It was a time for niceties in the Commons. Kemi doesn’t do niceties

When she got to be PM, she would make sure she never spoke to any other prime minister or president. She would never leave the country again. Photograph: House of Commons/Reuters

It had been shaping up to be another sleepy Thursday in Westminster. A day when hostilities were put on hold after the exertions earlier in the week. A time for MPs to be a little more playful with one another. To even, occasionally, agree with one another.

And that’s very much how proceedings began. First, there were outpourings of sympathy from members of all parties for the family of John Prescott, who had died the day before. Tributes for a life well lived. Then the main business: a statement from Keir Starmer on Cop29 and the G20.