Prime Minister’s questions on the day of the Budget are rarely remembered.

They are the equivalent of having a bag of crisps before sitting down to a five-course meal.

Which is probably why Jeremy Corbyn broke his omerta to challenge Theresa May on Brexit.

The Labour leader has tended to avoid the subject as it has proved as divisive for his party as it is for the Tories.

Unfortunately, he did not get off to the best of starts when Theresa May set a trap for him by welcoming the appointment of Sarah Clarke as the first female Black Rod for 650 years.

When Mr Corbyn echoed the congratulations, May was gifted the opportunity to point out it could be another 650 years before Labour has a women leader.

Jeremy Corbyn may wish to avoid Brexit at future PMQs (
Image:
BBC)

Mr Corbyn then pressed Mrs May on what will happen to the Northern Ireland border after Brexit.

You could tell the PM was uncomfortable with the question as she began her response with “we are very clear” - the words she always uses before a bluff.

The Labour leader should have pressed her on the issue but switched to other areas where the Brexit talks had stalled.

Then he moved onto tax avoidance which led to a stale exchange between the two leaders on their respective voting record.

The pitfall of raising Brexit was exposed when Mrs May noted 79 Labour MPs had defied the whip on Monday.

Theresa May claimed she was an optimist (may need fact checking)

The Prime Minister then ended by accusing the Labour leader of being a pessimist and talking the country down.

This is always the lowest of responses as it implies holding the government to account is somehow unpatriotic.

Don’t expect Corbyn to raise Brexit again soon.

Score: Jeremy Corbyn 1 Theresa May 2

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