RISHI Sunak was accused of plunging the Tories into a chaotic civil war during a savage final PMQs of the year.
In a brutal takedown, Sir Keir Starmer argued that the “Tory party is in meltdown and everyone else is paying the price”.
He slammed the PM over his failure to rein in rebel Tory MPs who are threatening to “kill” emergency Rwanda deportation legislation in the new year.
The right-wing rebels are an alliance of five different Tory groups, dubbed the “Five Families”.
Privately and publicly they’ve accused the PM of being weak on tackling small boats and not going nearly far enough to try and override the influence of European courts on the British justice system.
The Labour chief leader said: “He can spin it all he likes but the whole country can see that yet again the Tory party is in meltdown and everyone else is paying the price.
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“Now, he’s kicked the can down the road but in the last week his MPs have said of him: he’s not capable enough, he’s inexperienced, he’s arrogant, a really bad politician.”
Addressing Tory MPs, Sir Keir added: “Come on, come on. Who was it who said he’s a really bad politician? Hands up.
“What about inexperienced? Who was that? Or, and now there has got to be some hand for this, ‘he’s got to go’? Shy. Apparently he’s holding a Christmas party next week… how’s the invite list looking?”
In a major blow, the Labour leader mockingly said: “Christmas is a time of peace on earth and goodwill to all – has anyone told the Tory Party?”
Determined to fight back, Mr Sunak responded: “Christmas is also a time for families, and under the Conservatives we do have a record number of them.
“At the beginning of the year I set out some priorities that this Government would deliver for the British people, and over the course of this year we have.
“Inflation halved, the economy growing, debt falling, action on the longest (waiting lists), the boats down by a third, and crucially… tax cuts coming to help working families in the new year.”
Addressing Mr Sunak, the Labour chief then said: “Thousands of families are at risk of homelessness.
“Rather than indulge in his backbenchers swanning around in their factions and their star chambers pretending to be members of the Mafia, when is the PM going to get a grip and focus on the country?”
Mr Sunak hit back: “Rough sleeping in this country is down by 35% thanks to the efforts of this Government, hundreds of thousands of fewer children in poverty today thanks to this Government.
“And when it comes to home building again… we just had the data this last week, within the last year an almost record number of new homes delivered, more than in any year of the last Labour government.”
