Voters left wondering as parliament goes from panto to farce
With just 100 days until Brexit, many will be watching MPs and wondering if there's enough leadership to guide the UK.
Wednesday 19 December 2018 21:20, UK
It was all going so well. The last PMQs of the year saw Jeremy Corbyn on the front foot, accusing the prime minister of "playing for time" after she delayed a vote on her Brexit deal.
The Labour leader told the House of Commons that Theresa May had "botched negotiations" and was now "wasting £4bn of public money" with her "no-deal" Brexit plans.
It was all a "cynical attempt to drive this deeply damaging deal through the house", Mr Corbyn pronounced.
He was on a roll. But it didn't last long.
Mrs May hit back with a joke about pantomimes, prompting cheers of "Oh no he didn't!" from her backbenchers.
At which point, proceedings turned from panto to farce.
Mr Corbyn, according to some, muttered the words "stupid woman".
It sparked outrage and anger from MPs.
Later, the prime minster herself said in the centenary year of women getting the vote, MPs should use "appropriate language" when addressing female colleagues.
Parliament appeared in meltdown.
Except Mr Corbyn's team soon rebuffed the accusation.
Did he really say that? To coin the prime minister's earlier phrase, "Oh no he didn't".
The Labour leader found himself back in the Commons a few hours later, telling MPs he actually said "stupid people".
Whatever his words, it wasn't a particularly edifying moment for parliament.
And with just 100 days until Brexit, many voters will be watching the Commons wondering if either side has enough leadership to guide the country through the coming critical days.