Boris Johnson called out for 'playing' on phone in Commons rather than listening to MP

Boris Johnson was today called out in the Commons for playing on his phone rather than listening to an opposition MP.

Ian Blackford, the SNP’s Westminster leader, was calling for a second Scottish independence referendum when he noticed the prime minister wasn’t listening.

Jabbing his finger across the chamber towards Mr Johnson, Mr Blackford broke off his speech to say: “Can I say to the prime minister, it is not a good look to see him playing with his phone rather than listening to the legitimate demands of the SNP.”

Mr Johnson, after putting his phone away, could be heard jibing back: “Say something more interesting.”

Mr Blackford said: “The image of the prime minister playing with his phone, not listening to the SNP, says it all.”

The clash came following Thursday’s Queen’s Speech, which formally opened Parliament after last week’s general election.

Despite Mr Johnson’s successful campaign overall, his Conservative Party suffered in Scotland. It lost seven seats from 2017 as the SNP dominated, winning 81% of the seats.

The exchange with Mr Blackford was Mr Johnson’s second awkward run-in with an opposition leader in a matter of hours.

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, badly defeated in the election, had earlier blanked the PM as they made their way to the House of Lords to hear the Queen’s Speech earlier on Thursday.

— Read more from Yahoo News UK —

Jeremy Corbyn blanks Boris Johnson during excruciatingly awkward walk ahead of Queen's Speech

Five things Boris Johnson wants to implement following the Queen's Speech

Why the Queen was not wearing a crown during the State Opening of Parliament