MPs erupt in laughter after high Tory’s weird ‘stronger’ declare at PMQs
MPs could barely contain themselves at PMQs after the shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith insisted the Conservatives were going from strength to strength
MPs could not stop laughing at Tory shadow minister Andrew Griffith (Image: PA)
The Commons erupted into laughter on Wednesday after a senior Tory claimed their party was “getting stronger”, despite yet another Reform UK defection.
MPs could barely contain themselves at PMQs after the shadow business secretary Andrew Griffith insisted the Conservatives were going from strength to strength.
His bizarre claim after David Lammy, filling in for the PM during his trip to China, skewered the Tories following Suella Braverman being the latest failed minister to flee to Nigel Farage ’s group. Spurs fan Mr Lammy likened Tory defectors to Sol Campbell – who famously left White Hart Lane for Arsenal on a free transfer.
READ MORE: Keir Starmer takes swipe at Reform by-election pick – ‘toxic division’READ MORE: Tory defectors to Reform savaged in ‘tantrum’ jibe as Badenoch throws personal insults
He told the Commons: “26 Tory MPs and counting have already defected to Reform, and now they’re all counting down, because today it’s 100 days until the Tory transfer window slams shut. It’s going to be the longest and most disloyal transfer saga since Sol Campbell left Spurs.” Responding, Mr Griffith said: “I don’t know what is in his head, it’s our party that is getting stronger”.
The session also saw Mr Lammy had mocked the top Tory over his involvement in Liz Truss ’s disastrous mini-budget. To laughter, he said: “It’s always a pleasure to hear from the co-author of the mini-budget, and the man who said that Liz Truss ‘had the best plan to deliver for voters’. Remember that?”.
Earlier Kemi Badenoch has launched a blistering attack on former Tories who ditched the party to join Reform UK. In a scathing speech, the Conservative leader accused those who had defected of throwing “a tantrum dressed up as politics”. She aimed personal swipes at Nadhim Zahawi, Robert Jenrick, Andrew Rosindell and Ms Braverman, who all defected this month.
In a dig at Mr Jenrick, who had been Shadow Justice Secretary until Ms Badenoch sacked him, she apologised that he didn’t win the Tory leadership contest and to Mr Zahawi, for him not getting into the House of Lords. She also apologised to those who didn’t get a job in the shadow cabinet, in a dig that could apply to both Ms Braverman and Mr Rosindell.
