“Welcome to the circus!”, one MP shouted as Jacob Rees-Mogg got to his feet to answer questions on behalf of Her Majesty’s Government.
The multimillionaire, Eton and Oxford alumni is every bit the Tory caricature – but then, so is his new boss in Number 10.
The Brexiteer Bullingdon Club has taken over the Commons, promising not to smash restaurants but instead to trash Theresa May’s hated EU exit deal.
Confronting the new world order, SNP MP Pete Wishart said: “I went to bed last night and had this horrible nightmare that the UK Government had been taken over by rabid, right-wing Brexiteers. I am not particularly sure whether I am awake yet.”
Nor did the frontbench it would seem, who looked as though they were about to pinch themselves awake for much of yesterday’s proceedings.
Mr Wishart brought the nightmare of business questions, which was held in a stifling Commons chamber, to a close by wishing Mr Rees-Mogg a warm and happy recess – adding: “It is hot outside, but as the Government continue to open the doors of hell in their buffoon’s Brexit, it is going to get a lot hotter yet.”
And a lot hotter it did get with arrival of Boris Johnson in the chamber – Tory MPs took noise levels to a decibel not heard since a bomb was dropped through the roof during the Blitz.
Mr Johnson appeared prime ministerial for his 15 minute opener, reiterating pledges and promises, keeping on message and not straying into the obscure – that was merely a warm up. For after Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn criticised Mr Johnson’s abilities, our blonde mopped premier came flying back across the despatch box at machine gun speed.
Each rebuke was accompanied with an almighty cheer as Labour MPs complained they couldn’t hear Mr Johnson. Eventually shadow Chancellor John McDonnell, who was the butt of several of Mr Johnson’s jokes, stood, shook his head and left the chamber.
If the outing was anything to go by, prime minister’s questions will return as an event to put in your calendar each week.
