PMQs LIVE: May’s priceless response as Corbyn asks for help to ‘stop reckless Boris’
Boris Johnson, the new Conservative leader and next prime minister will not be in the backbenches during the leaders’ joustings. Officially Mr Johnson is absent so as not to overshadow Mrs May’s final appearance at PMQs. Instead he will be putting the finishing touches to his cabinet after winning yesterday’s vote to be the new Tory leader.
However, many will see the absence as a final snub to Mrs May.
The pair have had a thorny relationship during Mrs May’s premiership, culminating in Mr Johnson quitting as foreign secretary last year in protest to the Prime Minister’s Brexit plan.
Mrs May is hoping for a grandstanding finish to her leadership when she takes on Mr Corbyn at midday.
She is expected to go all guns blazing against Mr Corbyn, whose party is facing fierce criticism for its handling of the antisemitism crisis.
After PMQs Mrs May will head to Buckingham Palace to formally quit as Prime Minister.
Mr Johnson will then head to the Palace to officially be appointed by the Queen as the new leader of the United Kingdom.
See below for live updates on today’s PMQs:
12.30pm: May on domestic violence: “I’m proud of Domestic Abuse Bill being brought to this house. We do need to continue working on prevention and continuing to raise awareness. These are criminal acts and should not be brushed under the carpet.”
12.28pm: Patrick McLoughlin praises PM on getting the economy back on “stable footing”.
May praises Chancellor Phillip Hammond for his help in getting an economy “fit for the future”.
12.27pm: May again forced to defend Boris.
“I look forward on the backbenches to giving my full support to the next PM on delivering Conservative policies.
12.22pm: Chi Onwurah asks PM – can she bring dignity to others as a WASPI woman – will she dedicate her PM retirement to justice for WASPIs.”
May says: “We’ve put £1billion extra into pension system recognising concerns from women.”
12.20pm: In response Mrs May respectfully responds. Over Boris: Yes I congratulate him and I look forward to a first class leadership delivering on whole of the UK.”
Blackford responds: “He has no mandate in Scotland. Scotland deserves better. 60% of people in Scotland are dismayed and disappointed by the new PM.”
12.18pm: SNP’s Ian Blackford said: “The time for holding PM to account has passed.
“While they are times we’ve clashed equally we have stood together when it was right to do so.
“PM – I wish you all the best.”
He adds: “Are you confident the office of PM can be upheld by your flagrant replacement.”
12.14pm: May hits back by mocking Corbyn’s U-turns: “He’s broken promise after promise to the people of the United Kingdom.”
She finishes by saying: “As a party leader who has accepted when her time is up – perhaps the time has now come for him to do the same”.
12.12pm: Corbyn heckled for long, rambling question, May responds by attacking Corbyn for “fake news he gives on the despatch box”.
Corbyn then criticises May for U-turns and finishes by saying best thing for Boris to do is “to call a general election and let the people decide their future”.
12.10pm: Corbyn on Brexit – ‘PMs own red lines ruled out a deal.”
“Her successor has no mandate at all – how will he succeed when she has not.
May hits back: I boted for the deal. What did Corbyn do? He voted against the deal and when there was the prospect of consensus he walked away from the talks.
“He was playing party politics – he should be ashamed of himself.”
12.05pm: Corbyn talks about poverty, violent crime, NHS waiting times going up and asks does the PM have “any regrets”.
May defends her record on education and employment and says “politics is about the difference we make to the lives of people up and down this country”.
12.04pm update: Jeremy Corbyn talks about May’s final day and he pays tribute to “her sense of public service”.
May smiles.
He adds:”I hope she has a marginally more relaxing time on the backbenches. And perhaps like the Chancellor even helping me to stop the reckless plans of her successor.”
May shakes her head.
12.01pm update: May asked how she feels about handing over to a man who ‘will sell us out to Donald Trump’
Theresa May fires back and says she is pleased to hand over to someone “she worked with while he was in her cabinetS.
Not a glowing endorsement.
11.30am update: Theresa May has left Number 10
Theresa May has left Number 10 to head to the House of Commons – where she will be supported by husband Philip.
Reports also suggest a packed press gallery for today’s PMQs.
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