MPs demand urgent action as terror concerns and healthcare failures collide in a tense Commons showdown
A combustible Prime Minister’s Questions
Prime Minister Keir Starmer faced one of his most intense Prime Minister’s Questions to date as MPs from across the House subjected him to sustained pressure over rising antisemitism and mounting failures in the NHS. The atmosphere in the Commons was visibly charged, reflecting growing public anxiety following recent terror attacks abroad and worsening winter pressures at home.
What unfolded was not routine political sparring but a high-stakes confrontation over safety, dignity, and the government’s ability to respond decisively to two of the country’s most urgent challenges.
MPs raise alarm after antisemitic terror attack
The session sharpened quickly as MPs referenced the antisemitic terror attack at Bondi Beach during Hanukkah, warning that fear within Jewish communities is rising sharply. Starmer opened his response by expressing horror at the attack and solidarity with Jewish families, stressing that hatred must be confronted “wherever it appears.”
He confirmed that funding for protective security has been increased to £28 million, aimed at safeguarding synagogues, schools, and community centres across the UK. While acknowledging that such measures are “sadly necessary,” Starmer insisted they are essential to ensure Jewish communities can live and worship without fear.
New powers and tougher laws promised
Starmer told MPs the government is reviewing protest and hate crime legislation, with a focus on preventing demonstrations from becoming breeding grounds for intimidation and abuse. He outlined plans for strengthened police powers to deal with repeat and targeted protests that cross the line into harassment or incitement.
He also pointed to new antisemitism training programmes within the NHS and ongoing consultations with Jewish community leaders, signalling that further measures may be announced as the review progresses.
Opposition presses for a full strategy
Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey challenged the Prime Minister to deliver a comprehensive national strategy against antisemitism, echoing calls from the Board of Deputies. Davey cited disturbing accounts of British Jews feeling unsafe in their own neighbourhoods, with some reportedly wearing stab vests while guarding places of worship.
The exchange highlighted a stark reality: reassurance alone is no longer enough for communities demanding concrete, visible protection.
NHS crisis dominates the Commons
Attention then turned sharply to the NHS, where MPs unleashed fierce criticism over winter pressures pushing the system to breaking point. Starmer was confronted with reports of patients left on trolleys without privacy, dangerously long waiting times, and deaths linked to delays in care.
The Prime Minister conceded the situation is “unacceptable,” acknowledging that the system is under extreme strain. He defended the government’s response by pointing to a vaccination campaign that has reached more than 17 million people this year, while admitting that hospitals and ambulance services remain under severe pressure.
Social care and the workforce question
Social care emerged as another flashpoint. MPs pressed Starmer on low pay and poor conditions facing care workers, warning that staff shortages are directly fuelling NHS backlogs. Starmer highlighted recent legislation on fair pay agreements and an increase in carers’ allowance, arguing that reforming social care is essential to stabilising the wider health system.
He noted his personal connection to the sector, referencing his sister’s work as a carer, and pledged further investment to improve pay and conditions in what he described as a “critical but undervalued” workforce.
A Prime Minister visibly under strain
Throughout the session, Starmer appeared repeatedly unsettled as questions came from all sides of the House. The exchanges reflected a wider national unease, with MPs voicing concerns heard daily from constituents worried about safety, healthcare access, and dignity in old age.
By the close of PMQs, one message was unmistakable: patience is wearing thin. With antisemitic threats escalating globally and NHS pressures intensifying at home, MPs made clear that statements of intent must now be matched by swift, decisive action.
For Starmer, the session underscored a defining challenge of his premiership — restoring public trust at a moment when fear and frustration are colliding across the country.