Jeremy Corbyn's Labour has long been ridiculed by the Conservatives as a poor and ineffective opposition to Theresa May's government.
Since the general election, which saw an unexpected hung parliament instead of the crushing majority May had hoped for, Labour seem more like a government in waiting.
Even John Curtice thinks so.
So now it seems the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer, John McDonnell is rejoicing in dishing out some of the lines that have been plaguing him for months.
John McDonnell: "The Tories need to sort themselves, because when we get into government we will need an effective opposition."
— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) June 20, 2017
An even better barb than his response to Widdecombe: "There's quite a few Tories who won't have counts to go to in a few years too."
— George Eaton (@georgeeaton) June 20, 2017
Many on Twitter loved the barbs at the Conservative party...
— ㅤㅤ (@MrDuckstep) June 20, 2017
Contender for top trolling of the year
— Stuart G (@AvidInquirer) June 20, 2017
I am not a McDonnell fan but that is a great line.
— Jack Staples-Butler (@jstaplesbutler) June 20, 2017
However, some thought that a Conservative capitulation did not necessarily paper over McDonnell's on-record quotes about Marxism:
McDonnell would remove democracy pretty quickly anyway
— Nicholas Clarke (@drmagwai) June 20, 2017
I'm not sure this sort of comment is a good idea - one lesson of the election is surely how quickly arrogance and hubris can turn to failure
— Douglas Boyd (@bourgeoisrebel) June 21, 2017
Some people seem to think that this is McDonnell having a 'sense of humour'. But in his Stalinist little mind he's actually being serious.
— Rob Stevens (@SocialDemSheff) June 20, 2017
Still, at least he didn't show up with a little red book.
More: John McDonnell broke the fourth wall on The Marr Show so naturally everyone is mocking him