Lloyd Evans Lloyd Evans

PMQs: Boris blows his top

(photo: UK Parliament / Jessica Taylor)

At PMQs Sir Keir attacked Boris for breaking social distancing rules. But not recently. A year ago, alleged the Labour leader, the guidelines had been ignored at a Downing Street Christmas party.

Boris was evasive. ‘No rules were broken.’ That’s all he would say. Sir Keir claimed this as an admission of guilt.

Not much of an ambush. Last year is pre-history. And the theme of Christmas gave Boris a chance to deepen the rift between Sir Keir and his ambitious deputy, Angela Rayner, whose invitation to Sir Keir’s Christmas bash has vanished in the post. Boris revealed Rayner had been deeply stung by the snub. She said it was, ‘idiotic, childish and pathetic,’ quoted Boris. Having stirred up factional infighting in the Labour party, he accused Sir Keir of stirring up ‘factional infighting.’ A bit rich.

Sir Keir had more luck with the hospital-building programme which has spawned a sheet of advice for officials. This matters a lot. We were told that 40 brand new hospitals would rise from the earth under the benign will of the ‘people’s government’ (as Boris now refers to himself). But officials have been told that a ‘new hospital’ may mean a refurb of an existing one. A ‘fix up’ as Keir called it, ‘a paint job’. Quite damning. But hardly fatal.

Had this been a comedy club, Blackford would have been thrown out

‘You obviously don’t go around building on greenfield sites,’ said Boris.

The session then entered the time-warp known as Ian Blackford. The ticking of the clock seems to cease when he stands up. The speed of light judders to a halt. The universe itself yawns. And Blackford frequently raises the very issues that Sir has just mentioned, so he seems like a sad tribute act.

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