’s attempts to portray Labor as complicit in railroad strikes over party ties, Starmer used the Prime Minister’s questions to portray Johnson as self-interested and passive.
While Johnson has repeatedly tried to condemn Starmer for not having the “courage” to prevent Labor MPs from supporting the RMT union and joining the picket lines in the first of three rail strikes scheduled for Tuesday, Starmer said it was a clear attempt to divert any responsibility.
“If it’s genuine about strike prevention, could the Prime Minister tell this House how many meetings he or his transport secretary have had with railroad workers this week to stop strikes?” Starmer asked.
After Johnson evaded the question, Starmer continued: “Here it is: the Prime Minister of this country and his Secretary of Transport have not attended any meeting, have not held a conversation or raised a finger to stop these vague “.
The Labor leader contrasted this with Johnson’s attendance at a Conservative fundraising dance on Monday night, at which dinner was auctioned off with the Prime Minister for £ 120,000.
“If there is money coming to him, he is there. If he benefits the country, he will not be seen anywhere. So instead of blaming everyone, why doesn’t he do his job, do the table and run the trains?” Starmer.
Johnson said: “As you know, it’s up to the railway companies to negotiate. That’s their job,” before reiterating his criticism of Labor MPs who support strikers.
Starmer replied, “It can’t be avoided. There’s a big problem in the country and all he wants to do is blame everyone. He can’t hear the country yelling at him, is he still working?
The Labor leader contrasted the government’s calls for workers’ restraint to seek wage increases with reports that Johnson personally pushed for changes to the rules that would allow UK bankers to get bigger bonuses.
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“Why is your government more focused on raising the salaries of bankers than the salaries of those who run the country?” Starmer asked.
In a sign of Labor confidence that he will win a by-election in Wakefield on Thursday, one of two seats the Conservatives could lose the same night, Starmer mocked the fact that the Conservative candidate for the West Yorkshire seat had clashed, as Johnson, a no. – vote of confidence of the companions, in this case like leader of the town hall.
“Does the Prime Minister have any personal interest in seeing if the public will vote for a Conservative who doesn’t even think his own side is up to the task?” Starmer asked.
Johnson replied: “The leader of the Labor Party has not even had the courage to speak out against the railway strikes.”