Katy Balls Katy Balls

Prime Minister’s rambling speech revives Johnson jitters

(Getty)

After three torrid weeks, Tory MPs were hoping for a better start to this one. Alas, it has got off to a rather bizarre start. The kindest thing that can be said about the Prime Minister’s speech this morning to the Confederation of British Industry is that it was peculiar. 

The main thrust of the speech was meant to be about green growth as part of the government’s levelling up agenda — with an announcement that new homes and buildings will require electrical vehicle charging points from next year. But the announcements are not what is leading the coverage. Instead, it’s the Prime Minister’s confused manner as he had to stop and start before going off on a tangent about childrens’ television cartoon Peppa Pig. 

Johnson spent the bulk of the speech staring down at his notes — at one point losing his place and saying ‘forgive me’ repeatedly.

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