Literally nothing surprises me anymore in the world of politics.
Yesterday’s flag issue seemed to be peak (on this particular) Thursday insanity. But no hold my pint, of milk, as Charles Walker took the prize for the craziest statement of the day.
Boris Johnson suffered a substantial backbench rebellion as 35 Conservative MPs opposed the extension of coronavirus laws for a further six months.
The Prime Minister had ordered his MPs to support an extension to wide-ranging powers contained in the Coronavirus Act.
Ignored
But several ignored this and opted to vote against, including former cabinet ministers David Davis and Esther McVey.
Despite the protests of backbench Tories, MPs voted to extend emergency Covid-19 powers until the end of September, far beyond the planned end of social distancing in June.
Prior to the vote, Sir Walker made a bizarre pledge to “protest about the price of milk” and told the Commons he would spend the next few days walking around London “with a pint of milk on my person because that pint will represent my protest”.
He told the House “that pint will remind me that the act of protest is a freedom & not a right… & if you don’t fight for freedoms they end up being taken away from you.”
Watch
Charles Walker is going to allow himself an act of defiance, & he's going to walk around London with a pint of milk on his person, because that pint will represent his protest… pic.twitter.com/NWtynJ7UMQ
— Haggis_UK ?? ?? (@Haggis_UK) March 25, 2021
Reactions
The fact that this isn’t satire should be enough, but people had a lot to say about his sour protest.
1.
I look forward to the future dramatisation of this protest as a West End musical: LES MILKERABLES. https://t.co/OgEI5XakbF
— Adam Roberts (@arrroberts) March 25, 2021
2.
Lovely to see millions of years of human evolution culminate in an MP exercising his democratic right to protest by threatening to walk around for a bit with some milk.
— Balderdash (@notDcfcBoss) March 25, 2021
3.
This is really happening…MP Charles Walker tells colleagues he is going to walk around London with a pint of milk as a protest over the coronavirus restrictions. He encourages others to do the same, perhaps those who fear the slide into authoritarianism.
— Kate Proctor (@Kate_M_Proctor) March 25, 2021
4.
If he was a real Conservative he'd snatch that milk off a kid first. https://t.co/9jYVYLnOV4
— Tiernan Douieb (@TiernanDouieb) March 25, 2021
5.
This is like something you'd read someone did in 1832.
— Danny Wallace (@dannywallace) March 25, 2021
"I shall walk around London with a pint of milk, sir! And thereafter I will boil mine own shoe!" https://t.co/pzqpccUZee
6.
To be fair,
— John West ?? (@JohnWest_JAWS) March 25, 2021
This is not the most stupid thing a Tory has said in Parliament in the last few months. https://t.co/ILK9yDUpBp
7.
I don’t suppose it needs to be said that the freedom to carry a pint of milk is not under threat and this is full on pencils-up-the-nostrils madness but what ho I’ve said it anyway. https://t.co/Y59dzYtRJv
— Tom Peck (@tompeck) March 25, 2021
8.
I keep thinking of jokes to make, but, really, just saying "HAHAHAHAHAHA" is the only viable response. Milk vs corona. Jesus Christ. https://t.co/yl3tQXZVea
— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) March 25, 2021
9.
2.30pm: Conservative MP Sir Charles Walker tells the Commons he is going to walk around London with a pint of milk as a protest over the coronavirus restrictions and encourages others to do the same.
— Sophie Morris (@itssophiemorris) March 25, 2021
7pm: pic.twitter.com/b3ks92xjeo
10.
#AccidentalPartridge pic.twitter.com/Zg1rsfJsJV
— Accidental Partridge (@AccidentalP) March 25, 2021
11.
Followed swiftly by the great wibble protest. pic.twitter.com/ElaDIU5xec
— Gordon McIntosh ?? #FBPE ?? ? (@Gordy_Mc1ntosh) March 25, 2021
12.
The Tory MP Charles Walker who plans to walk around London with a pint of milk as a protest over the coronavirus restrictions – also says he's not having the jab because 'he's afraid of needles.'
— Otto English (@Otto_English) March 25, 2021
So his stupid protest will not only put his life but others lives at risk too.
13.
Sir Charles Walker explains why he will carry a bottle of milk everywhere.*
— Parody Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson_MP) March 26, 2021
*spoiler alert: it's because he's off his fucking chump. pic.twitter.com/7AUeFwwTjY
14.
So Conservative MP Charles Walker's big "act of defiance" against the UK's "slide into authoritarianism" will be to walk around London with a pint of milk. pic.twitter.com/3cNaALSH1o
— Adam Bienkov (@AdamBienkov) March 25, 2021
15.
There is Alan Bennett-level poignancy to the Charles Walker milk speech. It fits into a great comic-melancholy tradition. Hints of Reggie Perrin, or Richard Briars in Ever Decreasing Circles. Best* theatre I have seen all year.
— Rafael Behr (@rafaelbehr) March 25, 2021
*only, obviously.
16.
Desmond Swayne: "I am a complete idiot".
— Chris Paynter #Stay Home,Play synths (@ChrisPaynter1) March 25, 2021
Charles Walker: "Hold my pint of milk".
#C4News