A BRIGHTON MP was told to withdraw his comment after saying he would “prefer to be led by a lawyer than a liar” at Prime Minister's Questions.

During his clashes with Sir Keir Starmer, the Prime Minister criticised the Labour leader for opposing Brexit and added: “The problem with the Labour Party today is he’s a lawyer, not a leader.”

After the cheers subsided from the Tory benches, Mr Johnson went on: “We’ve taken the tough decisions, we’ve got the big calls right and we – and in particular I – are getting on with the job.”

The MP for Kemptown, Lloyd Russell-Moyle used Mr Johnson’s attack line against him during a later exchange at Prime Minister’s Questions over Downing Street party allegations.

He told the Commons: “Happy unbirthday to him, happy unbirthday to him because, just like the Mad Hatter, he didn’t need the excuse of a birthday to have a party but it did help, didn’t it?

“So when he had groups of people singing to him when gatherings indoor were illegal and communal signing was banned, my constituents think that he has lied.

“My constituents think that he lied to this House and my constituents think that he lied to them when he was partying.”

He added: “So, I would prefer to be led by a lawyer than a liar. Will he now resign?”

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle asked him to withdraw the comment as it is considered not within the boundaries of parliamentary etiquette to call another member a liar.

The Labour MP said: “I withdraw it. That’s what my constituents think.”

Mr Johnson replied: “Well, I think that the honourable gentleman, I am afraid, in everything he said just now, plainly doesn’t know what he is talking about.

“What I can tell him and his constituents is that irrespective of what they want to focus on, and I understand why they do, this Government is going to get on with the job.”

Labour MP for Leeds East Richard Burgon also said: “The Prime Minister for once needs to do the decent thing for once – for God’s sake, resign.”

Mr Johnson replied: “I don’t think there was a question there.

“There was an invitation for me to do what, of course, the Labour Party wants me to do, but I am not going to do it. We are going to carry on with our agenda of uniting and levelling up across the country.

“They fundamentally know that they have no answer to that. We have a plan and a vision for this country. They have absolutely nothing to say and that is the difference between our side and their side.”

At one stage during the exchanges between Sir Keir and Mr Johnson, the Speaker warned MPs he would not hesitate to throw them out if they kept noisily interrupting proceedings.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said every moment Mr Johnson stays as Prime Minister “he is dragging out the agony for families who are reminded of the sacrifices they made”.

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