The Role of PMQs in the Overthrow of Boris Johnson.

Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) is the UK Parliament’s primary regular debating event. How well democracy is served by the practice and procedures of PMQs is the principal focus of this paper, with a particular focus on their role in the overthrow of former Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson. PMQs takes place in the House of Commons chamber every Wednesday at noon whenever Parliament is sitting. On each occasion, the PM (or an official stand-in) takes and responds to verbal questions on governmental issues, which can be asked by any Member of Parliament (MP) on any topic of their choosing. There is no requirement for the PM to be granted prior awareness of the question topic, thereby maintaining the possibility of surprise as well as a degree of political accountability. Questions come from both opposition and government MPs alternately, but this pattern is interrupted by six consecutive questions from the Leader of the Opposition (LO) and two from the leader of the third largest party (currently the Liberal Democrats). So, only these two opposition leaders are afforded the opportunity to follow up a preceding question in a subsequent turn, should they wish. PMQs is notorious for its adversarial discourse. This is particularly true of the “weekly high noon showdown” (Waddle, 2018, p. 41) between the two main party leaders, the LO and the PM. Thus, just as heavyweight boxers are evaluated on their abilities to deliver and counter punches, the two leaders are expected to be skilled in delivering and countering verbal punches. This adversarial discourse of PMQs has been the main focus of a series of empirical studies conducted by the author and colleagues (Bull & Waddle, 2023, pp. 106-129). Most frequent are personal attacks, for which MPs have been extensively criticised. However, in this paper it is proposed that the personal attacks of LO Sir Keir Starmer on PM Boris Johnson played an important and significant role in driving him from office. Johnson was appointed PM on July 24, 2019. The following year, his government enacted draconian legislation intended to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 virus. Social gatherings were explicitly prohibited by this legislation, but there followed a string of allegations that drinks parties attended by Johnson had been held in 10 Downing Street. Repeated questions from Keir Starmer at PMQs about these gatherings led to furious denials from Johnson, but also to an investigation by the House of Commons privileges committee, which ruled that Johnson’s denials had repeatedly misled MPs. After receiving the committee's draft report (9 June 2022), Johnson resigned as an MP. The following month, discredited with the general public and disowned by his own party, Johnson announced his resignation as PM (8 July). Notably, these personal attacks by Starmer on Johnson at PMQs played a significant role in calling Johnson’s hypocrisy to account. Keywords: Prime Minister's questions, Boris Johnson, Sir Keir Starmer, Personal attacks, Adversarial discourse Reference Bull, Peter, Waddle, Maurice (2023). The Psychology of Political Communication. Politicians Under the Microscope. London, Routledge.