Starmer and Sunak to face off for final time at PMQs ahead of Autumn Budget

Rachel Reeves will lay out the UK Government’s tax and spending plans on Wednesday.

30th Oct 2024

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Keir Starmer and Rishi Sunak will face off at Prime Minister’s Questions for the final time ahead of the outline of the Autumn Budget.

Rachel Reeves will lay out the UK Government’s tax and spending plans on Wednesday, where she is expected to make “difficult decisions on spending, on welfare and taxation” and change the way national debt is measured to give her more flexibility to borrow.

The UK’s first female chancellor will deliver the first Labour budget since Alistair Darling in 2010, promising to put “more pounds in people’s pockets”.

The armed forces are in line for a £3bn boost, according to reports, as Reeves prepares to unveil the government’s first Budget.

Rishi Sunak's final appearance comes as a new Tory leader is expected to be announced within days. — Rishi Sunak’s final appearance comes as a new Tory leader is expected to be announced within days. UK Parliament

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said: “This is a huge day for Britain. After 14 years of decline, we will invest in our country – rebuilding our schools, hospitals and roads.

“We won’t shy away from the tough decisions to grow our economy and protect working people’s payslips. There is a brighter future ahead.”

Sunak’s Commons reply to the budget speech on Wednesday is set to be his last important appearance, with a new Conservative party leader set to be announced this weekend.

Kemi Badenoch and Robert Jenrick are in the final days of campaigning in the contest to succeed Rishi Sunak as the party’s leader.

The winner is due to be announced on Saturday, almost four months after the party’s general election defeat that triggered Sunak’s resignation.