THERESA MAY will not take her place at this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) because she will be welcoming the King and Queen of Spain, writes Lucas Davies-Herbst.

The Prime Minister will join the Queen and Prince Philip in welcoming the Spanish royal couple at an official ceremony in Horse Guards Parade, Downing Street announced yesterday.

In her absence, First Secretary of State Damian Green will stand in for Ms May at the dispatch box.

Ms May’s ducking out of the weekly questions session is likely to raise further doubts about her credibility as Conservative Party leader — already badly damaged by the general election outcome.

It was reported last week that Andrew Mitchell had said at a Tory dinner party that Ms May was “dead in the water” amid rumours that Brexit Secretary David Davis is preparing a possible leadership bid.

Shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry will stand in for Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn, a Labour source said.
Labour’s Gordon Brown was the last PM to miss a session because of a state visit when he greeted South African President Jacob Zuma in 2010.