PMQs scorecard: Lefty lawyer klaxon as Sunak and Starmer clash on small boats

Prime minister’s questions: a shouty, jeery, very occasionally useful advert for British politics. Here’s what you need to know from this week’s session in POLITICO U.K.’s new weekly run-through.

What they sparred about: Asylum laws. In a week dominated by the government’s efforts to tackle cross-channel migration, the detail of Rishi Sunak’s small boats bill was the focus as he locked horns with Keir Starmer. The Labour leader used all six of his questions to press Sunak on the process — not the morality, you may note — of the plan and took shots at previous unsuccessful efforts to tackle the issue. In true PMQs-style, Sunak focused right back on Starmer’s pre-Labour leader comments in favor of immigration — and got a “lefty lawyer” jibe in too at the former director of public prosecutions.

Biggest cheer of the day: Forget politics — the chamber roared with glee when the Tory MP Chris Clarkson used his question to, on International Women’s Day, ask the PM to pay tribute to his mum up in the public gallery.

Biggest groan: The Tory benches reacted with fury to the SNP’s Stephen Flynn, when he asked if the government’s strategy was inspired by former Brexit Party leader Nigel Farage or the late, controversial lawmaker Enoch Powell. The SNP benches enjoyed that one, though.

Eyes emoji moment: The PM dropped a genuine news line early doors when he committed to publish his tax returns “very shortly” in response to a question from Labour left-winger Richard Burgon.

Helpful intervention of the week: Asking a question for the second week running, Labour rebel Rosie Duffield — who has criticized her party for having a “woman problem” due to its response to her views on gender reform — gave Sunak the opportunity to show off his culture warrior credentials. She asked him about scrutiny of election candidates on “women’s rights” — and he replied that Duffield had made “an excellent point.” Harmony all round.

Totally non-scientific scores: The prime minister will probably depart the happier of the two men after getting to focus all of his fire on his key priority of ‘stopping the boats.’ And who doesn’t love a “lefty lawyer” jibe?

Sunak 7/10 … Starmer 6/10 … Loudness of middle-aged men shouting at each other on international women’s day 11/10.