SNP chief has Commons in stiches with Starmer dig as Deputy Speaker intervenes

PMQs: Flynn targets Starmer with ‘Thatcherite’ jibe

Stephen Flynn branded Sir Keir Starmer a “Thatcherite” as he grilled Rishi Sunak during PMQs today.

The SNP Westminster leader’s comments come after the Labour leader sparked fury from some within his party for praising Margaret Thatcher in an article over the weekend.

Mr Flynn asked: “Is the Prime Minister worried that he is projected to be the first Conservative Party leader to lose a general election to a fellow Thatcherite?”

The SNP politician’s question prompted a rowdy response in the Commons as MPs could be heard laughing and shouting.

Deputy Speaker Eleanor Laing was forced to intervene and call for quiet for the Prime Minister’s reply.

Click here to join our Whatsapp community to be the first to receive politics news from The Express

Ms Laing, who was standing in for Sir Lindsay Hoyle who has Covid, said: “We really must hear the Prime Minister and we’ve got a lot of questions to get through.”

The PM replied: “Margaret Thatcher’s view was cut inflation, then cut taxes and then win a general election and that’s very much my plan.”

It comes after the Labour leader praised Baroness Thatcher in an apparent bid to woo Tory voters.

In an article for the Sunday Telegraph, he named the ex-Conservative politician alongside former Labour prime ministers Tony Blair and Clement Attlee.

Sir Keir said: “Every moment of meaningful change in modern British politics begins with the realisation that politics must act in service of the British people, rather than dictating to them.

“Margaret Thatcher sought to drag Britain out of its stupor by setting loose our natural entrepreneurialism.”

But Sir Keir’s comments angered Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf who said it was “an insult” to Scotland.

  • Support fearless journalism
  • Read The Daily Express online, advert free
  • Get super-fast page loading


Source: Read Full Article