![boris graffiti 3 boris graffiti 3](https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.873125067.7425/mp,504x516,gloss,f8f8f8,t-pad,600x600,f8f8f8.jpg)
Sir Keir seized on Mr Johnson's absence, accusing him of 'corruption', of 'damaging democracy' and lacking 'the decency either to defend or apologise for his actions'. It is the first time in a year that Labour has been ahead with the pollster. The blustering came as an Ipsos MORI poll for the Standard gave the latest indication that the party has taken a huge hit, even though ministers have dismissed the row as a 'storm in a teacup'.Īlthough much of the fieldwork was carried out before the dramatic vote last Wednesday, the Tories were down four points since September on 35 per cent.Ĭrucially that was below Labour, with Keir Starmer's party on 36 per cent support. And Lib Dem Wendy Chamberlain said events had been more reminiscent of the 'Duma in Moscow' than Westminster. 'Please do not criticise the commissioner for standards who is doing the job that we have appointed her to do.'ĭespite the entreaties from the Speaker, one Labour MP immediately swiped that Mr Johnson had acted like a 'tin-pot dictator'. And in an apparent jibe at ministers, he defended watchdog Kathryn Stone - who has been subjected to death threats after the row. Sir Lindsay warned that everyone must stop 'political sniping' and work across parties to clear up this 'mess'. Speaker Mr Hoyle opened the session by warning that Mr Johnson's abortive bid to save ally Owen Paterson from lobbying punishment had been highly damaging to parliament's reputation. 'Now he always likes to remind me of battles of past, can I say to him today he's like the Brave Sir Robin from Monty Python from the Holy Grail bravely running away from doing his duty at the dispatch box,' he added, as the Commons erupted in laughter, with even Jacob Rees-Mogg smiling at the jibe. He should be standing here defending the Government's actions and telling us what he's going to do.
![boris graffiti 3 boris graffiti 3](https://i2-prod.somersetlive.co.uk/incoming/article3748868.ece/ALTERNATES/s1200c/0_1.jpg)
It was him who defended it to the highest hilt. It was him who brought that grubby motion to the debate last Wednesday. Mr Harper, who voted against the Government to oppose easing sanctions on Mr Paterson last week, said that as 'team captain' Mr Johnson should have been present tonight to apologise for last week's vote, adding: 'That's the right thing to do in terms of demonstrating leadership.'Īnger turned to derision during the debate, with SNP politician Peter Wishart comparing Mr Johnson to 'Brave Sir Robin', the cowardly knight in the comedy Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Many Tory MPs followed his example with only around 50 - just one in seven of the total - present in the Commons for the debate.īut of one of those who did take part, former chief whip Mark Harper, slammed the PM for not taking part. The Prime Minister had earlier attempted to bat away criticism for failing to attend the debate, refusing to apologise and claiming there is 'not much more to say' about the Paterson case. MPs also branded the Prime Minister a 'tin-pot dictator' and accused him of behaving like Vladimir Putin over his reaction to sleaze - as the Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle warned that Parliament's standards commissioner must not be publicly undermined.
![boris graffiti 3 boris graffiti 3](https://rustamsoft.com/content/images/screens/boris-graffiti_2.png)
The PM was lambasted by Opposition politicians as the Commons held an emergency debate in the wake of the Owen Paterson scandal - which Mr Johnson avoided by saying he could not get back from a visit to Northumberland in time. MPs mocked Boris Johnson last night by comparing him to Monty Python's cowardly knight 'Brave Sir Robin' - who infamously fled rather than faces foes in battle - after the Prime Minister ducked away from a sleaze debate in the Commons.