Starmer begins #PMQs by listing the five promises Johnson made in his foreword to the ministerial code, and asks how many have been kept. Turns out, none of them. Johnson blathers some bullshit.
Extraordinary really. Johnson says he makes no apology for standing by the woman just found guilty of bullying. Outrageously suggests Labour is attacking her because she’s been doing her job so well. In other words, bullying gets a free pass. #PMQs
Laugh out loud moment as the Speaker says he’ll decide what a reasonable remark is, not Johnson - and threatens to mute him. No love lost there.
Starmer working a very clever strategy here. The five ministerial promises were no bullying, harassment, leaking, wasting taxpayers’ money or conflicts of interest - and he’s now shown how Johnson has broken or tolerated every single one. #PMQs
‘Either the PM doesn’t know how much taxpayer’s money has been wasted or he doesn’t care. No-one’s knocking the private sector, the government’s knocking the taxpayer.’ Ouch. #PMQs
‘It’s the same old story. One rule for the British public, one rule for the prime minister and his friends.’ Expect to hear a lot more of this line. It nails every single fear about what the Tories are, and it’s devastating because it’s true. #PMQs
Starmer finished his questions on a high. ‘If you’ve got a hotline to ministers, you get a blank cheque. But if you’re on the frontline tackling Covid, you’re picking up the bill.’ This was his best performance in months. Johnson has no response. #PMQs
Johnson’s most telling response was calling the breaking of ministerial promises ‘trivia’. Says everything about his approach to both government and standards in public life. Just three and a half years to go.
• • •
Missing some Tweet in this thread? You can try to
force a refresh
