HENRY DEEDES: Suella was in a punchy mood: she’s had enough of Outrage Olympics
Whenever Labour goes a-wooing on the celebrity circuit, it usually ends in tears. Think of John Lennon handing back the MBE Harold Wilson had arranged for The Beatles.
Or Noel Gallagher disowning Tony Blair. That’s the problem with these celebs: they bend whichever way the wind’s blowing.
Still, that didn’t seem to stop Sir Keir Starmer courting Gary Lineker’s endorsement over the weekend after the Match Of The Day supremo was, temporarily as it turns out, suspended from the airwaves for comparing the Government’s rhetoric on immigration policy to the language of the Nazis.
From the tone of Sir Keir’s gushing defence, you got the impression he was almost ready to drape Saint Gary top-to-toe in ermine there and then.
Well, I suppose Lord Lineker of Leicester does have a certain ring.
Suella Braverman was in a punchy mood. Some Labour MPs the week before had accused her in the chamber of being xenophobic and racist. She wasn’t happy
Match Of The Day supremo Gary Lineker was suspended from the airwaves for comparing the Government’s rhetoric on immigration policy to the language of the Nazis
But how in tune is Starmer or Lineker with public opinion on this one?
During yesterday’s second reading of the Government’s Illegal Immigration Bill, which bans anyone who seeks asylum here illegally from ever returning, there were times when it wasn’t entirely obvious that the whole of Sir Keir’s own party was behind his opposition to the measure.
Since the proposed legislation was announced, many Labour MPs have made it clear they hate the Government’s Bill and hate discussing it even more. Yet their opposition to it last night was considerably more muted than the wide-eyed hysteria of last week.
It’s not totally impossible that some of them have discovered their constituents are more supportive of the policy than they first thought.
Even shadow home secretary Yvette Cooper exercised restraint at the dispatch box. Her usual pop-eyed explosion of pink-faced fury was replaced by something a little more measured.
It may be that she was aiming to project gravitas. Either that, or someone has suggested she tone down the theatrics. Still, the tension between her and Home Secretary Suella Braverman still bubbles nicely – lion and wildebeest enjoy more cordial relations.
Ms Braverman was in a punchy mood. Some Labour MPs the week before had accused her in the chamber of being xenophobic and racist.
She wasn’t happy. She announced she was fed up of being ‘hectored by out of touch Lefties’ and accused her opponents of being ‘naive do-gooders’.
As for Ms Cooper, she announced in her new, genteel manner that the Bill was a ‘huge con’ that wouldn’t stop the boats or smash the criminal gangs. She predicted it would ‘undermine our place in the world’ as a champion of human rights. As opposed to a laughing stock unable to patrol our borders?
Next to Ms Cooper was shadow immigration spokesman Stephen Kinnock, barking and chuntering noisily. By the way, I don’t recall any celebs backing Mr Kinnock’s father, Neil, when he was trying to be prime minister, but I do recall a string of them promising to flee the country as quickly as possible were he ever successful.
From the tone of Sir Keir’s gushing defence, you got the impression he was almost ready to drape Saint Gary top-to-toe in ermine
Far more animated were members of the SNP, who spent the session indulging in an extended contest of Outrage Olympics.
The undisputed victor ludorum of this championship was Joanna Cherry (SNP, Edinburgh SW), who did her best to distract Ms Braverman with repeated chirps of ‘What rubbish!’ or ‘Shame on you!’
An almighty explosion occurred at one point when Richard Graham (Con, Gloucester) had the temerity to suggest the SNP could afford to be critical of the Bill as they didn’t receive many asylum seekers.
Whoosh! Lava spewed from the mouth of Krakatoa was never so molten as the flaming fury that erupted from the Scots Nat benches.
The debate continued late into the night. No signs of rebellion were visible on the Government benches, meaning the vote was likely to sail through without a hitch.
Meanwhile, on a rally out on Parliament Square, Jeremy Corbyn (Ind, N Islington) was declaring ‘solidarity’ with Lineker.
Labour may soon come to the conclusion that Gary’s starry imprimatur could be more of a hindrance than a help.
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