Keir Starmer mocked Rishi Sunak’s “tough talk” over Boris Johnson’s resignation honours today as he challenged the Prime Minister to trigger a snap general election.
The Labour leader said the Conservatives had “spent this last week arguing over which of them gets a peerage”.
In a fiery Commons clash, the pair traded blows over shameless Mr Johnson’s decision to shower allies with gongs.
They included awards for aides who were accused of helping "cover-up" allegations over Partygate, and officials who held a No10 gathering the night before Prince Philip's funeral in April 2021.
Blasted for failing to veto the list of honours, the PM was forced to plead: “I followed the process to the letter.”
Earlier this week, Mr Sunak claimed: “When it comes to honours and Boris Johnson, Boris Johnson asked me to do something that I wasn't prepared to do because I didn't think it was right - that was to either overrule the (House of Lords Appointments) committee or to make promises to people.
“Now, I wasn't prepared to do that because I didn't think it was right and if people don't like that then tough."
But, speaking at Prime Minister’s Questions today, Mr Starmer told MPs: “For all his tough talk after the event, he did sign off the list. If he’s so ‘tough’ why didn’t he block it?”
He added: “Call a general election now!”
Mr Sunak taunted the Labour leader over his own knighthood as he explained the protocol surrounding the granting of honours.
“I would expect a knight like him to understand that,” said the PM.
But Mr Starmer hit back: “Honours should be for public service not Tory cronies.”
Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was forced to intervene when the Conservative leader criticised Labour’s record on nominating former MPs for peerages.
Sir Lindsay told Mr Sunak: “You’re not responsible for the other parties, you are the Prime Minister that’s answering the questions not asking the questions.”
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