David Cameron slammed for 'ugliest PMQs in years'
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn did not escape criticism for his 'shockingly weak' performance
David Cameron has been widely criticised for using yesterday's Prime Ministers Questions to launch personal attacks on opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn.
Coming on the eve of crucial elections across the country, "you'd expect PMQs to be a ding-dong about bin collections, council taxes and maybe even police and crime commissioners", says The Sun.
That was not the case. The Prime Minister wasted no time in seizing on Corbyn's handling of last week's anti-Semitism row "in some of the ugliest Commons scenes in recent memory", reports the paper.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The session began with a well-received joke from Corbyn, who took aim at Cameron's failure to remember which football team he was meant to support.
"I join the PM in congratulating Leicester City," he said. "But I hope it's not an indication that he's going to support another football team. Or is he going to stick with the two he's got already?"
A political punch-up quickly followed. "It didn't so much go downhill as rocket launch itself into the white hot centre of the earth," says Tom Peck, The Independent's parliamentary sketch writer.
Cameron jumped on calls for Corbyn to condemn anti-Israel groups Hamas and Hezbollah, repeatedly demanding that he retract the description he made of them as "friends" in 2009.
"Time and again Mr Cameron flew at the Labour leader, shouting, pirouetting, grinning, thumping the dispatch box and looking to his colleagues for approval," says the Daily Mail's Quentin Letts.
He argues that the Prime Minister's anger with Labour felt "false" and "political", adding: "It was the most unpleasant PMQs I have attended."
Ian Dunt, the editor of Politics.co.uk, came to a similar conclusion: "With polling stations opening in less than 24 hours, [Cameron] wanted the words 'Hamas' and 'Labour' to share as many sentences as possible."
Corbyn did get a chance to hit back at the PM, accusing the Conservatives of running a racially divisive smear campaign against Labour's candidate for London mayor, Sadiq Khan. He also attempted to steer the debate towards social issues, but was repeatedly shut down by Cameron.
"There are many reasonable criticisms to make of Mr Corbyn over Labour's anti-Semitism problem," says the Daily Telegraph. "But Mr Cameron's duty at PMQs is to answer questions about his government. And here he opportunistically ducked it."
However, the Labour leader did not escape criticism. He was "shockingly weak today, even by his own standards", said Dunt.
"They were both pitiful today: cynical, irresponsible and painfully short-sighted. Of the two, Cameron was by far the worst culprit," the journalist concluded.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is David Cameron overshadowing Rishi Sunak?
Talking Point Current PM faces 'thorny dilemma' as predecessor enjoys return to world stage
By The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Can Cameron put the Falklands sovereignty dispute to bed?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary says issue 'not up for discussion' ahead of visit amid renewed push from Argentina
By The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Will America recognize a Palestinian state?
Today's Big Question Israeli leader Benjamin Netanyahu opposes the move. Some see it as the only route to peace.
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
Fasting to burger buffets: the weird and wonderful diets of politicians
Why Everyone's Talking About Rishi Sunak reportedly starts his week with a 36-hour fast
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published