Keir Starmer has taunted Rishi Sunak by asking if he’s keen to move back to California after his neighbours voted Labour.
In a lively PMQs exchange, Mr Starmer likened the Prime Minister to a “dodgy salesman desperate to sell (the public) a dud”. It was the first time the under-fire PM has faced the Commons since the Tories were battered in last week’s local elections.
The Prime Minister was rocked moments before the PMQs session by the defection of Tory Natalie Elphicke. Mr Starmer, calling on his rival to finally call a general election, said: “How many times must the public reject him before he gets the hint?”
Gloating about Labour victories in Mr Sunak’s constituency and in Southampton – where the PM grew up – as well as London, Mr Starmer said: “At least after Thursday night he (Mr Sunak) can go to the many places that he calls home and enjoy the fruits of his success. In Southampton or Downing Street he’s got a great Labour Council.
“Or at his mansion in Richmond and he can enjoy a brand new Labour Mayor of North Yorkshire. Or at his pad in Kensington he can celebrate a historic third term for the Mayor of London. Now he too could enjoy the benefits of this changed Labour Party. Is he really in such a hurry to get back to California?”
Mr Sunak meekly struck back: “The people of North Yorkshire believe in hard work, secured borders, lower taxes and straight talking common sense. They’re not going to get any of that from a virtue signalling lawyer from North London.”
Revelling in the moment, Mr Starmer said: “All his neighbours are backing this changed Labour Party and they keep rejecting him because they have sussed him out. They know there’s nothing behind the boasts, the gimmicks, the smug smile. He’s a dodgy salesman, desperate to sell them a dud.”
The Tories lost more than 470 council seats in England and Wales last week, and only won one mayoral race, in Tees Valley. Labour also swept to victory in the Blackpool South by-election.
And Mr Sunak’s troubles don’t end there. Last week ex-minister Dr Dan Poulter crossed the floor to Labour, and now Ms Elphicke has done the same.
Moments before PMQs started, Ms Elphicke released a scathing statement which said: “Under Rishi Sunak, the Conservatives have become a byword for incompetence and division. The centre ground has been abandoned and key pledges of the 2019 manifesto have been ditched.
“Meanwhile the Labour Party has changed out of all recognition.”