PMQs

[Sonic Budgie]

@Regulator or anyone else that knows the answer. Liddo is taking PMQs today as the boss is otherwise engaged. I notice that Corbyn isn't there either. Is it normal for the leader of the opposition to be absent if the PM is not there or did he just fancy the day off?

[Regulator]

@Regulator or anyone else that knows the answer. Liddo is taking PMQs today as the boss is otherwise engaged. I notice that Corbyn isn't there either. Is it normal for the leader of the opposition to be absent if the PM is not there or did he just fancy the day off?

Yes.

[Sonic Budgie]

Thank you for clearing that up.

[Rocky]

It’s part of the process of parliamentary pairing, which allows members to travel abroad etc whilst not affecting numbers during avote. Each MP has his/her pair from the opposite party.

[Iris]

The theory is, apparently, that it ensures the more capable and experienced members of each front bench to face off against each other without giving the less capable members too hard a time.

It's left as an exercise to the reader to work out who is being protected from whom in this case.