Keir Starmer's debut as the recipient of Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) passed without the anticipated onslaught of hostile inquiries on Wednesday. However, he did

face scrutiny over his government's stance on child poverty.

The Labour leader, who secured a decisive majority in the July 4 election, encountered his first minor rebellion on Tuesday. Seven Labour MPs were temporarily suspended for voting against the government's position on maintaining welfare payment limits for some parents.

During PMQs, the new prime minister was spared the usual pointed interrogation from Rishi Sunak, former prime minister and leader of the opposition Conservative Party, who instead emphasized bipartisan support for Ukraine.

It was the Scottish National Party (SNP) that pressed Starmer on his decision not to abolish the two-child benefit cap, which restricts welfare payments for families with more than two children. SNP's Westminster leader, Stephen Flynn, questioned the shift in Labour's commitment to tackling child poverty.

"The last Labour government lifted millions of children out of poverty, something we're very proud of. This government will approach the issue with the same determination," Starmer responded, highlighting the establishment of a new child poverty taskforce.

The suspension of the seven Labour MPs followed their support for an SNP amendment to eliminate the cap. Critics argue the policy exacerbates child poverty, while the government maintains that it cannot endorse unfunded commitments, despite understanding the objections.

Starmer's first PMQs marked a departure from the usual confrontational tone as both parties adjust to the new political landscape following Labour's significant electoral victory. The session included a lighter moment when Starmer accidentally addressed Sunak as "the prime minister," prompting laughter and a quick remark: "Old habits die hard." Photo by Prime Minister’s Office, Wikimedia commons.