PMQs: How did the SNP's Stephen Flynn, Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer perform as mortgages and housing raised

Rishi Sunak put in a flat performance at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, as he struggled to answer questions about housing targets and mortgages.

In the week since the last PMQs, the Bank of England raised interest rates to 5 per cent, mortgage lenders were summoned to 11 Downing Street and the cost of food has begun to spiral.

In that context, it was never going to be an easy session for the Prime Minister, but his answers on house building targets saw him look visibly uncomfortable, and offer only meek deflection.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer delivered a confident performance, albeit one that did not quite deliver the killer blow the economic situation created for him. Elsewhere, SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn continued his attacks on Mr Sunak’s character, labelling him a “near billionaire”.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks during Prime Minister's Questions.

Rishi Sunak

Questioned over housing targets, the Prime Minister declined to answer if he supported having them, but instead used his answers to highlight Labour’s own mixed messaging.

He pointed out Lisa Nandy, the shadow housing secretary, did not agree with Sir Keir's policy of concreting over the greenbelt, and pointed to other shadow cabinet members opposing developments.

He said: “He [Sir Keir] now claims that he supports housebuilding, especially on the greenbelt. But unfortunately for him, the shadow deputy prime minister, the shadow minister for women, the shadow health, justice, defence, business, Northern Ireland and Scotland ministers, are all united against more housebuilding in their areas.

SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn was accused of "economic illiteracy".

“I would say to them, though, they don’t have to worry too much because he has never actually kept a promise he has made.”

While attacking Labour always gets support from Mr Sunak’s MPs, the support feels less vocal as the weeks go by.

Sir Keir Starmer

Sir Keir claimed housebuilding had collapsed since Mr Sunak scrapped mandatory targets, pointing to attack adverts criticising Labour’s plans to build 300,000 new homes a year.

Labour are making a clear effort to portray themselves as the party of home ownership, with Sir Keir saying just that during the session.

He told the Commons: “One minute he [Mr Sunak] says he is for building new houses, the next he is campaigning against them. And the truth is, far from delivering, since he crumbled to his backbenches and scrapped mandatory targets, housebuilding has collapsed. He knows it. They know it and every expert is telling them. Why didn’t he just admit it? He’s not going to get anywhere near his target, is he?”

Stephen Flynn

The SNP Westminster leader used his questions to accuse the Prime Minister of “patronising the public” by suggesting people should “hold their nerve” on rising interest rates.

Once again targeting Mr Sunak’s wealth, Mr Flynn said: “What a nerve. So may I ask him, the near-billionaire, when was the last time that he struggled to pay a bill?”

After the Prime Minister insisted practical steps were being taken, Mr Flynn then claimed “Westminster does not offer the people real change nor real hope for the future”.

Making a point about Brexit, Mr Flynn was quickly dismissed by Mr Sunak, who accused him of “complete economic illiteracy”, for supporting independence, which the Prime Minister said would raise inflation.