Starmer repeatedly fails to say he will cut benefits in PMQs mauling by Kemi Badenoch - after ally's warning that Labour MPs just want to hike taxes for more handouts

By JAMES TAPSFIELD, UK POLITICAL EDITOR and DAVID WILCOCK, DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 12:35, 3 June 2026 | Updated: 12:54, 3 June 2026 Keir Starmer repeatedly refused to commit to cutting benefits today as he was mauled by Kemi Badenoch at PMQs. The premier dodged as he was challenged by the Tory leader on whether he wanted to bring spending on welfare down. Mrs Badenoch pointed to comments by Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden - exposed in the Mandelson files earlier this week.  Mr McFadden was revealed to have complained to the disgraced former minister that Labour MPs only cared about who they can 'tax in order to pay benefits to others'.  Mrs Badenoch accused Sir Keir of giving up on reducing welfare costs because his party has 'given up on him'. Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions she said: 'Last year, I remember they were planning to cut benefits, and on the floor of this House, they U-turned. What did he do when he had a chance? He caved. 'He caved to all these MPs behind him who don't want benefits brought down, that's why they're sitting silently behind him. 'So does the Prime Minister agree with his welfare secretary that that was the moment he lost his authority?' Kemi Badenoch accused the Prime Minister of giving up on bringing down welfare costs because his party has 'given up on him' Keir Starmer dodged as he was challenged by the Tory leader on whether he wanted to bring spending on welfare down The Prime Minister said he was proud of what his Government was delivering. 'The fastest growing economy in the G7 – they said that couldn't be done. 'The OECD forecast UK growth is up, and inflation is down, net migration, which reached nearly a million under them, is down by a staggering 82 per cent.' The Conservative leader also ramped up 'cover-up' claims, after Sir Keir admitted he used disappearing WhatsApps. She jibed that was a case of 'disappearing messages from a disappearing PM'.  The 1,500 pages of Mandelson-related messages gave a stark glimpse into tensions at the heart of Government. Mr McFadden candidly admitted that Sir Keir's authority was 'destroyed' by a revolt last summer that blocked welfare reforms.  No10 has said the PM still has full confidence in Mr McFadden.  Mandelson and ministers were exposed in the messages as having discussed how things 'don't look good' for Sir Keir.  Gordon Brown is said to 'have it in for' the premier and be favouring Angela Rayner, while No10 staff are branded 'sub-optimal'. Wes Streeting - until recently the health secretary and now a leadership hopeful - is described by Mandelson as sending a 'wild long hysterical message' criticising Israel. Amid a row over the Government recognising Palestine as a state, the ambassador jibed that Mr Streeting was having an 'early midlife crisis' and lacked 'maturity'.  The Labour carnage was foreshadowed by a handwritten note from Mandelson to then-Foreign Secretary Mr Lammy at the end of 2024, saying Sir Keir would 'never regret' appointing him as US ambassador.  It is clear the PM was not alone in wanting Mandelson for the job, as a slew of fawning ministers rushed to congratulate him personally. Pat McFadden was revealed to have complained to the disgraced former minister that Labour MPs only cared about who they can 'tax in order to pay benefits to others' Mandelson (pictured) and ministers were exposed in the messages as having discussed how things 'don't look good' for Sir Keir Despite the scale of the document dump some key papers are still being withheld at the request of Scotland Yard, which is investigating the former peer over alleged misconduct in public office. Sir Keir barely featured in 1,500 pages of documents finally released by the Government on Monday, months after they were demanded by Parliament. The glaring hole was partly explained when the PM's spokesman confirmed yesterday that he has the disappearing messages function activated. A host of other Cabinet ministers, including Rachel Reeves and David Lammy, appear to have been spared embarrassment because they also use the option on WhatsApp.  Downing Street insisted that was permitted as long as it did not affect official record keeping - but the Tories pointed out that screen shots must be kept of important exchanges.  The process of uncovering the material and redacting 'sensitive' details cost £1million.   The Mandelson papers gave a stark glimpse into tensions at the heart of Government, with Work and Pensions Secretary Pat McFadden at one point complaining that his own MPs just want him to find people to tax so they can hand out more benefits. 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