Jeremy Corbyn avoids avalanche of news to make PMQs one of the most lacklustre ever
In the last week there have been huge revelations on Russia, anti-Semitism, Facebook, and today the John Worboys decision - but the Labour leader managed to avoid all of them
COULD this week’s PMQs go down as one of the most lacklustre ever?
In the last week we’ve had an avalanche of news on Russia, Labour and anti-Semitism and Facebook privacy revelations.
Aside from even Brexit, today we've seen a series of domestic policy announcements on a plastic bottle disposal scheme, council tax rises for owners of empty homes and extra cash for the NHS.
And only hours before the leaders stood up for PMQs, the Government was dealt a blow after a High Court decision not to release the rapist John Worboys.
Justice Secretary David Gauke previously said a judicial review on his release would NOT be successful.
Anyway, you might think Jeremy Corbyn would have wanted to question the PM on one of these issues.
But instead he picked up the issue of mental health and NHS staff shortages.
It's a subject Theresa May cares deeply about and one she easily reeled off a string of statistics on.
The Labour leader calmly listed examples of poor care – including the tragic cases of Connor Sparrowhawk and Teresa Colvin who died while in the care of Southern Care – fined this week for £2m over their deaths.
The PM joined him in paying tribute to their families.
He also told the story of a female patient suffering a borderline personality disorder who had to wait three months then a further three months for an appointment while the PM repeated recent Government announcements on boosts to mental health services.
Usually rowdy backbenchers had little to shout about bar some Labour MPs heckling the PM on the Government’s mental health record.
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After a tedious exchange back and forth a mildly exasperated Mrs May accused them of “chuntering”.
The monotony was only broken by Tory MP Craig McKinlay who came up with surely the most boring question ever (for anyone outside of Ramsgate in Kent anyway).
His question to the PM began: “Mr Speaker, the people of Ramsgate face an uncertain future for their dental care...”
FINAL SCORE: Theresa May 4 - 2 Jeremy Corbyn
