Boris Johnson has committed to a Commons vote on the Online Safety Bill before Christmas, following a question by Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs in which he asked why Conservatives had not yet brought forward a second reading of the legislation.
Committing Labour’s support to the much-discussed Bill, Sir Keir cited examples of violent material not being removed by social media companies, including instances of abuse on the app Telegram posted while MPs gave tributes to murdered MP Sir David Amess on Monday.
In an exchange notable for its uncharacteristic calmness, in which Sir Keir repeatedly asked the PM to refrain from attacking Labour “considering the week we’ve had” – as MPs dealt with the death of Sir David – Mr Johnson ultimately said he would ensure the Bill “does complete its stages before this House, before Christmas”.
Following the prime minister’s questions session, MPs observed a minute’s silence in the Commons before paying tribute to Tory MP James Brokenshire, who died of lung cancer on 7 October. “Politics and Parliament would be the better if there were more people of his caliber involved,” Mr Johnson said in his opening tribute.
