‘Apologise!’ This was the bogus battle-cry that rang out repeatedly at today’s PMQs. Rishi Sunak was asked to genuflect to his enemies and show contrition for fictional sins. The trouble began when Sir Keir Starmer told us that the mother of Brianna Ghey, a transgender girl killed in February, was present in the public gallery. ‘As a father, I can’t even imagine the pain she’s going through,’ he said, strangely placing himself at the centre of somebody else’s nightmare.

Sir Keir, unaware of what was about to transpire, then mounted a routine attack on Rishi’s unfulfilled pledges. The PM called this ‘a bit rich’ coming from a Labour leader who had broken ‘almost 30 promises.’ He gave a list including pensions, reform of the peerage and ‘defining a woman – although in fairness that was only 99 per cent of a U-turn.’

Sir Keir saw his chance. He pretended to be so incensed by Rishi’s quip that he could barely speak. ‘Of all the weeks to say that!’ he said, gasping breathlessly from the depths of his outrage, ‘when Brianna’s mother is in this chamber. Shame!’

The Speaker rose to quell some noise on the backbenches and as Sir Keir sat down, apparently close to tears, a hand settled on his right shoulder to offer him comfort and solace. The hand belonged to Rachel Reeves, his shadow chancellor. She caressed the shoulder-pad of his tailored suit and gave it a reassuring squeeze. Sir Keir nodded weakly at her, acknowledging her sympathy. It might have been a scene carved by Michelangelo. Sir Keir then stood up and lambasted the PM for unseemly conduct.

‘The role of the prime minister,’ he pronounced loftily, ‘is to ensure that every citizen in this country feels safe and respected.’

QOSHE - Keir Starmer’s shameful behaviour at PMQs - Lloyd Evans
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Keir Starmer’s shameful behaviour at PMQs

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07.02.2024

‘Apologise!’ This was the bogus battle-cry that rang out repeatedly at today’s PMQs. Rishi Sunak was asked to genuflect to his enemies and show contrition for fictional sins. The trouble began when Sir Keir Starmer told us that the mother of Brianna Ghey, a transgender girl killed in February, was present in the public gallery. ‘As a father, I can’t even imagine the pain she’s going through,’ he said, strangely placing........

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