Keir Starmer has told Kemi Badenoch she "might be the next lettuce" as he accused her of not being a leader.
The PM delivered the savage jibe at PMQs moments after the Tory leader was given a ticking off by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle for accusing him of misleading the House.
Mr Starmer told her: "We know she's not a lawyer. She's clearly not a leader. If she keeps on like this she is going to be the next lettuce."
It came shortly after Chancellor Rachel Reeves announced the Government would back a third runway at Heathrow and create a "European Silicon Valley" - as well as supporting a long-anticipated development at Old Trafford.
But the Chancellor risks the anger of environomental groups. She defended the move saying expanding Heathrow would make the UK "the world's best connected place to do business".
It comes after Keir Starmer vowed to "clear out the regulatory weeds" to encourage growth - referencing Margaret Thatcher's drive to cut red tape. He warned that for "too long regulation has stopped Britain building its future".
Earlier Business Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said the UK "cannot afford" to not build new runways. Following Ms Reeves' speech, the PM will face Kemi Badenoch at PMQs in the Commons at noon.
Follow our coverage below on a big day for the Government.
Badenoch warned she's at risk of following Liz Truss out the door
Keir Starmer has warned the new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch risks following in the footsteps of her disastrous predecessor Liz Truss.
In a brutal slapdown at PMQs, the PM warned the leader of the opposition, who has been in the job less than three months, "if she keeps on like this she is going to be the next lettuce".
Businesses share views on Reeves announcements
Business groups and economists have said Chancellor Rachel Reeves' latest plans to grow the economy are welcome - but that measures in the October Budget will still weigh on companies.
Ms Reeves announced plans to turn Oxford and Cambridge into "Europe's Silicon Valley" with a raft of housing and infrastructure development in the area. And she said the Government is backing a new third runway at Heathrow Airport, adding that she wants "proposals to be be brought forward by the summer".
Shevaun Haviland, director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce, said the Chancellor has "laid down a clear marker" and that the plans will make companies "sit up and take notice".
"They can lift the gloom that has settled over the economy and give firms real confidence," she said. She added that the Government must "make sure the reality does not fall short of the promise", adding that companies are still "struggling with increasing costs" from the October Budget.
Tina McKenzie, policy chairwoman of the Federation of Small Businesses, said the "rallying cry for Government to choose growth is exactly what the economy needs".
Badenoch accused of talking 'nonsense' after PM's lettuce jab
Keir Starmer accused Kemi Badenoch of talking "absolutely nonsense" in her criticisms of the Employment Rights Bill and Labour's growth plans.
The Tory leader said: "Let's talk about this employment Bill. Part one of the Bill means a new employee can start a new job in the morning and take their employer to a tribunal that afternoon.
"It is no wonder that this Bill has been called an adventure playground for lawyers. This Bill is terrible for business, but it is great employment for lawyers.
"I know the Prime Minister loves the legal profession, but he needs to stop being a lawyer and start being a leader. This is another measure in the Bill that fails his growth test. Will he show some leadership and drop it?".
The Prime Minister said: "I understand she likes straight talking, she is talking absolutely nonsense. She knows that anybody that understands anything about the Bill or any employment law will know you can't start in the morning and go to the tribunal in the afternoon.
"Now, we know she is not a lawyer, she is clearly not a leader, if she keeps on like this, she is going to be the next lettuce."
Kemi Badenoch brands Labour plans an 'unemployment bill' after ticking off
Kemi Badenoch accused Keir Starmer of misleading the House and being "anti-growth" in another disastrous PMQs performance.
She told MPs: "(Mr Starmer) doesn't want to talk about the Employment Bill because he doesn't know about it. Last week, he misled the House."
Commons speaker Lindsay Hoyle said: "We can't accuse the Prime Minister of misleading the House. No, we can't do it."
Mrs Badenoch continued: "Last week, he claimed to have laid down an amendment that he had not made. He doesn't know what is going on in here or out there."
She added: "The Federation of Small Businesses says 92% of small employers are concerned about the Employment Bill. Clauses one through six make it harder for business to hire new employees, often young people looking for their first job. This isn't an employment Bill. It's an unemployment Bill. Given these clauses, will he drop his Bill and show that he is not anti-growth?"
The Prime Minister replied: "We believe in giving people proper dignity and protection at work. That's why we're proud of our record of supporting workers. They consistently vote against any protection for working people.
"We are driving growth on behalf of working people. Good work rights are consistent with growth, every good business knows that, and on top of the planning reform, the building of houses, supporting aviation, the Chancellor this morning spoke of the Oxford-Cambridge growth corridor, redeveloping Old Trafford and manufacturing at East Midlands Airport, we want to grow the economy, the only policies, (Mrs Badenoch's) got is to shrink pensions."
No means testing of state pension on my watch says PM
There will be "no means-testing of the state pension under this Labour Government", the Prime Minister has told the Commons.
Mr Starmer said: "Let me be absolutely clear, there will be no means-testing of the state pension under this Labour Government. We're committed both to the triple lock and to the principle that people should receive pension based on their contribution, regardless of their wealth."
He added: "When people like the Leader of Opposition say that they want means-testing, that means a cut, the difference is they cut pensions, we are increasing them."
This came in response to Labour MP Damien Egan (Bristol North East), who said: "Does the Prime Minister agree that means-testing the state pension would do severe harm? And will he confirm that this Government will always protect the state pension and the triple lock?"
The Government has introduced means-testing of the winter fuel payment.
Liz Truss claims her disastrous mini-budget was better than Labour's 'thin gruel'
While you were watching PMQs, Liz Truss has gone on the attack and claimed her mini-budget was better than Labour's "thin gruel" plans.
The 49-day disaster Prime Minister - whose economic interventions piled misery on millions - brazenly claimed the UK would be in better shape if she'd stayed in charge. Ms Truss said: "Contrast and compare today's thin gruel from Labour with the Mini-Budget aka the Growth Plan. And remember, the market turmoil in 2022 was down to the Bank of England's failings as they have admitted.
" The problem was unelected bureaucrats, the legacy media, and Conservative-in-Name-Only MPs looking for ANY excuse to stop change. They will find the people of Britain now demand much bigger change..."
'If she goes on like this, she's going to be the next lettuce'
Keir Starmer is not holding back.
After Ms Badenoch claimed the Government's new employment laws could see a worker start a job in the morning and take their boss to a tribunal that afternoon, the PM shot back: "We know she's not a lawyer.
"She's clearly not a leader. If she keeps on like this she is going to be the next lettuce."
Kemi Badenoch rapped by Speaker over allegation he misled Commons
Kemi Badenoch has been given a ticking off by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
She sparked his anger by accusing Prime Minister Keir Starmer of misleading the House at PMQs last week. Ms Badenoch said; "Last week he misled the House. He was not on top of his own education bill."
Sir Lindsay stepped in: "We can't accuse the Prime Minister of misleading the House, we can't do it."
No changes to the triple lock, says Starmer
Keir Starmer has opened PMQs by vowing not to means test the State Pension.
It comes after Ms Badenoch earlier this month suggested she would look at switching up the triple lock.
Green Party hits out at 'absolute nonsense' claims
Ms Reeves' announcements have been slated by the Green Party.
Co-leaderAdrian Ramsay said: “The idea that we have to choose between economic prosperity and safeguarding our children’s future is absolute nonsense – in fact it’s quite the opposite.
"Expanding airport capacity would wipe out all the benefits of the Government’s clean power plan, and won’t provide any benefits for ordinary people.
"The idea that expanding Heathrow can happen in line with legal, environmental & climate objectives, while meeting rules on carbon emissions, noise and air quality is just fantasy thinking.
"At one point in her speech, the Chancellor said net zero is the opportunity of the century. She’s right about that, yet much of what she announced will take us further away from net zero.
"Her strategy doesn’t add up and it felt more as if she was chasing headlines than chasing a sustainable, fairer future for the UK.”
Sadiq Khan says he is opposed to Heathrow expansion
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said he remains "opposed" to Heathrow expansion because of its "severe impact".
He said: "I remain opposed to a new runway at Heathrow airport because of the severe impact it will have on noise, air pollution and meeting our climate change targets.
"I will scrutinise carefully any new proposals that now come forward from Heathrow, including the impact it will have on people living in the area and the huge knock-on effects for our transport infrastructure.
"Despite the progress that's been made in the aviation sector to make it more sustainable, I'm simply not convinced that you can have hundreds of thousands of additional flights at Heathrow every year without a hugely damaging impact on our environment."
Heathrow isn't the only airport set to grow
On top of the Heathrow announcement, Ms Reeves also reiterated the Government's support for works at London City Airport and Stansted.
She also indicated that Luton and Gatwick airports may be granted permission to expand soon. A large scale industrial hub will also be built at East Midlands Airport.
Will deregulation lead to a Grenfell Tower-style tragedy?
Ms Reeves was asked by The Mirror's Sophie Huskisson whether cutting red tape could lead to another Grenfell Tower-style tragedy.
An inquiry into the 2017 blaze found that deregulation was a factor. Ms Reeves responded: "The Prime Minister and the deputy Prime Minister have both been to Grenfell and have made commitments to the families there to learn the lessons from, what happens.
"So of course, we've got to get the balance right, on regulation."
Heathrow third runway will make UK 'best connected place to do business in the world'
Ms Reeves goes on to say that a third runway at Heathrow can make the UK "the world's best connected place to do business".
She said: "Now is the time to grasp the huge opportunity in front of us. By backing a third runway at Heathrow, we can make Britain the world's best connected place to do business.
"That is what it takes to make decisions in the national interest and that is what I mean by going further and faster to kick start economic growth. The work of change has begun."
Heathrow WILL get a third runway, Reeves confirms
Now the crunch - the third runway at Heathrow.
Announcing the controversial move, she said: "The last runway in Britain was built in the 1940s. No progress in 80 years. Why is this so damaging?
"It's because Heathrow is at the heart of the UK's openness as a country. It connects us to emerging markets all over the world, opening up new opportunities for growth. Around three quarters of all long haul flights in the UK go from Heathrow."
She said the need for a runway is "stronger than ever". Ms Reeves said the Government is inviting proposals by the summer.
Lord Patrick Vallance to head new growth corridor
Sir Patrick Vallance - you remember him from the Covid briefings - will head up the Cambridge-Oxford project.
Ms Reeves said: "I am pleased to announce that the Deputy Prime Minister and I have asked Lord Patrick Vallance to be the champion for the Oxford Cambridge Growth Corridor.
"Lord Vallance has extensive experience across the sciences, academia and government. He will work with local leaders and with the Housing and Planning Minister to deliver this exciting project."
Oxford-Cambridge arc 'has potential to be Europe's Silicon Valley'
Ms Reeves confirms that a new 'Ox-Camb arc' between Oxford and Cambridge - first proposed over 20 years ago - will finally move ahead.
She said: "This area has the potential to be Europe's Silicon Valley. To me, that's a reality."
And the Chancellor went on: "We are not prepared to miss out on the opportunities any longer."
Government will support Old Trafford development, says Reeves
Ms Reeves said the Government will be supporting the Old Trafford development.
She said: "The government is also backing Andy Burnham Burnham's plans for the redevelopment of Old Trafford, which promises to create new housing and commercial developments around a new stadium to drive regeneration and growth in the area."
'We will move forward projects like the Lower Thames Crossing' vow
Ms Reeves has promised progress on the Lower Thames Crossing on the outskirts of London.
The Chancellor said: "We will work with the private sector to deliver the infrastructure that our country desperately needs. This includes the Lower Thames Crossing, which will improve connectivity at Dover, Felixstowe and Harwich, alleviating severe congestion as goods destined to export come from the north and the Midlands and across the country."
'No Net Zero trade-off' says Reeves as she announces funding for two green projects
The Government is putting its money where its mouth is, pledging more than £90million on two green projects.
Ms Reeves said: "Today, I can announce two further investments by the National Wealth Fund. First, a £65 million investment for Connected Kerb to expand the electric vehicle charging network across the UK.
"And second, a £28 million equity investment in Cornish metals, providing the raw materials to be used in solar panels, wind turbines and electric vehicles, supporting growth and jobs in the South west of England."
She added: "There is no trade off between economic growth and net zero."
Reeves 'genuinely shocked' by speed of planning system
Ms Reeves said she has been "genuinely shocked" by the speed of the planning system.
She vowed to streamline application processes to make sure that projects get built quickly. She said: "I've been genuinely shocked about how slow our planning system is by how long it takes to get things done.
"Take the decision to build a solar farm in Cambridgeshire. A decision that the energy secretary took only a few weeks into the job in July, but which had first come to government's attention in 2021, is ridiculous"
The Government will create a new nature restoration fund to stop environmental issues derailing developments.
Visa shake-up to bring skilled workers to UK, Chancellor promises
The Government will look at a visa shake-up to bring more skilled workers to the UK.
The Chancellor said: "We will look at the visa routes for very highly skilled people, so the best people in the world choose the UK to live, work and create wealth, bringing jobs and investment to Britain."
UK will work with Donald Trump and reset relationship with EU says Reeves
The Government will work with both the EU and Donald Trump's US administration, Ms Reeves said.
She told the audience in Oxfordshire: "We stand at a moment of global change. In that context, we should be guided by one clear principle above all to act in the national interest for our economy, for our businesses, and for the British people.
"That means building on our special relationship with the United States under President Trump. The Prime Minister discussed the vital importance of growth with the president last weekend, and I look forward to working with the new Treasury Secretary, Scott Benson, to deepen our economic relationship in the months and years ahead.
"Acting in our national interest also means resetting our relationship with the EU, our nearest and our largest trading partner, to drive growth and support business."
Tories have no alternative plan, says Rachel Reeves
Defending some of her controversial decisions such as increasing National Insurance contributions, Ms Reeves said she has been "pragmatic".
She went on: "I accept that there are costs to responsibility, but the costs of irresponsibility would have been far higher. Those who oppose my budget know that too.
"That is why, since October, I've seen no alternative put forward by the opposition parties. No alternative to deal with the challenges that we face. No alternative to restoring economic stability and therefore no plan for driving economic growth."
Rachel Reeves delivers savage dig at Tories for lack of courage
In a dig at the Tories, she says politicians have not shown the courage to deliver growth.
She says: "For too long, we have accepted low expectations and accepted decline. We no longer have to do that. We can do so much better."
The Chancellor goes on: "The supply side of our economy has suffered due to chronic underinvestment and stifling and unpredictable regulation, not helped by the shocks that we have faced in recent years. For too long, politicians have lacked the courage or the strength to confront these challenges when presented with a choice. They have not prioritized growth. Instead, they have accepted the status quo, and they have been the barrier, not the enablers of change."
'We have started to turn things around' says Chancellor
She says that Labour has started to turn things around, but said the cost of living crisis is still biting.
Ms Reeves says: "I know that the cost of living crisis is still very real for many families across Britain. The sky high inflation and interest rates of the past few years have left a deep mark, with too many people still making sacrifices to pay the bills and to pay their mortgages.
"But we have begun to turn things around. "
Reeves says hospital waiting lists can't be cut without growth
The Chancellor is up, talking about the importance of growth.
She opens her speech by saying: "Before we came into office, the Prime Minister and I have said loud and clear, economic growth is the number one mission of this government.
"Without growth, we cannot cut hospital waiting lists or put more police on the streets. Without growth, we cannot meet our climate goals or give the next generation the opportunities that they need to thrive. But most of all, without economic growth, we cannot improve the living standards of ordinary working people."
Audience taking seats ahead of Chancellor's speech
People are taking their seats in the room in Oxfordshire ahead of the Chancellor's speech.
Ms Reeves is expected in the next few minutes to outline her vision for economic growth.
More praise for Margaret Thatcher from Labour minister
Jonathan Reynolds has been quizzed about whether Labour is "invoking the spirt of Margaret Thatcher".
The Business Secretary told LBC that he admires her "resolve". He said: "I think even if you're not a political fan of Margaret Thatcher, you recognise that was someone of determination, of resolve, much like I think Conservatives recognise that the post war, Labour government rebuilt the country, had that determination and resolve, and that is what we need today.
"We don't need more of what we've had for the last 14/15 years, where we sort of tepidly meddle a bit in this, bit of that, never actually fulfil those plans, whether it's levelling up or northern powerhouse or whatever the other slogans were. We need real resolve to deliver, and that's the test. That's the only thing that really matters and will make a difference. I think this government that I'm part of was elected to deliver change, and that is what we intend to do."
Kemi Badenoch has dig at 'completely mad' growth plan
Kemi Badenoch has had a dig at the Chancellor ahead of today's speech.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch, who will face Keir Starmer at PMQs after Ms Reeves' address, said: "Rachel Reeves does not know where money comes from. Neither does Keir Starmer.
" They think they'll create growth by taxing people who don't vote for them - farmers, business, the elderly. It's completely mad. We need a government that delivers for all, not just its own voters."