THE whacky world of Westminster is all about throwing political punches, preferably, at the right time and at the right spot.
During the ritual slugfest that is PMQs, Thezza had her fists clenched when the SNP champion rose to try to deliver a knock-out blow.
Of course, the day before in yet another heated Brexit scuffle Ian Blackford had branded the PM a “liar” and, after a little encouragement from the Speaker, retracted it. Accusing a fellow parliamentarian of dishonesty is a big no-no in the gentlemanly world of Westminster.
And so in another request to put ‘em up, the Highlander accused Mrs M of arrogance by trying to run the clock down on Brexit. Referring to her loquacious adviser Olly Robbins, he told the head girl: “You have come to the end of the road, rumbled by your own loose-lipped senior Brexit adviser. Will the PM now face down the extremists in her own party and extend Article 50?”
It was a rhetorical question given we all know what Thezza’s policy is.
But she carefully aimed her punch at Mr Blackford’s - and, more generally, the SNP’s - hooter to declare: “He complains about no deal, but of course, it was the SNP who wanted to leave the UK without a plan. Perhaps we should remind the SNP that independence would have meant leaving the EU with no deal.”
The Nationalist volcano erupted. SNPers gesticulated furiously and shouted their disapproval at the PM’s assertion. Things were obviously not going to rest there.
And so after the teeth and blood of another fractious PMQs' fight were swept away, Mr B rose on a Point of Order.
Brandishing a hastily fetched Scottish Government’s White Paper on independence, he suggested - politely this time - that Maggie May had “perhaps inadvertently misled the House” when she claimed the SNP had no plan for independence; he was holding it, Scotland’s Future, in his hand.
The Speaker allowed another intervention from the defender of the Conservative faith in Moray, Douglas Ross – known for his own refereeing skills – who suggested to Nationalist frowns that the SNP prospectus contained “many errors and omissions”.
Later, the Highlander upped the rhetoric, telling reporters Thezza’s behaviour was “unbecoming of a prime minister”. Unrestraining himself, he added: “In fact, I'll go further than that; I don't think a prime minister who behaves in such a way has the characteristics of a person who is fit for the office of Prime Minister of the United Kingdom."
Back in the Commons, another miffed Nationalist, Mhairi Black, appealed to the Speaker, pointing out how as Mr B had made his own Point of Order some MPs had behaved discourteously by cutting off his “line of sight”.
Mr Bercow thanked the Paisley MP’s helpful deprecation, saying indeed it was “unseemly and discourteous behaviour” for MPs to walk in front of someone who had the floor.
But he also noted how it was regrettable that her “prodigious efforts on behalf of her party leader” had not been witnessed by the man himself; moments earlier, the Highlander had left the chamber.
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