Boris Johnson’s ‘People’s PMQs’ stunt backfires after he asked public for questions

Prime Minister Boris Johnson addressing the nation from 10 Downing Street, London, as he placed the UK on lockdown. Photograph: PA Video. - Credit: PA

An opportunity to propose questions to Boris Johnson during an online ‘People’s PMQs’ went wrong after a majority of questions proposed to the prime minister were hostile and critical.

Dubbed ‘People’s PMQs’, any member of the public can submit a question to the prime minister, with the least critical questions pre-selected and put to Johnson during a live 15-minute broadcast.

A promotional video on Johnson’s Twitter account for the event – compared by some to a recruitment drive for the British Army – invited people to submit their queries via Twitter, Facebook and other social media platforms.

https://twitter.com/Clantastic/status/1281183883204218880

But rather than receiving messages of support, the prime minister was inundated with criticisms and tricky questions that are unlikely to be selected.

A user by the name Graeme tweeted: ‘Why won’t you release the Russia Report and what’s your favourite dinosaur?’

@dragon77_red asked: ‘At what age did you become immune from telling the truth Boris???’

https://twitter.com/SophieRose19x/status/1281199982670942208

Some took the opportunity to drill the prime minister over his handling of the coronavirus crisis.

Benjamin Smith went for the jugular: ‘When will you resign for your mishandling of the pandemic?’

https://twitter.com/Shanorme78/status/1281180198180978688

@Shanorme78 asked: ‘Are you going to repeat your Covid-19 fiasco with the second wave or are we likely to expect some timely reactions & possibly even some preemptive action this time?’

Hassan Hussain posted: ‘When will you apologise for the 65,000+ deaths that could’ve easily been prevented?’

https://twitter.com/mickwatson65/status/1281185694317260801

Chris Peplow wondered when the PM would apologise for suggesting that care workers were to blame for the spread of coronavirus in nursing homes. ‘Why haven’t you said sorry to the care home workers?’ he asked.

Makaela wrote: ‘Why aren’t doctors and nurses getting free parking any more like that’s the least you could do for them?’

Others were just happy to make fun of it all. In responding what another user might have asked Johnson, @mickwatson65 pried: ‘Is it ‘did you intentionally set out to be the worst prime minister EVER, or did it happen by accident?!?”

In the last session of People’s PMQs, Johnson ended the broadcast early after he rambled on about Queen Elizabeth I and her relationship with Shakespeare.

Submissions have now closed.