A Labour MP has become a laughing stock on social media, after a Twitter/X user spotted her being slapped down after asking an obvious question about the Post Office.
Following the recent coverage of the Post Office Horizon scandal, sparked by the popular ITV drama, Rachael Maskell asked Business Minister Kemi Badenoch a one-line question:
“Whether she has made a recent assessment of the potential merits of bringing The Post Office under public ownership.”
As minister for the Post Office, Kevin Hollinrake was put up to reply to the York MP.
He informed her: “Post Office Limited is under public ownership”.
The Labour MP’s question was spotted by user RobNoLastName, and has sparked mirth among social media users, with one slamming interaction as proof “they really don’t have a clue”.
Another observed: “They’re not the brightest, are they?”
A third quipped: “These clowns could actually be running the country soon”.
Last year a Cabinet Office minister said the cost of answering Written Questions by MPs “is likely to be substantial”, given the numerous factors involved in responding to them.
61,427 Written Questions were submitted across both the Lords and the Commons in 2022.
In 2010 a House of Commons library briefing found that each question cost around £149 in 2008.
If the cost has kept pace with inflation, Ms Maskell’s question could have cost £232.47.
