PMQs: Boris looks chipper for a man on the brink

And still they try. MPs are desperate to get the Prime Minister to quit, live on TV, during PMQs. As if that’s about to happen.

Sir Starmer has spent the last week polishing his puns. The busy wordsmith has spotted that the verb ‘scrap’ may mean ‘fight’ as well as ‘abolish’. Inspired by this linguistic accident he asked the PM to stop ‘scrapping’ with his Chancellor and get on with ‘scrapping’ his new emergency energy package. Brilliant! What a barb! How Suzie Dent must have marvelled at Professor Starmer’s verbal dexterity. 

But as the applause from Dictionary Corner died away, it became clear that puns count for nothing in the bear-pit of politics. Governments don’t fall because the opposition leader dazzled the electorate with a superior display of philological footwork. Perhaps Sir Keir senses his quarry heading for a place of safety, and today he affected an air of chortling superiority. He shrugged and huffed at Boris, scolding him impatiently, like a bored dog-trainer with a naughty puppy.