Watch: Dennis Skinner tells Jeremy Hunt to ‘wipe that smirk off his face’

Given that the last time Dennis Skinner criticised a Tory Cabinet member in the Chamber he was ejected from the Commons, the Beast of Bolsover was on remarkably mild form today. Following Jeremy Hunt’s statement on the planned junior doctors strike, Skinner told the Health Secretary that he ought to ‘wipe that smirk off his face’:

‘When the Secretary of State came into the chamber today I don’t know whether he realises it or not but there is a smirk and arrogance about him that almost portrays the fact that he’s delighted in taking part in this activity.

He could start negotiations today. Wipe that smirk off his face. Get down to some serious negotiations. It’s had to be done in the past but instead he comes into here to try and blame the opposition for what is taking place.’

An unamused Hunt responded by telling the 84-year-old veteran Labour MP that his attack was ‘unworthy of his track record’ — before going on to make the point that the government has had 75 meetings with the BMA over the junior doctors’ contract, and made 74 concessions.