Deputy PMQ Dashboard as Raab and Rayner Stuck in Crime – POLITICO

The Prime Minister’s Questions: a garish, mocking advertisement, very occasionally useful for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from the latest session of POLITICO UK’s weekly review.

What they argued about: The gloves fell early in the exchanges between MPs Dominic Raab and Angela Rayner, who replace Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer as they attend the funeral of late Commons Speaker Betty Boothroyd.

The deputy Labor leader spoke about the ongoing investigation into Raab’s bullying, asking, as part of the government’s new crackdown on anti-social behavior, ‘will more bullies be brought to justice?’ Raab fired back, “I can assure the House that I have never called anyone a scum.” Rayner came under fire after calling the Tories “a bunch of scum” at a 2021 Labor conference.

Rayner used the rest of his questions to grill Raab on the government’s record on protecting women and girls, rape prosecutions and the current backlog.

Congratulation to: Mhairi Black of the SNP, who made his PMQ debut on MP’s Day as the party’s number two in Westminster. She used her question to mention the donkey-led sting of Tory MPs

growl of the day: Labor MPs didn’t like Raab turning a question about the death of British comic treasurer Paul O’Grady into an attack on so-called ‘wokery’ in comedy, especially since he called the late comic “Paul Grayson” – an apparent crossover with legendary 1970s camp entertainer Larry Grayson.

Useful intervention of the week: Tory backbencher Scott Benton broke off exuberant exchanges by using his question to criticize the Labor council’s apparent underinvestment in his Blackpool constituency. Raab – you’ll be shocked to know – was in complete agreement.

Totally unscientific notes: Rayner came armed with damning facts and figures about crime and the justice system that could not be turned favorably for the government, despite a valiant effort by Raab.

Raab 6/10 …Rayner 8/10 …animosity through the shipping box 10/10.

Not completely useless shock of PMQs: Tory MP Caroline Nokes asked Raab if – following the case of victim Georgia Harrison – he would commit to reviewing government revenge porn legislation to ensure more perpetrators are brought to justice – which Raab said he was happy to watch.