Prime minister’s questions dominated reader discussion on site on Wednesday lunchtime. We’re also looking at fallout from Donald Trump breaking with the Iran nuclear deal and a welcome return for columnist George Monbiot.
To join in the conversation you can click on the links in the comments below to expand and add your thoughts.
Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn at PMQs - Politics live
Andrew Sparrow summarised that for Corbyn, it was a clear win – and probably his best on the topic of Brexit after May was forced to give MPs single market vote. Here are some of your thoughts:
‘The prime minister became almost incoherent at times’
Much stronger performance from Corbyn today, thank goodness. He nailed May on divisions in the government and she became almost incoherent at times. Enjoyed looking at the glum faces, particularly David Lidington and Philip Hammond when she was trying to answer on her preferred customs arrangement.
Daivedover
‘Is it worth ditching this last charade of democracy?’
Given the few times May actually answers the questions at PMQs, is it worth ditching this last charade of democracy? Maybe we should just go straight to the flimsy dictatorship already largely in place through emergency legislation, inadequate debating time, and the insertion of last minute amendments so beloved of this bunch.
olderiamthelessiknow
‘Theresa May’s sole tactic at PMQs is diversion’
Corbyn asks the right questions, but with May this is no more effective than putting a letter in a bottle and consigning it to the waves. Her sole tactic at PMQs is diversion by way of talking-points and rehearsed soundbites.
Mrdaydream
Europe must make Trump pay for wrecking the Iran nuclear deal
Foreign affairs commentator Simon Tisdall writes that “Donald Trump’s torpedoing of the Iran nuclear deal on highly specious and misleading grounds is an act of wanton diplomatic vandalism fraught with dangers.” You’ve been sharing your thoughts beneath his piece.
‘This will do nothing but increase the already shaky instability of a region’
In a long and growing succession of bad decisions, [Trump’s] decision yesterday to withdraw from the Iran nuclear deal is the worst yet. It will do nothing but increase the already shaky instability of a region of the world where instability already reigns supreme.
That said, I don’t agree that the UK should withdraw its invitation. I also don’t agree with the ongoing drive to isolate the United States. For the UK to withdraw the invitation would only further add to the growing US isolationism, at a time in the world’s history when nations should be working more closely together.
His decision also, may it be said, could very well add to any scepticism already extant about any possibility of securing a lasting nuclear deal with North Korea.
ID6732157
Through my cancer, I have found the key to a good life
Readers welcomed back George Monbiot after a period away from his column.
‘The anxieties you mention here are those most men with this diagnosis face’
I don’t always agree with you, George but thank you for writing this. Prostate cancer is something very close to my heart currently and your article is very timely. Please don’t think you are over-sharing – the anxieties you mention here are those most men with this diagnosis face but don’t always feel they can discuss them. By bringing them out into the open you are doing fellow sufferers a great service. Wishing you all the best with the remainder of your recovery.
lemonsuckingpedant
‘I hope there are some men out there that will read this and be reassured’
I’m so glad that you have survived your, sometimes horrendous, ordeal with your sense of humour, and self, intact. Good to have you back.
I hope there are some men out there that will read this and be reassured, especially with the ‘oversharing’ that ‘all is not lost’ after diagnosis and treatment.You reminded me of a patient I looked after in about 1968, when I was a student nurse: a single lady in her early 60s with rectal cancer who had had an AP excision leaving her with a permanent colostomy and a big scar on her behind that would take a while to heal. She was wandering around the ward a few days post-op when the docs were doing their ward round. She was called back to bed, and after the usual check, and chat to the medical students, she was asked if she had any questions. She said, in her prim and proper voice “When will I be able to start having intercourse again?”. I never did find out if she meant it or it was her wicked sense of humour, but the look on the doctors’ faces and the consultant delivering advice with a bright red face was a sight to behold.
dunnock49
Comments have been edited for length. This article will be updated throughout the day with some of the most interesting ways readers have been participating across the site.
