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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Politics
Sophie Huskisson

MP owns Oliver Dowden with savage joke about losing his seat at next election

MPs in the Commons erupted in raucous laughter as an MP owned Oliver Dowden with a savage joke about a potential Tory election defeat this afternoon.

The hilarious exchange began as Deputy Prime Minister told SNP MP Mhairi Black he was "sorry to hear" she will be standing down at the next election.

In an off the cuff swipe, the SNP deputy Westminster leader responded: "The deputy Prime Minister, I thank him for his kind words. We did join this place at the same time and I'm pretty sure we'll be leaving at the same time."

MPs from across the house - included Mr Dowden - broke out in loud laughter in what was the standout moment from Deputy Prime Ministers Questions.

Ms Black, who at 28 years old is one of the UK's youngest MPs yesterday announced she is quitting, describing Westminster as "poisonous" and "toxic".

The SNP MP described Parliament as "one of the most unhealthy workplaces that you could ever be in" and said she was alarmed with "what people can get away with".

In the Commons today, she questioned the stance of Labour and the Conservatives over the role of the private sector in the NHS.

She said: "As we celebrate the 75th anniversary of the health services in the UK, I want to reflect on two quotes from two people. The first one is 'it's about using the private sector more, something we should be very comfortable with'.

"The second quote is 'people go as NHS patients to the private sector and we could do more of it'. Can I ask the Deputy Prime Minister which quote is from the PM and which is from the Leader of the Opposition?"

Deputy Prime Minister Oliver Dowden replied "how sorry he was to hear that (she) will be standing down at the next election", adding: "She and I joined this House at the same time and I know she has contributed much to her party and to this place."

He added: "I'm sure she will wish to join me in celebrating His Majesty King Charles receiving the Scottish regalia, pretty much as we speak. There's always time for a (Damascene) conversion.

"When it comes to the NHS, I will take absolutely no lectures from either party on it. It has been there for me. I was born in an NHS hospital, my children were born in an NHS hospital. It's been there for me and my family and this Government has put record funding into it."

After joking with Mr Dowden that they'd both also be leaving Parliament at the same time, Ms Black went on: "The number one problem that faces the health service across these isles is workforce and research shows Brexit has worsened the UK's shortage of doctors. European nurses registering to work in the UK fell by 90% after the Brexit referendum.

"What more with it take for both him and the Labour Party to admit the damage Brexit is causing our health services."

Mr Dowden responded: "Well, it all started off so nicely, Mr Speaker, but I don't know whether the honourable lady has actually been listening to what the government announced this week.

"We announced an additional £2.4billion for our ground-breaking NHS workforce plan. That is the first time in the NHS's history that this happened. If you look at he records since this party came to power, almost 40,000 more doctors and more than 50,000 more nurses.

"Once again the Conservative Party the delivering for the NHS."

The Tory minister was referring to the NHS Workforce Plan, which was published last week. It predicts staff numbers will have to rise from 1.4 million to up to 2.3 million by 2037 and proposes new training initiatives for medical staff.

But unions blasted Rishi Sunak for failing to address “the existing NHS staffing black hole” as he boasted about the service’s first long-term workforce plan.

There are currently 112,498 vacancies advertised, including for 40,096 nurses and 8,549 doctors.

* Follow Mirror Politics on Snapchat , Tiktok , Twitter and Facebook .

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