The Daily T Starmer's ‘farcical’ PMQs as Rayner starts leadership race
Mar 18, 2026
Geoffrey Cox, barrister and former Attorney General, defends trial by jury and the role of parliamentary debate. He discusses how juries protect ordinary people, links jury trial to national identity and common law, and explores practical solutions to court delays. Short, lively reflections on combative Commons exchanges and the friction around recent PMQs.
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Starmer's PMQs Avoidance Became A Strategy
- Keir Starmer repeatedly avoided direct answers at PMQs, turning questions about Peter Mandelson into attacks on Labour's stance on Iran and Islamism.
- Camilla Tominey and Tim Stanley highlight Starmer's strategy of leaning into policy themes (Iran, Muslim relations) instead of answering factual scrutiny about Mandelson.
PMQs Relies On Conventions Not Codified Rules
- PMQs has formal rules but relies on the prime minister to answer; Starmer's aggressive, pre-emptive style and nervous delivery undermined that convention.
- Lindsay Hoyle's visible irritation and calls to consider changing standing orders show institutional strain over unanswered questions.
Andrew Snowden's One-Question Clap Moment
- Andrew Snowden condensed Kemi Badenoch's six Mandelson questions into one effective intervention, drawing applause and spotlighting a new Conservative performer.
- Camilla notes Jesse Norman clapped and predicted Snowden might join the shadow front bench soon.