The Jokes Write Themselves As Clip Of Starmer Stumbling Before PMQs Emerges

Keir Starmer’s critics are having a field day online after a clip emerged of the prime minister tripping up outside the steps of No.10 today.

The footage, shared by Sky News’ Serena Barker-Singh, shows the PM stumbling across the pavement as he walks out of the front door of 10 Downing Street, and reaching for the railings to steady himself on the way to the car.

It is only a six-second clip of Starmer heading out on his usual ride to the Commons for prime minister’s questions, but the timing of the footage is deeply unfortunate for the PM.

It comes amid the greatest crisis his premiership has faced yet.

On Tuesday, his government was forced into a last-minute U-turn over welfare reforms to avoid a humiliating defeat in the Commons.

Scores of Labour rebels were threatening to vote down the government bill even after the PM had already watered the original proposals down.

His second set of concessions meant the proposals were voted through – but Starmer has clearly lost his authority over his own party in the process.

It also means his chancellor, Rachel Reeves, will have to fill a £5billion black hole in the public finances.

So many people on social media saw Starmer’s fall as a metaphor for the many crises the top of government is facing right now…

Starmer was not the only Labour frontbencher to go viral for all the wrong reasons today, either.

His chancellor Rachel Reeves appeared to be crying in the Commons today during PMQs after Tory leader Kemi Badenoch asked whether Starmer if her job was safe.

The PM dodged the question, although a spokeswoman for Starmer later said: “The chancellor is going nowhere. She has the prime minister’s full backing.”

When asked about Reeves’ display of emotions during PMQs, a spokesperson told HuffPost UK: “It’s a personal matter, which – as you would expect – we are not going to get into.

“The chancellor will be working out of Downing Street this afternoon.”