Deputy PM Oliver Dowden makes his PMQs debut - and immediately brands Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner the 'Holly and Phil of British politics' in brutal clashes with Labour deputy leader as he fills for Sunak
Oliver Dowden branded Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner the 'Holly and Phil of British politics' in brutal Commons clashes today.
The deputy PM levelled the jibe at his Labour counterpart as he made his debut filling in for Rishi Sunak at the weekly interrogation.
Ms Rayner teased Mr Dowden that she had already seen off a number of his colleagues in the same role.
But he shot back that he had expected to face off against Sir Keir's preferred deputy - Lib Dem leader Ed Davey, who is rumoured to be in talks about a pact if there is a hung Parliament at the next election.
Oliver Dowden (left) branded Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner (right) the 'Holly and Phil of British politics' in brutal Commons clashes today
The deputy PM levelled the jibe at his Labour counterpart as he made his debut filling in for Rishi Sunak at the weekly interrogation
Mr Dowden compared the allegedly frosty relations between Sir Keir and Ms Rayner to the apparent tensions between ITV's This Morning pairing Willoughby and Schofield.
In another vicious rebuke during a spat about child poverty, Mr Dowden said: 'This comprehensive schoolboy is not going to take any lectures from the party opposite.'
The premier is en route to Japan for the G7 summit, where he will urge fellow leaders to step up support for Ukraine.
Opening the hostilities, Ms Rayner said: 'It's a pleasure to welcome yet another Deputy Prime Minister to the despatch box. The third deputy that I face in three years, and you know what they say? The third time's a charm. And I'm also pleased to note that the Prime Minister has a working class friend, finally.
'I seem to remember that after the loss of 300 Conservative seats at last year's local elections, he resigned, saying someone must take responsibility.
'After a thousand more Conservative councillors have been given the boot by voters, who does he think it is responsible now?'
The Deputy PM replied: 'In the spirit of her opening remarks, can I just say, it really is a pleasure to see her here today. I was, though, expecting to face the Labour Leader's choice for the next Deputy Prime Minister if they win the election. So I'm surprised that the Lib Dem leader isn't taking questions today.
As Tory MPs erupted in laughter, Mr Dowden continued: 'You will forgive me if I take her predictions with a pinch of salt. After all, she confidently predicted that the right honourable member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn) would one day be prime minister.'
When Ms Rayner goaded the deputy PM over Tory infighting, Mr Dowden shot back: 'We all know what's going on with her and her Leader. It's all lovey dovey on the surface, they turn it on for the cameras, but as soon as they're off, it's a different story.
'They're at each other's throats. They are the Phil and Holly of British politics.'
Mr Dowden compared the allegedly frosty relations between Sir Keir and Ms Rayner to the apparent tensions between ITV's This Morning pairing Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield (pictured today)
