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| PMQs: Boris Johnson faces Jeremy Corbyn in first Commons clash of 2020 – live news | PMQs: Boris Johnson faces Jeremy Corbyn in first Commons clash of 2020 – live news |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| The day’s political developments, including first PMQs of 2020 and Johnson’s meeting with new European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen | The day’s political developments, including first PMQs of 2020 and Johnson’s meeting with new European commission president, Ursula von der Leyen |
| Who won? Well, it was obviously Sir Lindsay Hoyle, because he has transformed PMQs, getting it back down to a brisk, 30-minute event, instead of the sprawling fixture it was under John Bercow normally lasting the best part of an hour. Whether or not this is a good thing or a bad thing, it is probably too early to tell, but it means that Hoyle has stamped his authority on the place. Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn were clearly warned in advance that they weren’t going to be allowed to talk as much as in the Bercow era, and both questions and answers were tighter than in the past. | |
| It was the first time Johnson has spoken in public about the Iran crisis – in fact, it was the first time he has spoken in public on anything in 2020 - and he came out with about the strongest endorsement heard so far from the UK government of the US decision to assassinate the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani. Suleimani had supplied “improvised explosive devices to terrorists, which I’m afraid killed and maimed British troops”, he said. “That man had the blood of British troops on his hands.” But even in this answer he avoided saying outright that the US attack was lawful, and overall Johnson sounded like someone who would rather be commenting on other matters, not this one. (See 10.14am.) | |
| Corbyn has spent his life denouncing US warmongering and last week it felt as if President Trump’s decision to order the killing of Suleimani vindicated everything the Labour leader has ever said about Washington being a threat to the world order. But he did not make that case very well at PMQs, and Johnson successfully brushed him aside. Ministers can’t say clearly that they think the killing of Suleimani was a wise thing to do (presumably because they don’t think it was – their support has been quite qualified) and they seem to have some doubts about the legality of the operation too. But it would have taken sustained, forensic questioning to get this to show up at PMQs, and Corbyn did not pull that off. He is obviously right about Johnson being nervous about criticising Trump in public. But British prime ministers are always wary of criticising US presidents, and so Corbyn’s attempt to link this to sensitivities around a US trade deal was unconvincing. | |
| But with the date for his departure already set, Corbyn could be forgiven for not operating at full pelt. Johnson seemed relatively disengaged in their exchanges too, and his anti-Corbyn put-downs felt rather underpowered. He seemed much more animated arguing with Ian Blackford, the SNP leader at Westminster, but that is not surprising; looking ahead over the next five years, Scotland will be much more of a threat to his premiership than Corbyn. | |
| Labour’s Karl Turner asks about a constituent serving a life sentence. But the constituent was also one of the people who tackled the terrorist in the London Bridge attack. Will the PM congratulate him? | Labour’s Karl Turner asks about a constituent serving a life sentence. But the constituent was also one of the people who tackled the terrorist in the London Bridge attack. Will the PM congratulate him? |
| Johnson says he hopes this gallantry is respected in the usual way. | Johnson says he hopes this gallantry is respected in the usual way. |
| And that’s it. PMQs is over. | And that’s it. PMQs is over. |
| The SNP’s Douglas Chapman says the SNP’s mandate is much stronger than Johnson’s. He says the Scottish government has an “oven-ready” plan for an independence referendum. When will discussions begin? | The SNP’s Douglas Chapman says the SNP’s mandate is much stronger than Johnson’s. He says the Scottish government has an “oven-ready” plan for an independence referendum. When will discussions begin? |
| Johnson says he has already addressed this. | Johnson says he has already addressed this. |
| Asked what he has done to restore the Iran nuclear deal, Johnson says the UK still thinks the JCPOA is the best way forward. He says he thinks that way forward will remain. It is a shell at the moment. But it is a shell into which substance can be put. | Asked what he has done to restore the Iran nuclear deal, Johnson says the UK still thinks the JCPOA is the best way forward. He says he thinks that way forward will remain. It is a shell at the moment. But it is a shell into which substance can be put. |
| Labour’s Colleen Fletcher asks Johnson to support a new walk-in centre for Coventry. | Labour’s Colleen Fletcher asks Johnson to support a new walk-in centre for Coventry. |
| Johnson refers this one to the health secretary too, saying he is sure he will be able to do something about it. | Johnson refers this one to the health secretary too, saying he is sure he will be able to do something about it. |
| Dehenna Davison, a new Conservative MP, asks about the NHS. | Dehenna Davison, a new Conservative MP, asks about the NHS. |
| Johnson congratulates Davison on her election victory. He says the health secretary is looking into the matter raised by Davison. | Johnson congratulates Davison on her election victory. He says the health secretary is looking into the matter raised by Davison. |
| Shailesh Vara, a Conservative, asks the PM if he agrees that overseas companies would invest in Northern Ireland if the assembly were revived. | Shailesh Vara, a Conservative, asks the PM if he agrees that overseas companies would invest in Northern Ireland if the assembly were revived. |
| Johnson says the UK is the third highest recipient of inward investment in the world. Northern Ireland could get more with the assembly up and running, he says. | Johnson says the UK is the third highest recipient of inward investment in the world. Northern Ireland could get more with the assembly up and running, he says. |
| David Morris, a Conservative, says the north of England needs an Eden project. Does the PM support it going to Morecombe? | David Morris, a Conservative, says the north of England needs an Eden project. Does the PM support it going to Morecombe? |
| Johnson says Sajid Javid, the chancellor, tells him the Eden project is “very likely” to come to Morecombe. | Johnson says Sajid Javid, the chancellor, tells him the Eden project is “very likely” to come to Morecombe. |
| The SNP’s Brendan O’Hara says Margaret Thatcher and other Tory leaders accepted the union with Scotland would only survive by consent. What mechanism is available to the Scottish people to give their consent to maintaining the union, he says. | The SNP’s Brendan O’Hara says Margaret Thatcher and other Tory leaders accepted the union with Scotland would only survive by consent. What mechanism is available to the Scottish people to give their consent to maintaining the union, he says. |
| Johnson says the Scottish people had a mechanism, they used it in 2014, and it was a once-in-a-generation vote, he says. | Johnson says the Scottish people had a mechanism, they used it in 2014, and it was a once-in-a-generation vote, he says. |
| Labour’s Ian Murray asks Johnson to accept that he will be responsible for any negative consequences from Brexit. | Labour’s Ian Murray asks Johnson to accept that he will be responsible for any negative consequences from Brexit. |
| Johnson says, contrary to the claims of doomsters, unemployment is at a record low. He will get Brexit done, he says. | Johnson says, contrary to the claims of doomsters, unemployment is at a record low. He will get Brexit done, he says. |
| Johnson says he will chair a new cabinet committee to drive forward change on climate change. | Johnson says he will chair a new cabinet committee to drive forward change on climate change. |
| Plaid Cymru’s Hywel Williams asks what the PM’s vision is for the relationship between Wales and England. | Plaid Cymru’s Hywel Williams asks what the PM’s vision is for the relationship between Wales and England. |
| Johnson says he wants it to go from strength to strength. | Johnson says he wants it to go from strength to strength. |
| Paul Holmes, a Conservative, asks about a Lib Dem housing plan for Eastleigh. | Paul Holmes, a Conservative, asks about a Lib Dem housing plan for Eastleigh. |
| Johnson says the government wants more home on brownfield sites. | Johnson says the government wants more home on brownfield sites. |
| Fiona Bruce, a Conservative, asks what the government will do to support troubled families? | Fiona Bruce, a Conservative, asks what the government will do to support troubled families? |
| Johnson says it was thanks to Bruce that “family hubs” were proposed in the Tory manifesto. They will be introduced, he says. | Johnson says it was thanks to Bruce that “family hubs” were proposed in the Tory manifesto. They will be introduced, he says. |