Memory Lapses Plague PMQs as Starmer and Badenoch Engage in Frustrating Exchange
In a bizarre and infuriating session of Prime Minister's Questions, Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch appeared to be struck down by a peculiar form of memory loss, leading to a chaotic and nearly pointless parliamentary debate. Both leaders dodged critical questions, with Starmer unable to recall details about Peter Mandelson and Badenoch drawing a blank on the Iran war, creating a maddening death spiral of evasion.
A Mutant Pathogen of Forgetfulness in Westminster
There seems to be something strange happening in Westminster, perhaps a mutant pathogen in the water, as both Starmer and Badenoch exhibited significant memory gaps. Starmer has forgotten everything about Peter Mandelson, while Badenoch has no recollection of the Iran war, condemning her to live in a permanent present with no awareness of recent events. This made PMQs a frustrating exercise, with questions asked but never answered, as two competing forms of amnesia battled for dominance.
Badenoch's Missed Opportunity on Iran War
One would have expected Kemi Badenoch to use her six questions to address the US war with Iran, a crisis that has dominated news cycles for weeks and could massively impact global economies. Instead, she focused on Mandelson, asking Starmer to be more forthcoming about his knowledge and timing regarding Mandelson's appointment. Starmer, however, could confirm nothing, citing a hole in his memory and admitting flaws in the process, effectively saying nothing at all.
Starmer's Counterattack and Timothy Controversy
Not content with dodging questions, Starmer went on the offensive, pointing out that while he may not remember Mandelson, he at least recalls the war, to which Badenoch looked utterly blank. He then turned the screw further, questioning why Badenoch hadn't sacked her shadow justice secretary, Nick Timothy, for his controversial tweet about Muslims praying in Trafalgar Square. Badenoch defended Timothy, claiming he was upholding "British values," a stance that echoed extreme right-wing trends and reignited her childish insult tactics.
Parliament at Its Worst: A Session to Forget
The rest of the exchanges followed a similar pattern, with Badenoch mentioning Mandelson and Starmer countering with the war and Timothy, creating a cacophony of missed connections. This session highlighted Parliament at its worst, though Starmer may have considered it a bonus that Badenoch's defense of Timothy played into his hands. Meanwhile, Nigel Farage's question on energy costs was met with a reminder of his previous support for escalating the war, but he seemed more focused on social media clips than answers.
Conclusion: No Coming Back from Shot Memories
The session ended with Tory points of order criticizing Starmer's evasiveness, but it went nowhere, reminiscent of Boris Johnson's tenure. Ultimately, when memories are shot, there's no recovery, leaving this PMQs as a forgettable yet revealing display of political dysfunction.
