The BBC’s political editor spectacularly fails to grasp the concept of Prime Minister’s Questions

Theresa May, Laura Kuenssberg and Jeremy Corbyn
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Pretty much every week when parliament is sitting, Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) takes place. The concept is a simple one and the clue is in the name. And in case that’s not enough, parliament’s website gives a helpful description:

Prime Minister’s Question Time, also referred to as PMQs, gives MPs the chance to question the Prime Minister.

But somehow, the BBC‘s political editor Laura Kuenssberg spectacularly failed to grasp the concept. Following an exchange between Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn that ended with May asking Corbyn a question, Kuenssberg tweeted:

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Sorry, what?

Luckily, social media users were on hand to remind Kuenssberg how PMQs works:

And just in case there was any doubt:

https://twitter.com/TheShanklyGates/status/1057648456775462913

Although, as others pointed out, it can be a little confusing given May very rarely actually answers a direct question:

Others couldn’t quite believe it was the BBC‘s political editor making the comment:

Wishful thinking…

Some people wondered if they’d missed a general election:

But last time The Canary checked, there wasn’t an overnight snap general election. And as Twitter users highlighted, Kuenssberg’s framing is important given May’s lack of answers:

Even more wishful thinking…

It would be nice to have a political system where the apparent leader of the country was questioned each week and responded with coherent and accountable answers. It would also be nice for this occur without the event turning into what shadow education secretary Angel Rayner described as a “pantomime”.

But this isn’t the case. And between May’s refusal to answer questions, the behaviour of her MPs, and this kind of response from media pundits, it’s obvious why so many people are fed up with mainstream establishment politics.

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