'It's tough!' John McDonnell struggles to back Corbyn after 'WORSE' PMQs performance
JOHN McDonnell struggled to defend Jeremy Corbyn’s bungled PMQs performance as the shadow chancellor described the task as “a tough gig”.
'It's a tough gig!': John McDonnell tries to DEFEND Corbyn
The floundering Labour leader was shredded by Theresa May on Wednesday as he attempted to land punches in the Commons.
At one point, the prime minister called out the hard-left leader after he failed to ask her a question while responding to last week’s Budget at the dispatch box.
His performance has been ridiculed widely on social media, with many Twitter users calling on Mr Corbyn to resign.
It’s a really tough gig responding to the Budget
Forced to defend the Labour chief’s performance during a Sky News interview, Mr McDonnell argued it was a hard task to undertake.
“It’s a really tough gig responding to the Budget because you don’t know what’s coming,” he said.
“You get the speech heavily redacted a few minutes before the actual speech, 30 minutes before…”
As he tried to continue to make his point, he was cut off by host Jayne Secker, who said: “He’s the leader of the Opposition though, everyone’s had to go through it haven’t they?”
Mr McDonnell railed against the criticism as he claimed victory over the chancellor’s U-turn on National Insurance increases.
“Of course, that’s why [Jeremy Corbyn] was so successful at it,” he continued. “He actually identified the issue of the self-employed, we then piled in on the issue for the next 24 hours and over the last week there’s been a fantastic campaign.
“Quite honestly, I congratulate all MPs from all parties who have raised it, but also the different organisations who have said this is unfair.”
May: He's supposed to ASK me questions when he stands up
Mr Corbyn has come under fire from other members of his own party for the lacklustre performance during PMQs.
MPs Tom Blenkinsop and Mike Gapes mocked their leader by sharing footage of footballers missing open goals - an apparent dig at Mr Corbyn’s failure to land a blow over the Conservatives’ National Insurance U-turn.
Writing to his 17,000 followers on Twitter, Mr Gapes said: “Great question by Yvette Cooper, pity she couldn’t have had six today.”
While Mr Blenkinsop wrote: “May was poor, as usual, but she hasn't suffered her worst PMQs. Serious questions about holding the Government to account need to be asked.”