'Playing catch up!' Sunak rips into Starmer for jeopardising UK security by backing Corbyn

He hit out at Sunak, dubbing him "inaction man", accusing him of "blaming everyone else".

But pushing back at Starmer, the PM said the Leader of the Opposition should "perhaps reflect on his own record".

Sunak told the House of Commons: "Mr. Speaker, as always, I believe the opposition is just playing catch up and hasn't caught up with the reality of what's actually happening."

He added: "If he wants to talk about foreign policy, Mr. Speaker, he should perhaps reflect on his own record because this was the man who said he was '100 per cent' behind the former Labour leader- a person who wanted to abolish the army, scrap trident and withdraw from NATO.

"It's clear what he did: he put his own political interests ahead of Britain's."

Over the weekend, it was revealed that a parliamentary researcher had been arrested on suspicion of spying for China.

The unnamed individual was arrested earlier this year alongside another man in his 30s. Both were released on police bail until October.

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden told MPs that the claims were "serious allegations”, reassuring MPs that the UK remains “clear-eyed” about the challenges posed by Beijing.

He said it remains an “absolute priority” to take “all necessary steps to protect the UK from any foreign state activity which seeks to undermine our national security, prosperity and democratic values”.

In a statement released via his lawyers, the researcher involved claimed he was "completely innocent".

At PMQs, Starmer used the back and forth on China to segue into an attack on migration, saying the PM is "failing to guard Britain against hostile actors" and "is completely failing to stop the boats".

He asked: "How can anyone trust him to protect the country?"

Sunak responded: "Mr. Speaker, he talks about trust. He talks about action.

"Just today, this Government is taking action to reform the effect of EU laws to unlock over 100,000 homes, boosting our economy supporting jobs and ensuring that we can realize the aspirations of homeowners.

"Now he talks about trust. He tried in this house to talk the talk on housebuilding - but at the first sign of a political hit - what did he do? He's caved in Mr. Speaker."

Sunak was referring to Labour's U-turn on the neutrient neutrality laws, which would allow the Government to build 100,000 homes in Britain.

Labour is expected to vote against a crucial amendment today, which would abolish legacy EU laws on nutrient neutrality marking a major U-turn for the party.

Just last month, former Shadow Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities Lisa Nandy had indicated her support for scrapping the rules.