Keir Starmer has championed the Renters’ Rights Act in the Commons this week.

Responding to questions from Kemi Badenock about Labour’s achievements, the Prime Minister defended the new rules around renters’ rights that were introduced last month.

He said: “[The] Leader of the Opposition asks what we have done: more rights for renters, stopping unfair rent hikes, and giving 11 million people greater security and a place to call home.”

More rights for renters, stopping unfair rent hikes, and giving 11 million people greater security and a place to call home.”

He went on to say: “The Conservatives have fought us at every turn. I am proud of what we are delivering. There is much more to do.”

Badenock responded, saying: “Everyone in this House knows that the Prime Minister is just a caretaker keeping the seat warm for the Mayor of Manchester.

“But it does not matter who is in charge; Labour MPs will keep asking who they can tax to pay more benefits – it is in their DNA.

“The truth is that the problem is not this passive Prime iister; the problem is the Labour party.”

Messages published

Her comments follow news headlines about messages between Lord Mandelson and ministers, including one exchange where minister Pat McFadden appeared to complain about backbenchers.

He said: “Every meeting I have is ‘who can we tax in order to pay benefits to others’. They’re asking the wrong questions.”

At the time, McFadden was a Cabinet Office minister, however he has since become the work and pensions secretary.

A spokesperson for McFadden said: “Pat has said publicly many times that the question we should ask is not what are you entitled to, but how can we change your life?

“That has been his whole approach as work and pensions secretary, focusing on how we best spread work and opportunities to young people in particular, rather than writing them off as the previous government did.”