PMQs: Johnson strains over ‘gesture politics’

Boris Johnson’s uncomfortable session at Prime Minister’s Questions was largely of his own making rather than the work of Keir Starmer. As I wrote earlier, the Tories have tied themselves in knots over the question of taking the knee to the extent that they are now open to accusations that they don’t really care about racism. The Labour leader did a reasonable job of prosecuting the various statements made by Johnson and others, including Priti Patel’s comment that it was ‘gesture politics’. 

That Johnson was nervous about the theme of the session became obvious when he brandished a leaflet from the Batley and Spen by-election which he demanded Labour retract. Prime Ministers don’t tend to make a habit of carrying out of date by-election literature in their handbags unless they are hoping to use it as a protective shield.