PMQs: Boris feels more threatened by Sir Ed than Sir Keir

At PMQs Sir Keir Starmer led on the tricky subject of rape. He cornered the PM with a precisely worded four-part question about the fact that 98 per cent of reported rapes don’t lead to criminal charges. The PM countered that Labour had recently voted against a bill that toughened up sentences for violent sexual offenders. Sir Keir had war-gamed this in advance. And how he pounced.

‘What provision, what clause, what chapter or what words of that bill will do anything to change the fact that 98.4 per cent of reported rapes don’t end up in a charge?’

Without hesitation, Boris said, ‘Section 106 and 107 of that bill would have stopped the early release of rapists.’

Sir Keir was aghast. ‘What an appalling answer!’ He’d asked about charges and Boris had answered about sentences. But alas, appearances are everything. And the PM appeared to have given a prompt and salient reply.