It was lunchtime at the Commons, and suddenly there was a brief respite. The screams of frustration, heckling and piggy-squeals that had been a part of the past weeks are gone. The anger and the indignation were postponed.
The Opposition MPs who have been waggling their tonsils for weeks, now sit bolt upright, their expressions adjusted to show a deep sense of concern. Now, clown actors are auditioning for bigger roles.
To make a statement about the growing possibility of war in Ukraine, the Prime Minister came to the House. The whole Chamber seemed to have regained perspective and understood what really matters.
To make a statement about the growing possibility of war in Ukraine, the Prime Minister came to the House. The whole Chamber seemed to have regained some sense of perspective about what really matters.
Boris Johnson too projected a sense of gravitas – one that has rather gone walkabout during the Partygate hullabaloo.
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He had also written the script. You can always tell when words have come from someone’s own quill – and especially from this wordsmith.
Boris informed the House that should Russia invade, he would be issuing sanctions ‘heavier than anything we have done before’.
The UK and its allies were not prepared to ‘bargain away’ the vision of a free Europe.
Should Russia unleash its destructive firepower on the Ukrainian people, ‘I shudder to contemplate the tragedy that would ensue,’ he said, voice reduced to a quiet whisper.
With a polite hush, the Chamber listened. The Prime Minister’s voice was interrupted only by the faintest of sounds – a squeak of green leather, a scratch of a clerk’s pen nib. Ben Wallace, the Defence Secretary was knitting furiously alongside him.
Halfway through the meeting, Liz Truss, Foreign Secretary, arrived. Her peony cheeks were flushed by anxiety.
Boris narrowed those dark eyes and predicted that Vladimir Putin would cause more bloodshed in Europe than any other European conflict since 1945.
All people, and not only Ukrainians would feel the effects of catastrophe. ‘Many Russian mothers’ sons will not be coming home,’ he said. Members shook their heads in appreciation as he returned to his chair. It was an admirable speech.
Sir Keir starmer didn’t seek to have a dispute with the government. He had his own ‘four-point plan’ for Ukraine apparently. You can get a glimpse of this global statesman while you wait.
The sanitizing of sanctions was the only way forward, according to Colonel Bob Stewart (Con. Beckenham). There is no better way to hurt Putin than hitting him in his pocket. Sir Iain Duncan Smith (Con-Chingford, Woodford Green), stressed that Russia and China should be kept away from our critical infrastructure.
It’s amazing to think that it wasn’t two years ago when MPs debated whether or not to allow state-affiliated Chinese company Huawei to build our 5G network.
There was a quibble from Alison Thewliss (SNP, Glasgow Central) who made a jibe about iffy Russian cash floating around London ‘so much of which ends up in Tory coffers’. You can expect a flood of outraged gasps from Conservative MPs.
Boris informed the House that should Russia invade, he would be issuing sanctions ‘heavier than anything we have done before’
Otherwise, the session was remarkably consensual – a marked contrast to scenes just an hour before when Angela Rayner was granted an urgent question on the Downing Street parties scandal.
Opposition MPs worked themselves into the usual soapy lather, but more notable was how many Conservative backbenchers were now willing to come to the Prime Minister’s aide. Two weeks ago, the most common response to Partygate’s last pressing question was an embarrassed silence.
You might think that whips cracked a few skulls, but independent-minded people like Sir Edward Leigh (Con. Gainsborough), suggested there were more urgent issues for MPs than whether the PM had received a slice of birthday cake in his office.
No – it was more likely, I suspect, that many had returned to their constituencies last weekend and were told by voters to belt up, hunker down and get on with addressing the important matters of state.
Boris narrowed those dark eyes and predicted that Vladimir Putin would cause more bloodshed in Europe than any other European country since 1945.