The PM defended his Home Secretary as opposition members tried to force her resignation, live on TV, at PMQs. Priti Patel, in a muted fuchsia dress, sat on the Treasury bench nestled snugly between Jacob Rees-Mogg and the Prime Minister. This casual arrangement cannot have been more deliberate. Here she is, announced the seating-plan, and here she stays.
Jeremy Corbyn tried first. He demanded ‘an independent investigation into the home secretary’s conduct led by an external lawyer.’ He also wanted ‘a date when the findings will be made public.’
Boris ducked this blatantly.
‘The home secretary is keeping this country safe. She believes in stopping the early release of offenders… and introducing a points-based immigration system.’
His plan was to turn the session into a party political broadcast. Every accusation levelled against Ms Patel would elicit a check-list of government initiatives spearheaded by the pocket-dynamo beside him.
The Patel-bashing continued. The more they slugged her, the more he plugged her
He reminded everyone that John McDonnell, the Shadow Chancellor, ‘has not yet apologised for his call for a member of our party to be lynched.
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