Christmas came early for Theresa May at Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday as she was finally given the chance to stick it to Jeremy Corbyn with a joke that actually appeared to hit its target.
The House of Commons erupted with laughter when the PM reminded Labour opposition leader Corbyn of a comment he made earlier in the year, and delivered the stinging barb in the video below.
Following the disastrous snap election in June there was chaos in the cabinet, the Tories were falling apart and May faced a mutiny – leading Corbyn to vow he would swoop in and take Downing Street.
Today May faced him down over the remarks.
“Not that long ago the Right Honorable Gentleman was saying he’d be prime minister by Christmas,” May said on Wednesday.
“Well, he was wrong – I am and the Conservatives are in government.”
Corbyn came up with sting of his own, attacking May over the NHS, cuts to social services and Brexit.
“The prime minister today has shown just how out of touch she is,” the Labour leader said. “The truth is, Mr Speaker, our NHS is being recklessly, recklessly put at risk by her government.”
But today was May’s day.
Earlier this week, Corbyn backtracked by saying he would be prime minister within 12 months – or before next Christmas.
In an interview with Grazia magazine he expressed just how confident he is. “There will probably be another election in the next 12 months,” he said. “I will probably win. I’m ready to be prime minister tomorrow.”