BORIS Johnson has responded to allegations that he is unfit for office by making a joke about Ian Blackford’s weight.
The nasty jibe came at Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) on Wednesday, after Blackford told Tory MPs to “show the Prime Minister the door”.
He said it was “absolutely unprecedented” to have a Prime Minister in No 10 being investigated by the police for breaking his own laws, adding that it was just the latest in a “rap sheet that is already a mile long”.
“Illegally proroguing Parliament, misleading the House, decorating with dodgy cash, partying while the public suffered”, Blackford went on, calling as he has done previously for Johnson to step down.
READ MORE: Ian Blackford in scathing comparison of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump
Johnson replied by saying he wished to echo the SNP MP’s sentiments on Holocaust Memorial Day, and said that because he enjoyed working with him so much he would not be stepping down.
Blackford responded by bringing up the cost-of-living crisis facing people across the UK, as well as the negative impact of Brexit and the impending National Insurance tax hike. He said these things "hang like a guillotine, while they eat cake".
The reference was to Johnson’s Union flag birthday cake, which was given to him at a party held while the rest of the UK sat in lockdown.
The Prime Minister moved away from politics in his reply, instead attacking Blackford’s weight.
To laughter from the Tory benches, Johnson said: “Well Mr Speaker, I don’t know who’s been eating more cake.”
He went on to claim that he and the SNP “co-operate well” and he would like that to continue.
SNP equalities spokesperson Kirsten Oswald MP said Johnson had sent "an appalling message to society, that the most powerful person in the UK Government thinks it's ok to mock people because of their bodies, race, sexual orientation and religion".
She went on: "Boris Johnson has proven, yet again, that he is completely unfit for office.
"Whether it's his body shaming jokes, his racism, his homophobia, or his wider misconduct in public office, Mr Johnson is giving people another telling insight into his odious character."
Eating disorder charity Beat also criticised Johnson’s comment.
Its director of external affairs Tom Quinn said: “It is completely unacceptable that the Prime Minister should resort to making fatphobic comments.
“It shows a clear lack of regard for, or understanding of, the 1.25 million people in the UK affected by eating disorders, and we are extremely disappointed that he has deemed this to be an appropriate response.
“We would urge the Prime Minister to educate himself on the seriousness of these mental illnesses, and limit his comments of other MPs to their actions, not their appearances.”
The exchange came amid another difficult PMQs for Johnson, as Labour leader Starmer accused him of showing “disdain” for the Union.
Another Labour MP, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, sparked uproar in the chamber after he said his constituents believed Johnson to be a liar.
The Speaker intervened twice in the Labour MP’s contribution, asking him to withdraw his question when he asked if Johnson would resign as “I would prefer to be led by a lawyer than a liar”.
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