PMQs understudies shine as MPs suffer collective brain fade

David Lidington. At times like this it can be a disadvantage to be emotionally intelligent as people can always tell when you’re lying. Photograph: House of Commons/PAWith Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn in Belfast for the funeral of Lyra McKee, prime minister’s questions was left in the more-than-capable hands of their regular understudies. And for the most part May’s de facto deputy, David Lidington, and the shadow foreign secretary, Emily Thornberry, were heard in near silence