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Was Jeremy Corbyn at the Commons just for some peace and quiet? Was Jeremy Corbyn at the Commons just for some peace and quiet?
(about 1 hour later)
The times they are a-changing. Less than 48 hours ago, the House of Commons was an unwelcome interruption into any party leaders’ time. A necessary nod to the democratic process in between getting on with the serious business of advantageous photoshoots, creating policy and making sure potentially troublesome backbenchers were going to play ball. No longer. To the general amazement of everyone in the House, Jeremy Corbyn wandered into the chamber shortly before 3.30 to attend the second reading of the government’s trade union bill.The times they are a-changing. Less than 48 hours ago, the House of Commons was an unwelcome interruption into any party leaders’ time. A necessary nod to the democratic process in between getting on with the serious business of advantageous photoshoots, creating policy and making sure potentially troublesome backbenchers were going to play ball. No longer. To the general amazement of everyone in the House, Jeremy Corbyn wandered into the chamber shortly before 3.30 to attend the second reading of the government’s trade union bill.
It was the silence that gave away the surprise. The Tory benches were left dumbstruck, desperately opening and closing their mouths like dying goldfish, while the Labour MPs looked as if they had seen a ghost. No one had been given any prior warning about how to react, so they all tried to behave as if nothing unusual had happened. Corbyn strolled in, chatted to the Speaker and the assistant whip, Phil Wilson, before sitting down next to Chris Bryant at the wrong end of the front bench, before someone suggested he might be better off moving along to sit next to Angela Eagle at the business end by the despatch box.It was the silence that gave away the surprise. The Tory benches were left dumbstruck, desperately opening and closing their mouths like dying goldfish, while the Labour MPs looked as if they had seen a ghost. No one had been given any prior warning about how to react, so they all tried to behave as if nothing unusual had happened. Corbyn strolled in, chatted to the Speaker and the assistant whip, Phil Wilson, before sitting down next to Chris Bryant at the wrong end of the front bench, before someone suggested he might be better off moving along to sit next to Angela Eagle at the business end by the despatch box.
If Corbyn had a game plan, it was one that was far too cunning for the rest of the Commons to decipher. The best guess was that he was sick to death of being hounded by news reporters wanting to know why he hated women and when he was going to announce the creation of the People’s Republic of Islington and that he had come to the chamber for a bit of peace and quiet. This seemed all the likelier minutes later when John McDonnell, the new shadow chancellor, wandered in and took a seat on the other side of Eagle. McDonnell is another of the Labour front bench team who could probably do with a few hours’ R&R.If Corbyn had a game plan, it was one that was far too cunning for the rest of the Commons to decipher. The best guess was that he was sick to death of being hounded by news reporters wanting to know why he hated women and when he was going to announce the creation of the People’s Republic of Islington and that he had come to the chamber for a bit of peace and quiet. This seemed all the likelier minutes later when John McDonnell, the new shadow chancellor, wandered in and took a seat on the other side of Eagle. McDonnell is another of the Labour front bench team who could probably do with a few hours’ R&R.
One faint possibility was that Corbyn might actually have turned up to speak in person. Having earlier suggested he might use prime minister’s questions as a chance to give other frontbenchers to tackle David Cameron mano a mano, was he now demanding a quid pro quo and making a land grab for other ministers’ despatch box time? Thankfully not. If there’s one minister more than capable of looking after herself it’s Angela Eagle. As shadow leader of the house, she saw off Andrew Rawnsley, William Hague and Chris Grayling so the business secretary, Sajid Javid, who was introducing the bill, looked less than thrilled to be dealing with Eagle rather than her predecessor, Chuka Umunna, whom he had been expecting only days before. One faint possibility was that Corbyn might actually have turned up to speak in person. Having earlier suggested he might use prime minister’s questions as a chance to give other frontbenchers to tackle David Cameron mano a mano, was he now demanding a quid pro quo and making a land grab for other ministers’ despatch box time? Thankfully not. If there’s one minister more than capable of looking after herself it’s Angela Eagle. As shadow leader of the house, she saw off Andrew Lansley, William Hague and Chris Grayling so the business secretary, Sajid Javid, who was introducing the bill, looked less than thrilled to be dealing with Eagle rather than her predecessor, Chuka Umunna, whom he had been expecting only days before.
Javid did his best to convince the House that the trade union legislation was basically designed to make life even better for trade unions, but since Tory David Davis had already likened it to a piece of Franco-ist legislation, he was always going to have an uphill task. Eagle merely made his life more uncomfortable than it otherwise might have been.Javid did his best to convince the House that the trade union legislation was basically designed to make life even better for trade unions, but since Tory David Davis had already likened it to a piece of Franco-ist legislation, he was always going to have an uphill task. Eagle merely made his life more uncomfortable than it otherwise might have been.
As for Corbyn and McDonnell, they remained gnomic. Corbyn glanced at the odd very important document, checked his emails and had a quick chat with Diane Abbott. McDonnell remained almost motionless, staring blankly ahead. He and Corbyn did have the briefest of chats behind Eagle’s back – presumably trying to agree on when would be the best time to leave. Five or 10 minutes after Eagle had said her piece?As for Corbyn and McDonnell, they remained gnomic. Corbyn glanced at the odd very important document, checked his emails and had a quick chat with Diane Abbott. McDonnell remained almost motionless, staring blankly ahead. He and Corbyn did have the briefest of chats behind Eagle’s back – presumably trying to agree on when would be the best time to leave. Five or 10 minutes after Eagle had said her piece?
Splitting the difference, both men headed for the exit about seven and a half minutes after Eagle had dispensed with Javid. Why they had come to the House or what impression they had wanted to give, no one knew. Then again, in the early days of formulating a new brand of politics, keeping everyone guessing is as good a policy as any.Splitting the difference, both men headed for the exit about seven and a half minutes after Eagle had dispensed with Javid. Why they had come to the House or what impression they had wanted to give, no one knew. Then again, in the early days of formulating a new brand of politics, keeping everyone guessing is as good a policy as any.