Labour's Audacious Move to Scrap Prime Minister's Questions Exposed
Labour whips launched an audacious bid to cancel next week's session of Prime Minister's Questions, following a dramatic bust-up between Keir Starmer and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle. Parliamentary sources have revealed that Labour attempted to end the Commons session early to shield Sir Keir from another bruising confrontation with Kemi Badenoch.
Fury in the Chamber Sparks Controversial Plan
The Prime Minister reacted with visible anger on Wednesday after Sir Lindsay Hoyle ordered him to stop evading questions from Kemi Badenoch. Setting out parliamentary business for the coming week, Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell indicated that debates and votes beyond Tuesday would only proceed 'if necessary'. This unusual phrasing hinted at Labour's underlying strategy to curtail proceedings.
Peers faced intense pressure to drop objections to multiple government bills awaiting approval before Parliament's prorogation on April 29, ahead of the King's Speech scheduled for May 13. However, a House of Lords source confirmed that peers firmly rejected this manoeuvre. 'There was significant pressure to push everything through by next Tuesday so Starmer wouldn't have to endure another PMQs. But people are not having it,' the source disclosed.
Genuine Legislative Concerns Trump Political Convenience
The source elaborated that peers' reservations about legislation concerning social media regulations and pension reforms were substantive and would not be abandoned merely to provide the Prime Minister with political relief. 'The concerns about these bills are genuine – they are not going to be dropped to give the Prime Minister an easier time,' they emphasized.
This development coincided with mounting calls for Sir Keir to apologise to the Speaker following his heated rant in the Commons chamber on Wednesday. The Prime Minister confronted Sir Lindsay after being instructed to cease dodging Mrs Badenoch's pointed inquiries.
Norman Condemns Starmer's Conduct in Stunning Rebuke
Shadow Commons Leader Jesse Norman raised the incident during Business Questions on Thursday, with Sir Lindsay observing impassively. Mr Norman highlighted that of 24 responses given by the Prime Minister to Kemi Badenoch in recent weeks, 23 had 'ignored the question and changed the subject'. He stated, 'Yesterday we even saw the PM hectoring you on live television just for doing your job. That is a shameful record, for which the PM should write to you and therefore by implication to this House and apologise.'
Mr Norman asserted that such behaviour 'is contemptuous of you, of the Leader of the Opposition, and of us all as MPs'. When questioned about the altercation, the Prime Minister's spokesman maintained that Sir Keir had 'addressed all the questions that were put to him yesterday' and confirmed his continued confidence in the Speaker.
Speaker's Allies Highlight Public Frustration
Allies of Sir Lindsay noted that he frequently receives emails from members of the public complaining about the Prime Minister consistently avoiding questions during PMQs. On Wednesday, Sir Lindsay interrupted exchanges with Mrs Badenoch to remind, 'Prime Minister, it's Prime Minister's Questions. We've got to concentrate.'
Following these heated clashes, Sir Keir was observed approaching the Speaker's chair as he exited the chamber. An MP who witnessed the scene at close quarters reported that the Prime Minister was clearly incensed. 'He was fuming with Lindsay,' they revealed.
Repeated Interventions Signal Growing Tensions
This marked the third instance in recent weeks where Sir Lindsay has intervened to remind Sir Keir of his obligation to answer questions directly. The Speaker later issued a statement clarifying that he occasionally must remind Prime Ministers of the 'rules of engagement' in the chamber. He pointedly added that this message had been conveyed to Number 10 officials 'on several occasions recently' following similar interventions in previous weeks.
A spokeswoman for the Speaker's Office reiterated, 'The Speaker is not responsible for the questions asked by Members or the answers given by Ministers. Questions to Ministers should relate to matters for which they are officially responsible. Equally, answers should be confined to the points contained in the question. Every so often the Speaker has to remind Prime Ministers – and Ministers – of the rules of engagement in the Chamber. The Speaker has made this point to officials at No10 on several occasions recently as well.'
