Jeremy Corbyn At PMQs: A Not So Brief Guide

OK, it's not that brief.

1) The Debut 09/16/2015

Jeremy Corbyn’s debut was high in innovation but somewhat lacking in the delivery as he promised a “people’s PMQs” with crowd-sourced questions for David Cameron.

A new kind of politics. #PMQs

— Andy Slaughter MP (@hammersmithandy) September 16, 2015

And it continued in much the same vein - nice but not particularly interesting.

Okay the radio phone-in style #PMQs was cute the first time. It's a little tiresome now. By question 6 I will have lost the will to live.

— (((Marcus Walker))) (@WalkerMarcus) September 16, 2015

This is disgusting. WHERE IS THE BANTER? #PMQs

— WHAT'S A PORZINGIS? (@mcfg365) September 16, 2015

2) Corbyn Gets Sassy 10/14/2015

A month later and Corbyn was getting into his stride.

3) Cameron’s Cringer 10/21/2015

Cameron has made quite a few decent jokes at the despatch box at Corbyn’s expense but this was not one of them.

Responding to a question about whether Corbyn was wrong to want Britain to get rid of its nuclear weapons, Cameron replied: “Today we are celebrating that great film Back to the Future, I am not surprised that many people sitting behind him say he should get in his Delorean and go back to 1985 and stay there.”

David Cameron mentioned Back to the Future day. We'll that's that ruined

— Annnnie (@bythefalseazure) October 21, 2015

See all of you making jokes about Back to the Future? You're David Cameron, you are

— Michael Deacon (@MichaelPDeacon) October 21, 2015

OH. David Cameron made a Back to the Future joke at #PMQs. CANCEL THE CELEBRATIONS EVERYONE ITS BEEN SULLIED

— Fanton (@FantonEsquire) October 21, 2015

4) Jeremy ‘The Geography Teacher’ Corbyn 10/21/2015

This...

I'm waiting. I've got all day. The bell's there for me not you. I'll keep you during lunch break #PMQs https://t.co/QsT85aLDe5

— Matt Chorley (@MattChorley) October 21, 2015

And it went down a treat.

Jeremy Corbyn is master of the "head teacher's disappointed look over the top of specs at the naughty children on the opposite bench" #PMQs

— Maja Pawinska Sims (@SparklyPinchy) October 21, 2015

Jeremy Corbyn just shut up the whole Tory benches with a look. 'Thank you' he said like a strict teacher #PMQs

— Owen Bennett (@owenjbennett) October 21, 2015

5) Cameron’s Tax Credit Nightmare 10/28/2015

Corbyn repeatedly pressed Cameron over the impact of tax credit cuts. Cameron was cagey to say the least.

And it didn’t get any better for poor Dave.

I think Cameron shat himself at #PMQs...? pic.twitter.com/jz4JLOzOBz

— Pete McCats (@thisisnotawar) October 28, 2015

6) The Nightmare Before Christmas 12/16/2015

Bizarre scenes in the Commons as Cameron and Corbyn argued over how to wish someone a happy Christmas.

The Labour leader began his first question Speaker John Bercow “all members of the House and all staff here, and Major Tim Peake, who’s not on the planet at this time a very happy Christmas and a peaceful new year.”

Corbyn corrects PM says he did say Happy Xmas not just seasons greeting - panto stuff

— Faisal Islam (@faisalislam) December 16, 2015

His salutation to Tim Peake, the first British-funded astronaut in space, was met by laughter from the Conservative benches, with one MP quipping that the Labour leader was also “not on the planet”.

The Prime Minster began his answer to Corbyn’s question on bed blocking in NHS hospitals by passing on his good wishes.

Even wishing one another Happy Christmas is a tetchy exchange when those involved are Jeremy Corbyn and David Cameron #pmqs

— Carole Walker (@carolewalkercw) December 16, 2015

He said: “Let me join the Right Honorable Gentleman and let me be very clear that I don’t want to wish him the season’s greetings, I want a full happy Christmas for the Right Honorable Gentleman and everyone in the House.”

A bemused Mr Corbyn replied by saying: “Just for the record, I did say Happy Christmas. Maybe the Prime Minister wasn’t listening at the time.”

Snarky of Cameron to infer Corbyn wasn't wishing people a Happy Xmas. JC(initials familiar at this time of year?) right to pull him up #PMQs

— Kevin Maguire (@Kevin_Maguire) December 16, 2015

7) The Post-Reshuffle Trial by PMQs 01/06/2016

The first PMQs of 2016 was a real toughie for Corbyn.

The Labour Party was reeling from a three day ordeal in which Jeremy Corbyn relentlessly slashed his shadow cabinet and was faced with a wave of resignations, one of which was just minutes before PMQs started and it happened live on the Daily Politics.

And the mood on the Labour benches was... well...

Glum faces on Labour's front bench pic.twitter.com/dNnKUzp2hs

— Mike Smithson (@MSmithsonPB) January 6, 2016

The utter silence from #Labour MPs is a devastating indictment of #JeremyCorbyn. #PMQs

— Dean (@DeanMThomson) January 6, 2016

Well someone looks like he's in a good mood. pic.twitter.com/u4tFg5Rqul

— Marie Le Conte (@youngvulgarian) January 6, 2016

Cameron could easily have scored a home run but instead he did this.

Groan. The PM is doing unfunny jokes about Shakespeare #pmqs

— Kate McCann (@KateEMcCann) January 6, 2016

Cameron ripping in to Labour after being asked if he's looking forward to Shakespeare's 400th anniversary #PMQs pic.twitter.com/4y74EqMt0j

— Ben Foreman (@benforeman_) January 6, 2016

8) ‘Your Mum’ 02/24/2016

A day that will live on in infamy, when the elected leaders of the two main UK political parties descended into “your mum” banter.

Never bring anyone's mother into a row. #pmqs

— Lib Dem Press Office (@LibDemPress) February 24, 2016

9) The Footy Jibe 05/04/2016

To laughter in the Commons, Corbyn said: “I join the Prime Minister in congratulating Leicester City on their amazing achievement. I hope it’s not an indication he’s going to support another football team, or is he going to stick with the two he’s got already?”

Cameron has claimed to be an Aston Villa fan, but last year he bizarrely said “I’d rather you supported West Ham” during a press conference – a mistake he later blamed on “brain fade”.

David Cameron congratulates West Ham err Leicester Square on winning the Premier League #PMQs

— Rahul Writes (@Rahul_Writes) May 4, 2016

Perhaps Cameron needs a football team for each of his faces, #pmqs #bbcdp ;)

— Juli (@julijuxtaposed) May 4, 2016

10) Cameron Bows Out 07/13/2016

In a post-EU referendum world, Labour’s implosion provided Cameron with plenty of ammo even though Corbyn tried to be nice.

Classy start from @JeremyCorbyn - acknowledging Cameron's considerable achievements - notably on gay marriage #PMQs

— Tim Montgomerie ن (@montie) July 13, 2016

The first shot fired...

Burn 🔥 #PMQs https://t.co/FI2am27Tnd

— Rhys™ (@red365) July 13, 2016

And the second. Oof.

We've reached the point in Cameron's final #PMQs where the Monty Python references come out https://t.co/7LPazHiR0c pic.twitter.com/Na7m9Z4tuU

— CNN International (@cnni) July 13, 2016

Corbyn returns from #PMQs to discuss with aides how it went pic.twitter.com/0aEAIrKw9V

— Matt Chorley (@MattChorley) July 13, 2016

11) Say Hello To Theresa May 07/20/2016

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