A decent tussle today at PMQs. Sir Keir Starmer asked the Prime Minister why he’d ditched his pledge to build 300,000 new houses a year. Rishi Sunak, ever fleet of foot, replied with shameless effrontery. The PM claimed that dropping the target was a superb Tory achievement and that it aligned seamlessly with the government’s priorities: protecting the green-belt, heeding local communities, and handing power to people at the grassroots. He dared Sir Keir to stand against those noble aims. He added that the Labour leader had said on Monday:
‘Government should be giving people more power and control.’
And today is Wednesday; so why the change of heart, asked Sunak.
‘I know he flip-flops – but even for him it’s pretty quick.’
The Tories yelled out ‘more! more!’
Sir Keir froze theatrically, gave a snuffle, and turned to his party with bemused outrage
Sir Keir is plugging the line that Rishi has been captured by right-wing Tory headbangers.
Britain’s best politics newsletters
You get two free articles each week when you sign up to The Spectator’s emails.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Comments
Join the debate, free for a month
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first month free.
UNLOCK ACCESS Try a month freeAlready a subscriber? Log in