Starmer fluffed his lines at partygate PMQs

PMQs was a warm-up today. The main event was Boris’s response to Sue Gray’s partygate report. Boris’s body language was sheepish as he sat through PMQs. He hunched in his place, head down, legs crossed, his meaty arms enclosing his ribs in what psychologists call a ‘self-comforting’ gesture. He was giving himself a bear-hug.

Sir Keir predicted that the Tories would shortly perform a U-turn on windfall taxes. Probably true. But Boris wanted it both ways. He derided Labour’s passion for confiscating the assets of big business.

‘You can feel the lust for tax rising off the benches opposite,’ he said luridly.

Ian Blackford delivered a long, tetchy speech which liberated enough warm air to fill a weather balloon. His style rebounded on him when he announced that Boris had outstayed his welcome. ‘Time’s up!’ he said. ‘For you!’ they yelled back. Then he whipped himself into a self-righteous frenzy and accused the PM of indulging in ‘drink and debauchery’ at Number Ten.