PMQs: Jeremy Corbyn attacks 'part-time prime minister' over flooding response
Boris Johnson says he is "very proud" of the government's handling of widespread floods as he faces criticism in the Commons.
Wednesday 26 February 2020 14:43, UK
Boris Johnson has been branded a "part-time prime minister" as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn attacked his absence from flood-hit areas.
In his first public appearance for the past 12 days, Mr Johnson came in for fierce criticism from Mr Corbyn over his response to widespread flooding across the UK.
The Labour leader accused the "silent" prime minister of "sulking" in a grace-and-favour mansion in Kent during last week's parliamentary recess, when Mr Johnson ignored calls to visit affected communities.
During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Corbyn described how people were not asking "where's Wally?", but were questioning "where's Boris?" over the last few days.
Referring to how Mr Johnson did visit badly-hit areas in the last flooding crisis in November, Mr Corbyn said: "The prime minister was keen to pose for cameras when there was a crisis during the election.
"But he often goes AWOL - he was late to respond to the London riots because he was on holiday. He was on a private island when the Iranian general was assassinated.
"And last week he was with his head in the sand in a mansion in Kent."He added: "How can the country trust a part-time prime minister?"
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Mr Johnson said he was "very proud" of the government's response to flooding, saying there had been a "constant stream of ministerial activity" since the latest crisis began.
He also dismissed Mr Corbyn's criticism that the government had not called a meeting of its emergency COBRA committee to respond to the floods.
Highlighting how the National Flood Response Centre had instead been co-ordinating the response to the crisis, Mr Johnson quipped: "COBRA is a reference to Cabinet Office Briefing Room A - it is not the only room in which meetings can take place."
The prime minister added: "Not only have we been investing massively in flood defences and compensating those who suffered from flooding, but we have been stopping the early release of terrorists.
"We restored the nurses' bursary, we're beginning work on 40 new hospitals, we're recruiting 20,000 more police officers."
In an attack on the Opposition benches, Mr Johnson continued: "They still can't decide whether they want to be in the EU and the hottest topic of debate in the Labour Party is what job should Mr Corbyn have in the shadow cabinet after the leadership election.
"They are engaging themselves in narcissistic debate about the Labour Party, we are getting on in delivering the people's priorities."
Mr Johnson's first public appearance in almost two weeks meant it was also the first opportunity for him to be quizzed directly about the controversial recruitment of Andrew Sabisky as a Downing Street adviser.
Speaking about his brother, Graham, who was born with cerebral palsy, SNP MP Martin Docherty-Hughes criticised the delay in Mr Sabisky being removed from his role.
"Graham was born with cerebral palsy, unable to talk, walk or feed himself, he brought joy and love to all who knew him," said Mr Docherty-Hughes.
"Last week one of the prime minister's advisers resigned when a basic check of their internet history revealed that they had promoted eugenicist policies - the sort that would have ended my brother - Graham Docherty's - life before it began."
He asked why Mr Sabisky was not removed immediately from his role when his "abhorrent views became apparent".
Mr Johnson said: "Let's be absolutely clear that I certainly don't share those views and nor are they the views of anybody in this government and that individual no longer works for the government."