Theresa May’s track record of telling jokes in the Commons isn’t good. Last month at Prime Minister’s Questions, her wise cracks went down badly and she was criticised by a Labour MP for telling ‘silly jokes when asked serious questions’. At today’s PMQs, she was at it again – and Mr S is pleased to report she had much more luck in making her fellow MPs laugh. Backbencher Peter Bone has long been a thorn in the side of Tory leaders. But ever since the Brexit vote, he’s been somewhat more upbeat about life. And on his birthday today, he had an extra reason to be happy. Yet despite his good mood, he probably wouldn’t have been bracing himself for Theresa May’s risqué reply to his question about prisons. Here’s their exchange:
Peter Bone: As you might know, it’s my birthday today. The Prime Minister has already given me a huge birthday present by letting everyone know that we will be out of the European Union, no later than the 31st March 2019. So could I press her for another present? Would she support the reopening of Wellingborough prison, or would she rather just sing happy birthday?
Theresa May: I would say to my honourable friend, I am very happy to wish him a very happy birthday today, many happy returns. I hope that Mrs Bone is going to treat the occasion in an appropriate manner…
Given that her predecessor David Cameron once made a wisecrack about how a ‘big part’ of his life was spent ‘trying to give pleasure to Mrs Bone’, Mr S is pleased to know that May isn’t completely ditching Dave’s legacy…
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