Lady Chief Justice ‘deeply troubled’ by heated PMQs exchange over immigration tribunal decision

The Lady Chief Justice – the head of the judiciary for England and Wales – is “deeply troubled” by last week’s heated exchange between Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch during Prime Minister’s Questions about an immigration tribunal decision.

Baroness Carr said today that she was “deeply troubled to learn of the exchanges” during PMQs over a decision taken by the judiciary, as she declared that both politicians’ statements were “unacceptable”.

Last week, Kemi Badenoch slammed Keir Starmer in the Commons after it was revealed that a Palestinian family was granted the right to stay in the UK under a Ukrainian refugee scheme.

The Tory leader used her first question at PMQs to say that the court’s decision was “completely wrong and “cannot be allowed to stand”, asking the Prime Minister if the Government will appeal.

She continued: “I think it started from a question from the Opposition suggesting that the decision in a certain case was wrong and obviously the Prime Minister’s response to that.

“Both question and the answer were unacceptable.

“It is for the Government visibly to respect and protect the independence of the judiciary.

“Where parties, including the Government, disagree with their findings, they should do so through the appellate process.”

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Siding with the Opposition, Starmer replied: “I do not agree with the decision. She’s right.”

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