Keir Starmer said Kemi Badenoch and Mel Stride should hammer out their position over the pension triple lock ‘over a sandwich or a steak’ after Mr Stride said it was unsustainable
PMQs: Keir Starmer aims sandwich jibe at Kemi Badenoch
Keir Starmer delivered a savage jibe about Kemi Badenoch’s loathing for sandwiches as he lashed out at Tory flip-flopping over the triple lock.
He said Ms Badenoch and Chancellor Mel Stride should discuss their position “over a sandwich or a steak”. It follows the Tory leader’s bizarre admission that she doesn’t think sandwiches are “real food” – and sometimes has a steak brought to her as she works.
The jab came during an animated PMQs session which saw Ms Badenoch attack Mr Starmer over winter fuel payment cuts. The PM shot back that his Government had acted to protect the triple lock, which protects state pensions. As a result, he said, state pensions will go up by £470 next year.
It comes after Ms Badenoch’s Shadow Chancellor, Mel Stride, admitted it was “unsustainable” in the long term – raising the possibility the Tories could scrap it. The triple lock ensures the state pension rises in line with either the rate of inflation, average earnings or 2.5% – whichever is highest.
Mr Starmer said: “She now says they are committed to the triple lock, her Shadow Chancellor says they’re not, it’s unsustainable. Maybe over a sandwich or a steak they can sort it out and tell us what their policy actually is.”
It comes after Mr Stride raised questions over whether he was committed to the protection. He said last week: “I’m widely reported as having said, as you phrased it, it’s unsustainable. What I actually said was that in the very, very long term, it is unsustainable. Now that is just a mathematical reality.”
He said the cost of the triple lock will spiral over several decades. Mr Starmer’s sandwich jibe drew cheers in the Commons.
Ms Badenoch replied: “The Prime Minister needs to misrepresent me to make his point. I don’t need to misrepresent him to make mine.”
Ms Badenoch sparked a backlash after saying “lunch is for wimps” and ranting about sandwiches. In a magazine interview she revealed that she sometimes has a steak brought to her as she works.
The PM was surprised to learn this, his official spokesman said. The sarnie clash broke out after Ms Badenoch said: “I don’t think sandwiches are a real food, it’s what you have for breakfast.” No10 was having none of it.
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Mr Starmer’s spokesman said: “I think he was surprised to hear that the leader of the Opposition has a steak brought in for lunch. The Prime Minister is quite happy with a sandwich lunch.”
The spokesman described the sandwich as a “great British institution” which, according to the British Sandwich Association, brings in £8 billion a year to the UK economy. Asked what the Prime Minister’s favourite sandwich is, the spokesman said: “I think he enjoys a tuna sandwich and occasionally a cheese toastie.”
Describing her daily routine, Ms Badenoch said: “What’s a lunch break? Lunch is for wimps. I have food brought in and I work and eat at the same time.” She added that she “will not touch bread if it’s moist”.