News
Joanna Taylor
Sep 15, 2020
Ed Miliband completely eviscerated Boris Johnson while speaking against the controversial UK Internal Markets Bill.
In the most widely-shared segment of his 25 minute speech, Miliband tore into Johnson's disastrous handling of Brexit and accused him of having failed to even read the bill they were debating.
The former Labour leader also demanded that Johnson take responsibility for his Brexit "mess", pointing out that he repeatedly promised an "oven ready" deal.
As well as outlining Labour's attitude towards the Internal Markets Bill, Miliband's blistering speech reflected some of the opposition Johnson faces from his own party.
Although the bill ultimately passed through the Commons, 30 Tory MPs abstained from voting, while two voted against it.
Johnson has sought to justify the bill, which will give his government the power to double back on part of the Brexit agreement they made with the EU (and in doing so, potentially break international law), by claiming it will provide vital trading safeguards for Northern Ireland if negotiations break down.
But Miliband cast doubt on whether or not this is actually true: he invited Johnson to point out specific safeguards in his bill, which Johnson failed to do. Instead, he appeared visibly shaken by Miliband's speech.
People were wishing they'd chosen "chaos with Ed Miliband" in 2015.
And called the speech his "redemption".
It wasn't a good look for the prime minister...
...but it had people starting Ed Miliband fan accounts.
Maybe Ed Miliband is "tough enough" after all.
What might have been, if it weren't for *that* bacon sandwich...
Top 100
The Conversation (0)