Boris Johnson has been accused of fat shaming an opposition MP for the second time in months after appearing to make another joke about his weight.
The prime minister called Westminster SNP leader Ian Blackford a ‘living testament to the benefits of moderation’ as the pair clashed over the cost of living crisis and Downing Street parties scandal.
The remark was met with a roar of laughter from Conservative MPs, though Mr Blackford looked less than impressed.
In January, after he described the impending National Insurance tax rise as hanging ‘like guillotine while they (Tories) eat cake,’ Mr Johnson clapped back: ‘ I don’t know who has been eating more cake.’
People on social media have questioned why the prime minister ‘keeps making fat jokes aimed at Ian Blackford’ following his fresh remarks today.
The PM made the comment after Mr Blackford criticised him for putting on a lavish dinner for all his MPs at a luxury hotel in London last night.
The SNP politician said: ‘Last night, millions of families will have been desperately trying to figure out how they can possibly afford the £700 energy price hike that will hit them this Friday
‘At the very same time Tory MPs were gatheng across the street for a champagne bash in the Park Plaza
‘We all know that the Tories partied during lockdown, and now they are partying down the cost of living emergency.’
He then asked what the government was going to do to help people worried about paying their energy bills.
Mr Johnson replied: ‘He is in error of what he says about the events last night, but he like me is a living testament to the benefits of moderation.’
One person tweeted: ‘Why does @commonsspeaker (Lindsay Hoyle) let Boris Johnson keep fat shaming @Ianblackford_MP at #PMQs? It’s very unseemly.’
Another tweeted the SNP MP directly, saying: ‘You need to put a complaint in about him fat shaming you!’
A third person compared it to the Oscars scandal, quipping: ‘Just as well Ian Blackford is not Will Smith.’
And Kirsten Oswald, the SNP’s equalities spokesperson, slammed Mr Johnson’s ‘tin-eared response’ to Mr Blackford’s questions.
She has previously criticised the prime minister over his insults, saying in response to his earlier remarks: ‘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.’
Mr Johnson is also coming under fire for reportedly mocking gender identity in a speech last night – just hours before one of his own MPs came out as trans.
The PM is said to have opened his speech at the dinner for Tory MPs by saying: ‘Good evening ladies and gentleman, or as Keir Starmer would put it, people who are assigned female or male at birth.’
Shortly afterwards Jamie Wallis, the Conservative MP for Bridgend, revealed he had been diagnosed with gender dysphoria and spoke about the recent trauma of being raped and blackmailed.
After Wallis’s announcement, the prime minister publicly commended his bravery both on Twitter and in a statement to the House of Commons.
The PM said: ‘The whole House will have read the statement from (Jamie Wallis) and I know the House stands with you and we’ll give you the support that you need to live freely as yourself.’
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