David Lammy TORN APART in PMQs row as Keir Starmer HIDES in China

114

0 January 28, 2026 10:14

The Deputy Prime Minister was dubbed "left behind Lammy" as he was forced to defend Labour’s economic record in the House of Commons.

David Lammy was mocked as he stood in for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs, who is on a visit to China hoping to agree trade agreements.

And Mr Lammy found himself in the firing line as, with Chancellor Rachel Reeves sat next to him, he was told to explain why unemployment has risen under Labour.

Figures earlier this month showed the UK unemployment rate was 5.1%, and 1.84 million people over 16 are unemployed- up by around 280,000 over the last year.

And Shadow Business Secretary Andrew Griffiths said younger people were particularly hard hit, thanks to Labour’s decisions including increasing National Insurance contributions for employers, and the minimum wage. He said: "You can feel the Deputy Prime Minister’s frustration.

The Prime Minister’s away. The Business Secretary’s away. And here is is, left behind Lammy, the designated survivor, having to defend the indefensible."

Read Daily Express: https://www.express.co.uk
Like Daily Express on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DailyExpress
Follow Daily Express on X: https://x.com/Daily_Express
Follow Daily Express on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dailyexpress/

#DailyExpress #News #pmqs #primeministersquestions #labour #conservatives #houseofcommons #ukparliament #ukpolitics #davidlammy #andrewgriffiths #keirstarmer #china

Tags: Daily Express, Daily Express UK, Daily Express videos, Express News, Express news today, Latest UK news