PMQs scorecard: Starmer attacks Sunak over the ‘Tory mortgage penalty’

Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from today’s session in POLITICO’s weekly run-through.

What they sparred about: Rising mortgage rates were the only game in town, as Labour’s Keir Starmer pressed Rishi Sunak on whether the U.K. is facing a “mortgage catastrophe” — and what he will do about it. Sunak argued the best way to support homeowners was to lower inflation, which remains stubbornly high.

You should expect to hear more about … the “Tory mortgage penalty.” Starmer has coined the term to directly connect Britain’s spiraling mortgage rates to the government.

Also expect to hear more about: Sunak’s wealth in the lead up to the next election. Starmer had a few swipes at the mega-rich PM, pointing to his property in California and use of a helicopter. It’s worth pointing out Starmer isn’t exactly on the breadline either.

Happy anniversary: It was left to the SNP’s Stephen Flynn and a few of his pro-Scottish independence lieutenants to mark the impending anniversary of the Brexit referendum, seven years ago Friday. Flynn asked Sunak to admit Brexit “broke the economy,” while the PM returned to his line that rising inflation and interest rates are a global phenomenon.

Helpful intervention I: Tory backbencher Philip Davies — last seen blasting Boris Johnson this time last week — moved away from mortgages by asking Sunak to ignore eco-activist Just Stop Oil protesters and commit to continuing oil and gas production in the U.K., a key dividing line between Labour and the Tories which the latter hope to press as the next election looms. Sunak was more than happy to do exactly that.

Helpful intervention II: Former Cabinet minister Liam Fox — currently marooned on the backbenches — pointed out that the U.K. economy is performing better than some EU countries on certain measurements and asked whether its time “we start hearing more good news.” Best of luck with that.

Totally nonscientific scores on the doors: Britain’s mounting economic crisis left Starmer with an open goal — while Sunak’s pitch that lowering inflation is all-important would work better if inflation was actually falling.

Sunak 4/10 … Starmer 7/10 … The boldness of calling for more coverage of the “good news” 100/10.