New Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was forced into a humiliating climbdown as the fall-out from another of his appointments continued today.
Mr Sunak was appearing at Prime Minister's Questions, just hours after his ally and cabinet appointment Gavin Williamson was forced to resign amid a bullying row. The MP stood down after abusive and threatening messages he sent to colleagues emerged.
It is another blow for the new Prime Minister, who has already come under huge pressure for his decision to appoint the controversial Suella Braverman as Home Secretary - just days after she was sacked for a serious ministerial breach.
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Today Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer went in hard on the Williamson scandal and used it to lambast the Prime Minister for his leadership and judgement.
It was a bruising encounter for the departing minister without portfolio, but also for his former boss, who was forced to accept his regret at the situation.
On former chief whip Williamson, Starmer said: "He spent years courting the idea that he could intimidate others, blurring the lines to normalise bullying behaviour, it's precisely why the PM gave him a job. "The truth is simple, he is a pathetic bully." He added: ""but he would never get away with it if people like the PM didn't hand him power, so does he regret making him a government minister?"
At this point, a sheepish Mr Sunak said he "obviously regrets appointing someone who has had to resign", before insisting that his actions show that "when situations arise they will be dealt with properly."
But the Labour leader was far from finished. He said: ""Everyone knows someone like (Williamson), a sad middle manager getting off on intimidating those beneath him, but everyone also knows someone like the Prime Minister - the boss who is so weak, so worried the bullies will turn on him that he hides behind them. What message does he think it sends when rather than take on the bullies he lines up alongside them and thanks them for their loyalty?"
He made further jibes at Mr Williamson, who was known to have a pet tarantula during his time as chief whip for the Conservatives. On Sunak's leadership, he added: "He can’t even stand up to a cartoon bully with a pet spider, if he's too scared to face the public in an election, what chance has he got of running the country?"
Finding himself on the ropes once again, Mr Sunak again attempted to fire criticism at the Labour leader for previously supporting Jeremy Corbyn, a jib he has attempted several times before in his short time in office.
Keir Starmer has his weaknesses but this format is one of his strengths and in repeated weeks he has scored comprehensive PMQs victories over the fledgling and flailing Prime Minister. Mr Sunak badly needs a win soon.
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