Lloyd Evans Lloyd Evans

‘Mansplaining’ Corbyn plumbs new depths at PMQs

Jezza was on spectacularly dreary form at PMQs. He droned through a communique about International Women’s Day which made the celebration sound inexpressively dispiriting. The movement is all about ‘how far we’ve come and how far we have to go,’ he moaned. He sounded like an Arctic explorer giving a live commentary as he slices off his frost-bitten toes, one by one, with a pen-knife.

May hadn’t mentioned Women’s Day. And Corbyn, by bringing it up, had laid himself open to attack. It was swift and deadly. And beautiful in its way.

‘Thank-you for telling me it’s International Women’s Day tomorrow,’ said May in a voice that was full of blades. She turned towards him, both lasers on full beam. ‘I think it’s what’s called mansplaining.’

Corbyn did a bit more mansplaining about Saudi Arabia whose Crown Prince is in London. Saudi Arabia is something of a novelty for Corbyn: an extremist movement he doesn’t support.

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