Keir Starmer mocked as Commons admits he doesn’t answer PMQs questions | Politics | News

Keir Starmer was the subject of ridicule this evening after it was revealed he had given up on claiming he had answered questions in the House of Commons at PMQs. Over the past year the Commons’ official X account has been ridiculed on a weekly basis for repeatedly claiming Sir Keir comes to parliament on Wednesdays and “answers MPs’ questions”.

This language was repeated weekly in social media posts on the House of Commons’ official account to promote the major parliamentary dispute between the Prime Minister and Kemi Badenoch. But the Express can reveal that even the House of Commons has admitted the Prime Minister rarely responds to questions MPs put to him. The language of weekly social media posts has changed since the new year.

It now reads: “Today Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer faced questions from MPs at @houseofcommons.”

When this change was pointed out by the Express, a senior Tory source joked: “As his popularity has waned, Starmer has given up trying to answer even moderately probing questions.

“He holds his red binder like a lifebuoy, bleats his pre-written lines, and never stays on his feet.

“There is no charm, no answers and no substance. He is a sitting Prime Minister but he is not in control.”

Just this week Kemi Badenoch criticized Sir Keir for failing to answer a simple question about his latest U-turn on business rates at a time when pub owners are desperate for answers.

The Tory chairman fumed: “He didn’t answer the question about business rates, it looks like he doesn’t know what his policy is and it was all nonsense!”

A House of Commons spokesman said: “We provide content across a range of channels to guide and explain the business of the House of Commons, content is refreshed and updated regularly.”