Boris Johnson was confronted by MPs for the first-time since he won a no confidence vote during his leadership.
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PMQs – Starmer jokes about Boris Johnson being booed
Boris Johnson, who is under fire, stated that his political career had ended “barely begun”And he insisted that he has made enemies within his party because of what he’s done “big, remarkable things”.
The Prime Minister was informed that he was “loathed”Since he had survived a no confidence vote, he appeared before the MPs.
To the cheers of a few Tories, he arrived in the Commons to hear cheers and shouts. Others sat silently, with some crossing their arms, in stony silence.
Labour leader KeirStarmer made fun of him for his shouts. “I couldn’t make out whether that introductory noise was cheers or boos.
“I have no idea if it’s directed at me or him.”
In a fractious PMQs clash, Labour’s Angela Eagle fired off an opening salvo where she told him the events of the week showed how “loathed” he was and confronted him over Conservative infighting.
She said: “As his administration is too distracted by its internal divisions to deal with the challenges we face, can he explain if 148 of his backbenchers don’t trust him, why on earth should the country?”
The PM insisted “absolutely no one” is going to stop him getting on with the job and claimed critics didn’t like his ambitious policy agenda.
He joked: “In a long political career so far – it’s barely begun – I have of course picked up political opponents all over.
“This is because the Government has done some extraordinary, huge things that they didn’t approve of.”
He said “Absolutely nothing and absolutely none” would stop him from getting on with the job.
The PM clung onto power by 211 votes to 148 on Monday night – which means a whopping 41% of Tory MPs don’t back him.
Theresa May won her confidence vote in 2018 with 37% of Conservatives opposing her. She quit less than six months later after failing to get her Brexit deal through Parliament.
The PM is trying to shore up support from mutinous MPs by dangling policy ideas ranging from cheaper childcare to an overhaul of Margaret Thatcher’s ‘Right to Buy’ scheme to let social housing tenants buy their homes.
He is facing particular pressure to cut taxes as millions of Brits struggle with the mounting cost of living crisis.
Health Secretary Sajid Javid acknowledged the pandemic had resulted in “Public finances facing challenges” but told Today: “I’d like to see cuts wherever they are possible.
“And I know that this is something the Government is taking very seriously and I know that it’s something that the Chancellor will look at.”
