PMQs: Starmer’s astonishing Nigel Farage imitation

The small boats have landed. PMQs was dominated by the migration issue and the flotillas of dinghies struggling across the channel each day. So far this year over 40,000 doughty oarsmen have braved the seas in inflatable rafts. And they’re not just desperate to flee France with its rude waiters, pretentious language and over-complicated cheese menus. There’s another motive. We were about to hear it in plain language from the despatch box. 

Sir Keir started it. At first he merely sought to destabilise Suella Braverman and reinforce the clamour for her removal. 

‘The Home secretary says our asylum system is broken. Who broke it?’ he asked. 

Rishi Sunak, usually lightening-quick, paused for a second.

‘Let’s look at the record on immigration,’ he said. Swiftly changing the subject he reminded us that the Tories had given Britain the In/Out referendum. True enough. But that pledge was made by David Cameron in 2013 and it seemed a little odd to re-announce it nine years later.