By PM retains ‘getting on with job’ rhetoric
The PM is addressing MPs about ‘partygate’ and accusations that he deliberately misled parliament.
“It did not occur to me that I was in breach of the rules” the PM said.
Sir Keir Starmer opened with an explosive attack on the PM and his supporters.
“He is dishonest, incapable of changing, and drags everyone else down with him.”
The Speaker later tells Starmer to withdraw his use of the word “dishonest”.
Starmer rephrased “knows what he is”.
Starmer notes that some ministers have compared the PM’s penalty with a speeding fine.
“No one has ever broken down in tears because they couldn’t drive faster than 20mph outside a school,” the Labour leader says.
“Don’t insult the public with this nonsense.”
Starmer says a “half-hearted apology will never be enough for John”.
John Robinson was a constituent referred to in a relevant story of lockdown restrictions where the man was unable to comfort his dying wife.
He concludes by urging Conservative MPs to “put their country first, put their conscience first, put John Robinson first, and remove the prime minister from office”.
Responding to the Labour leader, the PM “profusely” yet again.
Johnson says his opponent has responded with “a series of personal attacks”.
If an attempt to distract, the PM then says “good thing” if Starmer had mentioned the crisis in Ukraine.
“This government will get on with our job,” the PM adds, rhetoric continuously used throughout.
And the PM apologizes once more, saying the government “should not indulge in personal abuse but get on with the job”.
The SNP’s Westminster leader Ian Blackford says the PM has broken the law and adds that: “If he has any decency he would not just apologize, he would resign.”
He urges Conservative MPs to “grow a spine” and remove Johnson as their leader.
Labour’s Margaret Hodge asks how he can “credibly justify calling for the resignation of the boss of P&O ferries when he faced allegations of breaking the law while on the other hand, he is refusing to resign when he is guilty of breaking the law”.
Tory MP Mark Harper says he strongly supports the government in standing up to Ukraine, but says it is times like this the prime minister must “exemplify the values” of the UK.
He adds that he is “no longer worthy of great office he holds”.
