Boris Johnson shows his lack of grip

Boris Johnson has just had a particularly bad Prime Minister’s Questions, underlining his poor grip not just on the second jobs row but on other aspects of his own job. Sir Keir Starmer has had a fair bit of bad luck since becoming Labour leader, having to self-isolate five times as a result of positive Covid tests or contacts, but today he was able to make a rare appearance in person. And he really turned up to work. He was at his most forceful since he became leader, accusing Johnson of being a ‘coward, not a leader’ and giving the ‘green light for corruption’.

Starmer opened his six questions by asking about the government’s forthcoming integrated rail review, which is expected to drop commitments on lines in the north of England. Johnson tried to prevaricate on this by saying Starmer should wait for the review to come out. After two questions and an accusation that the Prime Minister was producing ‘a lot of words’ but no answer, the Labour leader moved on to the meat of his attacks.