Corbyn’s taunts expose meagre Queen’s Speech offering from “interim” PM

What an odd day. But what a moment for Labour supporters to enjoy.

Just a few months ago there were more than a few left-leaning blogs wringing their hands over Jeremy Corbyn’s performance at prime minister questions and giving up hope. But today the leader of the opposition grew to new heights that were – dare we say it – prime ministerial.

With campaigns, Corbyn grows in stature, and with the astonishing result from the general election, he has reached new heights. There were jokes, rhetorical quips, and he looked happy to be there. His confidence is at another level now and he looks at ease in the role of statesman.

There were quips at the expense of Kwasi Kwarteng, the historian turned Tory MP, who seconded the Queen’s speech motion.

“One book absolutely stands out – it’s a must read, it’s absolutely apposite,” Corbyn said.

“It came out in 2011 and the book said ‘after the coalition’… Perhaps a sequel may be in the offing – although I understand the latest coalition may already be in some chaos.”

Quick, someone get the photoshop of May in Arlene Foster’s pocket at the ready.

There are a whopping six days devoted to debating the Queen’s speech, and it seems odd to be spending so much energy on such a meagre offering from the government. Corbyn was scathing in his criticism of what the monarch had to read out.

“A threadbare legislative programme, from a government that’s lost its majority and apparently run out of ideas altogether,” he said.

He gleefully ran through the manifesto pledges which had gone missing, asking the PM whether her grammar school plans will be carried out, alongside all the other ideas so roundly rejected by voters. May sat stoney-faced throughout, much like the rest of the Conservative benches, who know there is only a matter of time before they have to find themselves someone new to follow.

Then he rounded on the Tories’ failed immigration targets. “Let’s decide our immigration policy on the basis of the needs of our communities and our economy; not to the tune of dog-whistle cynicism of Lynton Crosby – or indeed the hate campaigns of some sections of our press whose idea of patriotism is to base themselves in an overseas tax haven.”

Goodness. He went all in. This focus on patriotism is noteworthy, and it would be interesting if this becomes something that is brought up again by Corbyn. The right often claims a monopoly on it, and yet aren’t left wing ideas such as paying what you owe in tax – contributing to society in that most straightforward of ways – quite patriotic too?

Corbyn was able to go hard on the Tories. The Labour leader was in full flight – still riding the high of the election results, and with a relatively united party behind him. Whilst once there were Labour MPs calling for him to go, the only heckles to resign today were aimed at May.

The horrendous events of Grenfell Tower were, of course, also mentioned. MPs tend not to live in tower blocks, Corbyn pointedly said, and this is surely what the Labour party is all about – getting ordinary people into positions of power, and ensuring its parliamentary party reflects the people of the country. Backbencher Rachel Reeves called on the government to provide cash to ensure sprinkler systems could be installed in all high-rise flats – and the idea that this could even be in question seems frankly extraordinary.

We have a prime minister in office, but who could not be further from power. Described as the “interim prime minister” by Kevin Brennan, her position is extraordinary – and surely cannot last long.

To conclude, I’ll simply leave you with Corbyn’s own words: “Labour is not merely an opposition, we are a government in waiting.” Here’s hoping.