LABOUR MPs FAWN OVER STARMER

Labour MPs paid glowing tributes to Keir Starmer following his first PMQs yesterday, but they all included a very specific word to describe his performance.  See if you can guess what it is...

A strong, forensic debut from @Keir_Starmer at #PMQs politely but with firm determination exposing Dominic Raab & where government needs to urgently improve its response to #COVID19

— Jonathan Ashworth (@JonAshworth) April 22, 2020

Fantastic first PMQs by @Keir_Starmer - calm, considered forensic dissection of Government’s PPE and testing failures. Acknowledging the difficulties Gov face but pushing them to do more. The devil is in the detail and Keir is all about the detail

— Chris Evans MP (@Chris_EvansMP) April 22, 2020

Forensic. Robust. But above all, fair.

Superb start at the despatch box from @Keir_Starmer as Leader of @UKLabour — at such a crucial time for our country. #PMQs

— Carolyn Harris MP (@carolynharris24) April 22, 2020

Confident, fluent, sharp, direct, forensic. A commanding first performance from @Keir_Starmer at #PMQs. The ideal leadership at this moment of global crisis.

— David Lammy (@DavidLammy) April 22, 2020

Powerful and forensic from @Keir_Starmer at first #PMQs. The government’s own numbers show they aren’t doing the testing they could be, and they aren’t keeping track of what’s going on in social care

— Bridget Phillipson (@bphillipsonMP) April 22, 2020

Powerful and forensic first outing at #PMQs for @Keir_Starmer. With our country in crisis, his calm, clear and focussed scrutiny is the leadership our country needs. The right approach, the right tone and the right questions.

— Luke Pollard MP (@LukePollard) April 22, 2020

Really excellent questioning by @Keir_Starmer in #PMQs getting to heart of testing issues in forensic and measured way

— Lucy Powell MP (@LucyMPowell) April 22, 2020

Powerful, forensic and direct questions by @Keir_Starmer at his first #PMQs. Holding the Government to account on their slow handling of the Coronavirus Crisis and challenging them on those issues of concern for the whole nation. #COVID19

— Naz Shah MP (@NazShahBfd) April 22, 2020

Penetrating, forensic questions asked persistently and absolutely in the right tone by @Keir_Starmer to @DominicRaab in #PMQs This is why parliamentary scrutiny of Government is so critical. The poor answers given exposed the gaps, delay and lack of resilience in place.

— Jo Stevens (@JoStevensLabour) April 22, 2020

Strong, forensic questioning from @Keir_Starmer at his first #PMQs against @DominicRaab, providing effective scrutiny and holding the Government to account on its handling of the #CoronavirusCrisis, making sure that, at this tough time, people’s worries and concerns are heard.

— Nick Thomas-Symonds MP (@NickTorfaen) April 22, 2020

Sir Squeaky will need to be a lot more than 'forensic' if he is to make inroads into the Tory lead.  Let's not forget that he was up against the PM's deputy rather than the man himself.  As for Starmer's own deputy, she doesn't instill much confidence.  Two weeks ago it was announced that Angela Rayner would be taking on Dominic Raab, but there was a sudden change of plan earlier this week and Starmer took over.  No explanation was forthcoming.  Perhaps it dawned on him that the first PMQs of his leadership was far too important to risk putting the hapless Rayner in charge.

Needless to say, not all Labour MPs were in love with Starmer after PMQs.  There were no words of support from the likes of Corbyn, Abbott, Lavery and co.  They are naturally more concerned with plotting to undermine his leadership and scapegoat their own failures.

I've added my name to this statement from members of the Socialist Campaign Group of Labour MPs ahead of tomorrow's Labour Party NEC meeting.

This outlines the steps we want to see from the investigation into recent allegations about senior party officials. pic.twitter.com/b7KZAyzRIK

— Richard Burgon MP (@RichardBurgon) April 22, 2020

Note that once again the name of Jeremy Corbyn is strangely absent from the list of signatories, leaving little doubt that he is the hard left puppet master...