Rishi Sunak on Keir Starmer's EU anthem choice
Rishi Sunak tore into Keir Starmer at Prime Minister's Questions today over his siding with Greece over the Elgin Marbles, and with the EU on migration.
Joking about the Labour leader's confession that his favourite classical song is Ode to Joy - the EU national anthem - Rishi Sunak slammed Sir Keir for 'backing Brussels over Britain every time!'.
The pair went toe-to-toe on the UK's record high immigration figures, with Sir Keir accusing the Government of being totally divided over how to bring numbers down.
The Prime Minister accused the Labour leader of failing to notice that "boat crossings are down by one third this year!"
"Thanks to every one of the actions that we've taken that he opposed every single time they were raised!"
Click here to join our Whatsapp community to be the first to receive politics news from The Express.
READ MORE: Greece PM accused of fuelling Elgin Marbles row in ongoing debate
Rishi Sunak tore into Sir Keir over his classical music confession (Image: Parliament Live)
"Mr Speaker, no one will be surprised he's backing an EU country over Britain, just this last week he was asked 'which song best sums up the Labour party?'
"What did he come up with? Well he showed his true colours and chose Ode to Joy - literally the anthem of the European Union.
"He will back Brussels over Britain every single time!"
Sir Keir slammed Rishi over his diplomatic snub of the Greek premier this week, after Kyriakos Mitsotakis told the BBC he wants the Elgin Marbles returned.
Don't miss...
Moment Lee Anderson proves Home Office boss ‘doesn’t have clue’ about migrants [LATEST]
Jacob Rees-Mogg blasts Covid inquiry for refusing to address lab leak theory [LATEST]
Scottish Greens hit homeowners with shock heat pump deadline [LATEST]
Mr Sunak defended his decision to cancel a meeting with the Greek PM (Image: Getty)
Become an Express Premium member Support fearless journalism Read The Daily Express online, advert free Get super-fast page loading
Start 30-day
FREE trial
The Labour leader accused the PM of sparking the row in an attempt to "hide from his failures".
"He's spent this week arguing about an ancient relic that only a tiny minority of the British public have any interest in.
"Mr Speaker that's enough about the Tory party!"
Responding to Mr Sunak's defence of the Government's action on migration figures, Sir Keir joked: "Mr Speaker never mind the British Museum, it's the Prime Minister who's obviously lost his marbles!"
"The Greek Prime Minister came to London to meet him, a fellow NATO member, an economic ally, one of our most important partners in tackling illegal immigration, but instead of using that meeting to discuss those serious issues he tried to humiliate him and cancelled at the last minute."
DON'T MISS
Powered by
Rishi Sunak finally realises Brexit is best way to rally warring Tory MPs during PMQs
49 Comments
Greek PM urges return of Elgin Marbles collection
9 Comments
The EU still believe they are better than us says Brendan Clarke-Smith
56 Comments
Rishi Sunak: Greek PM is ‘grandstanding' in Elgin Marbles row
66 Comments
‘F*** you!': Elgin Marbles row erupts as Greek paper launches scathing attack on Sunak
392 Comments
'Annoyed' Greek PM accuses Rishi Sunak of running scared in escalating Elgin Marbles row
764 Comments
WATCH: Furious James Cleverly makes Pinocchio gesture at Keir Starmer after PMQs attack
215 Comments
Now Rishi Sunak accuses Greek PM of breaking agreement on Elgin Marbles as row deepens
183 Comments
SNP chief demands return of 'stolen' Elgin Marbles as huge diplomatic row rages
242 Comments
Greek PM says Elgin marbles is like 'cutting Mona Lisa in half' as Starmer open to return
200 Comments
Rishi Sunak sparks fury at home and abroad over Elgin Marbles row with Greece
40 Comments
Lee Anderson claims he was offered 'a lot of money' to defect to Nigel Farage's Reform UK
137 Comments
Record net migration spurs urgent call to address housing crisis in the UK
219 Comments
Politicians unite in tribute to Alistair Darling: ‘a statesman of unimpeachable integrity'
8 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of plotting 'cultural vandalism' over Elgin Marbles
93 Comments
Major row explodes as Greek PM left furious by last-minute snub from Rishi Sunak
989 Comments
If Rishi Sunak can stand up for the Elgin Marbles, will he stand up to Strasbourg?
51 Comments
Fears Keir Starmer will turn Elgin Marbles into 'political pawns' to surrender to Greece
318 Comments
Greece PM accused of fuelling Elgin Marbles row in ongoing debate
83 Comments
POLL: Should the UK return the Elgin Marbles to Greece? Have your say
279 Comments
Rishi Sunak finally realises Brexit is best way to rally warring Tory MPs during PMQs
49 Comments
Greek PM urges return of Elgin Marbles collection
9 Comments
The EU still believe they are better than us says Brendan Clarke-Smith
56 Comments
Rishi Sunak: Greek PM is ‘grandstanding' in Elgin Marbles row
66 Comments
‘F*** you!': Elgin Marbles row erupts as Greek paper launches scathing attack on Sunak
392 Comments
'Annoyed' Greek PM accuses Rishi Sunak of running scared in escalating Elgin Marbles row
764 Comments
WATCH: Furious James Cleverly makes Pinocchio gesture at Keir Starmer after PMQs attack
215 Comments
Now Rishi Sunak accuses Greek PM of breaking agreement on Elgin Marbles as row deepens
183 Comments
SNP chief demands return of 'stolen' Elgin Marbles as huge diplomatic row rages
242 Comments
Greek PM says Elgin marbles is like 'cutting Mona Lisa in half' as Starmer open to return
200 Comments
Rishi Sunak sparks fury at home and abroad over Elgin Marbles row with Greece
40 Comments
Lee Anderson claims he was offered 'a lot of money' to defect to Nigel Farage's Reform UK
137 Comments
Record net migration spurs urgent call to address housing crisis in the UK
219 Comments
Politicians unite in tribute to Alistair Darling: ‘a statesman of unimpeachable integrity'
8 Comments
Keir Starmer accused of plotting 'cultural vandalism' over Elgin Marbles
93 Comments
Major row explodes as Greek PM left furious by last-minute snub from Rishi Sunak
989 Comments
If Rishi Sunak can stand up for the Elgin Marbles, will he stand up to Strasbourg?
51 Comments
Fears Keir Starmer will turn Elgin Marbles into 'political pawns' to surrender to Greece
318 Comments
Greece PM accused of fuelling Elgin Marbles row in ongoing debate
83 Comments
POLL: Should the UK return the Elgin Marbles to Greece? Have your say
279 Comments
Rishi Sunak finally realises Brexit is best way to rally warring Tory MPs during PMQs
49 Comments
Greek PM urges return of Elgin Marbles collection
9 Comments
The EU still believe they are better than us says Brendan Clarke-Smith
56 Comments
Rishi Sunak: Greek PM is ‘grandstanding' in Elgin Marbles row
66 Comments
‘F*** you!': Elgin Marbles row erupts as Greek paper launches scathing attack on Sunak
392 Comments
'Annoyed' Greek PM accuses Rishi Sunak of running scared in escalating Elgin Marbles row
764 Comments
WATCH: Furious James Cleverly makes Pinocchio gesture at Keir Starmer after PMQs attack
215 Comments
Trending
He accused Mr Sunak of "small politics".
The PM said it would have been "inappropriate" to continue with the planned meeting, when it became clear the Greek PM intended to use the bilateral "not to discuss substantive issues about the future but rather to grandstand and relitigate issues of the past".
"Furthermore, when specific commitments and specific assurances on that topic were made to this country and were then broken, it may seem alien to him but my view is when people make commitments they should keep them!"
Related articles James Cleverly to face crunch meeting with furious Tory MPs over small boats 'I'll make them pay' Top minister vows to clamp down on nuisance cold calls EU admits Brexit humiliation over hopes to steal thousands of jobs from City 'Nadine was right!' Tory chiefs' plot to replace candidate will 'unleash chaos' Farage's friends' fury as ITV plans racism claims ahead of I'm a Celebrity vote