The first PMQs of the new Parliament will kick off shortly and Commons watchers will be looking to see if Dennis Skinner remains in his usual spot. The socialist firebrand, along with fellow members of Labour’s so-called awkward squad, has previously occupied the second opposition front bench — until the SNP’s 56 MPs came along and attempted to oust him.
But it appears that peace has broken out. The Sun’s Kevin Schofield reports that an agreement has been done to allow Skinner and Father of the House Gerald Kaufman to remain on the front bench, alongside SNP members. Other members of the awkward squad are not so lucky. As one nationalist MP informs Mr S:
‘Dennis Skinner isn’t the one we’re targeting — we have huge respect for him. We were taking our rightful position as the third opposition party on the front bench. It’s not about Dennis, it’s about Labour.’
Although this battle may be over, Steerpike expects more trouble between the SNP and Labour in the future.
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