Conservative mayoral candidate Zac Goldsmith MP has suggested shadow chancellor John McDonnell ‘misjudged the mood’ after he threw a copy of Mao’s Little Red Book at George Osborne during the Autumn Statement last week.
His comments, and actions, were in response to the chancellor’s spending review.
Mr Goldsmith, the MP for Richmond Park, suggested the move was another surprise in an extraordinary parliament.
He said: “Parliament is a different place now compared to the last parliament.
“It’s almost unrecognisable, the Labour party is lost, and there are people who I think feel completely alienated from their party and that’s created an extraordinary atmosphere.”
While questioning the move, Mr Goldsmith stressed his good relationship with Mr McDonnell, and passed the action off as a mistake.
He said: “I know John McDonnell very well in a local context, we worked together on Kew Gardens, and we worked together on together on Heathrow.
“He’s a good man, but I feel he misjudged the mood, and it was a surprising decision.”
Mr Goldsmith is currently campaigning to be London Mayor, facing off against Tooting MP and Labour candidate Sadiq Khan.
