The Shadow Secretary of State for Health was in conversation with the Speaker of the House
Wes Streeting has said his description of the former Labour leader as “senile” during a heated exchange in the House of Commons was made “in jest”.
Jeremy Corbyn, who now sits as an independent MP for Islington North, had been attempting to raise a point of order, after once again being criticised by Rishi Sunak during this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions.
It follows an altercation last week in which Corbyn described himself as living “rent free” in the prime minister’s head following the prime minister’s repeated reference to him during attacks on Keir Starmer.
On Wednesday afternoon, the shadow Health secretary could be heard telling Speaker of the House, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, that the former Labour leader had “gone senile”.
Jeremy Corbyn tries to raise a point of order in the House, after Rishi Sunak mentioned him again during #PMQs.
Shadow Health Secretary Wes Streeting can be heard saying "he's gone senile". pic.twitter.com/V7MdiOf8Su
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) November 9, 2022
Responding to Streeting’s comment, Corbyn said: “there’s nothing “in-jest” about calling somebody senile” but added that he’d accepted an apology.
He said: “Today, following a request to make a Point of Order, I was subjected to an appalling and defamatory mental health slur in the Chamber.
“I have now received an apology, and I have noted it. As I said in my reply, there’s nothing “in-jest” about calling somebody senile. It’s not funny. It’s very serious for people suffering from dementia. He should know this as Shadow Health Secretary.
“The right thing for somebody in his position to do would be to issue a public apology to all those who may have been hurt by his comments.”
Prime Minister Sunak has repeatedly used Sir Keir’s support for Corbyn as an attack line during PMQs.
Last Wednesday, Sunak claimed Corbyn’s “national security agenda” included “abolishing our armed forces, scrapping the nuclear deterrent, withdrawing from Nato, voting against every single anti-terror law we tried, and befriending Hamas and Hezbollah”.
In a point of order, Corbyn said he was not given advance notice of the plan to reference him and noted this was against the conventions of the House.
Speaking in the Commons, Corbyn told deputy speaker Nigel Evans: “He gave a wholly inaccurate representation of the 2019 election manifesto, which he must have been fully well aware of because he took part in many debates concerning the content of that manifesto during the election campaign.
“Could you guide me on how the Prime Minister could correct the record?
“And if I’m going to live rent free in his head at least he could accurately reflect what I think and what I say rather than inventions made up by him or his office.”
Evans replied: “In respect of what is said in the House, parliamentary privilege allows all Members the right of free speech to ensure we can represent our constituents and express our views without fear or favour.
“But this is a right we must exercise with great responsibility so the Treasury bench will have heard that point of order and I’m sure it’ll be passed on to the Prime Minister.”
Jeremy Corbyn raises a point of order and tells the House of Commons that he lives rent free in Rishi Sunak's head. pic.twitter.com/6kNnh6ibpZ
— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) November 3, 2022
Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt recognised members of the House should be given notice about plans to reference each other in their speeches, but added Corbyn should should be prepared for to be discussed on at least a weekly basis.
“If he’d like to help correct the record he could publish the manifesto that he stood on, which would have weakened this country and dismantled Nato,” she added.
The former Labour leader replied: “The manifesto is freely available.
“Had it resulted in a Labour government we would not have such poverty, such food banks and such misery in this country today.”
Deputy leader Evans joked: “It’d appear it is not only the Prime Minister who lives rent free in your head, Mr Corbyn.”
This is a breaking news story and will be updated…
