As both Starmer and Johnson try to strike hits, last PMQs of 2020 becomes a battle of (half)wits
Johnson v Starmer: it really doesn’t matter who scores the most points in their regular weekly confrontations as they’re each as daft as the other.
Did an element of end-of-term fever enter into the last weekly clash of UK political party leaders of 2020? One would assume so, from the quality of this exchange.
It seems Keir Starmer was hoping to get one over on Boris Johnson with his final submission to yesterday’s (December 16) Prime Minister’s Questions. He said:
This is the last PMQs of the year, and I for one often wonder where the Prime Minister gets his advice from.
Well, now I know, because I have here the official newsletter of the Wellingborough Conservative party. It is not on everyone’s Christmas reading list, but it is a fascinating read, because it gives a lot of advice to wannabe politicians.
It says this: “Say the first thing that comes into your head… It’ll probably be nonsense… You may get a bad headline… but… If you make enough dubious claims, fast enough, you can get away with it.”
The December edition includes the advice: “Sometimes, it is better to give the WRONG answer at the RIGHT time, than the RIGHT answer at the WRONG time.”
So my final question to the Prime Minister is this: is he the inspiration for the newsletter, or is he the author?
As attempted put-downs go, you have to agree that it wasn’t bad.
Sadly for Starmer, Johnson’s retort was better:
I think what the people of this country would love to hear from the right hon. and learned Gentleman in this season of good will is any kind of point of view at all on some of the key issues.
This week, he could not make up his mind whether it was right for kids to be in school or not, and havering [whatever that means] completely.
He could not make up his mind last week whether or not to support what the Government were doing to fight covid, and told his troops, heroically, to abstain.
He could not make up his mind about Brexit, we all seem to remember.
We do not know whether he will vote for a deal or not.
He cannot attack the Government if he cannot come up with a view of his own.
In the words of the song, “All I want for Christmas is” a view, and it would be wonderful if he could produce one.
Alas, we all know – thanks to the diktats released by Starmer’s (acting) general secretary David Evans – that the Labour Party is now not allowed to have any views on anything at all, for fear of offending the legions of ‘snowflakes’ covering the UK (even in this, so far, mild winter).
Starmer was defeated. The loss will be all the more galling to him because Jeremy Corbyn was never so soundly thrashed by either Theresa May or the current incumbent.
And Johnson will go to his Christmas break happy to have won that round of the regular battle of wits.
But then, given the quality of the participants, it would be more accurate to describe it as a battle of halfwits.
Source: Engagements – Wednesday 16 December 2020 – Hansard – UK Parliament
Have YOU donated to my crowdfunding appeal, raising funds to fight false libel claims by TV celebrities who should know better? These court cases cost a lot of money so every penny will help ensure that wealth doesn’t beat justice.
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Here are four ways to be sure you’re among the first to know what’s going on.
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the left margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here:
Stammer the spammer untill the day him and his
Mates are shown the door
I saw this exchange and it resembled a cat toying with a mouse, with Starmer as the cat.
Everyone’s entitled to their own opinion, of course…
How was Boris Johnson’s response to Starmers amusing but spot on question regarding the horrific Bannon/Goebbels playbook inspired Wellingborough Newsletter in any way better? He didn’t even attempt to answer it as per usual instead choosing to spout complete nonsense and lies. Which he does in every single PMQS. It’s it’s not only an arrogant and deeply offensive response to the vast majority of the British public who actually want answers to perfectly reasonable questions, its also waking straight into the trap that Starmer set by behaving in the exactly the manner set out in that Newsletter. Spout nonsense, say the first thing that comes to mind and if you repeat the same lie quickly enough the plebs will swallow it. Clearly the author of this article has done so too. Johnson is a disgrace and not fit to clean the floor in Parliament let alone lead it.
Did I say Johnson’s response was better? Does describing him as a halfwit in any way suggest that his response was better?
Of course not.
But Johnson’s response did flag up Starmer’s own failings. In essence, he was asking how Starmer can presume to lecture him on his behaviour when Starmer’s own leaves so much to be desired.
I’m glad to have been able to help you.
I have never been a fan of the Prime Minister, having lived in £ondon under his mayoralty but Sir Kier Starmer… I have no faith in this man… do no anything good, or useful, anyway, The Prime Minister describes him quite well.
Questions to The Prime Minister has become a game of “what’s the question?” whereby members and honourable members ask questions in the hope that they will match the answer, which the Prime Minister has prepared. Sadly, nobody has won the game yet and the Prime Minister gets to continue to issue the same answer. Perhaps, soon, somebody (but not Ed Davey, for he asks the same question, every week) will ask the right question and we might be treated to a different answer!
Can we have a PDF of the newsletter so we can all enjoy their advice?
I doubt the members of Wellingborough (if I recall correctly) Conservative Association will let any more copies out into public circulation and I’m afraid I am not on good terms with the Starmer-led Labour Party!