Bungling Prime Minister scores ‘nul points’ in Eurovision stunt
THERESA May was given “nul points” for her handling of Brexit negotiations yesterday as Scottish Secretary David Mundell was put on the rack over a delay in the EU Withdrawal Bill. SNP MP Pete Wishart flashed a Eurovision-style “nul points” placard in front of May after he’d asked her to score herself on her handling of Brussels talks. At Prime Minister’s Questions, the Perth MP asked May: “On a scale between one to 10, how does the Prime Minister think her Brexit is going, with 10 being all going perfectly, we know what we want to achieve and we know how to get it, and one being chaotic cluelessness?” As the PM began to answer from the dispatch box, Wishart reversed his order paper to show “nul points” printed on it in block capitals. That earned him a reprimand from Speaker John Bercow – who bans props from the chamber – while the PM paused to shake her head. Bercow said of Wishart: “I think when he comes to reflect on his conduct he’ll know he can do better than that.”
SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford also took the PM and Scottish Secretary David Mundell to task over the failure of the UK Government to table amendments to the EU Withdrawal Bill before it goes to the Lords.
Mundell promised changes to the Bill when it returns to the Commons next week – but has now blamed the departure of Damian Green from the Cabinet Office as the reason for the delay.
SNP MPs and Scottish Tory MPs are angry the promised changes will now have to be dealt with in the House of Lords.
Blackford said Mundell owed Scotland an apology for raising expectations on the technical change to the Bill.
He said: “What I would say to him is David, do your job. You’re there to be the Secretary of State for Scotland. Demonstrate to the country that you can do that.”
Earlier David Lidington, the new Cabinet Secretary, said he would be “intensifying” discussions with Deputy First Minister John Swinney to get agreement on Brexit and allow the Scottish Government to approve the Bill. He has offered a Joint Ministerial Committee meeting in London in the next few weeks.