A Labour Member of Parliament has publicly defended his participation in a dance class held within the Palace of Westminster, following significant backlash from colleagues who deemed the activity inappropriate amidst escalating Middle East tensions. Lee Pitcher, the MP for Doncaster East and the Isle of Axholme, was among approximately forty parliamentarians filmed engaging in a cha-cha-cha session in Portcullis House on Wednesday morning.
Promoting Health Amid Political Storm
The event, organised by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle and led by Strictly Come Dancing celebrities Angela Rippon and Alex Kingston, was designed to highlight the advantages of dance for national health and wellbeing. However, the timing proved controversial, occurring shortly after US and Israeli strikes on Iran and subsequent retaliatory missile and drone attacks that have heightened fears of a broader regional conflict.
Defence on Social Media
In a detailed Facebook post published on Wednesday evening, Mr Pitcher addressed the growing row directly. The Labour backbencher, who entered the House of Commons following the 2024 general election, emphasised that the class took place 'before the day got underway in Parliament'. He elaborated on the event's purpose, stating it was part of the UK-wide Let’s Dance! campaign to demonstrate how dance can support both physical and mental health.
Mr Pitcher wrote: 'This morning, before the day got underway in Parliament, the Speaker invited MPs to get involved in something a little different and genuinely uplifting, focussing on mental and physical health. I’ve spoken in Parliament many times about suicide prevention, including leading the debate on World Suicide Prevention Day last year. That passion comes from my own experience of losing my cousin to suicide, a loss that never really leaves you.'
He further argued that mental health support often begins outside clinical settings, in community spaces like dance studios and parks, where movement and connection foster wellbeing. 'If something as simple as dancing can help someone feel a little less alone, a little more hopeful, or a little stronger in their recovery—then it’s something well worth championing,' he added.
Fierce Criticism from Fellow Parliamentarians
The dance class drew sharp condemnation from MPs across the political spectrum, who criticised the optics during a period of international crisis. Reform UK MP Lee Anderson told the Daily Mail he thought he had 'walked straight into Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' video', adding 'Whilst the world is on the brink of World War Three, these dancing MPs have made it quite clear that the lunatics have taken over the asylum.' He also sarcastically referenced MPs' upcoming 5% pay rise.
Conservative MP Andrew Murrison described the sight as 'appalling' and 'highly inappropriate at this difficult time' in a post on X. Your Party MP Zarah Sultana stated 'The optics of MPs doing Strictly Come Dancing in Parliament while the world teeters on the brink of World War Three is completely inappropriate. It says all you need to know about Westminster.'
Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry expressed frustration, noting 'War in the Middle East, innocent civilians dead and thousands of British citizens trapped there and MPs think this is a good look? No wonder voters are so sick of our politics.'
Support and Context
In response to Mr Anderson's comments, Labour's Jonathan Brash remarked 'Under Reform we are to be miserable at all times, call each other names as often as possible and reject joy as a point of principle.' The dance class also included participants such as new Green Party MP Hannah Spencer, shadow culture secretary Nigel Huddleston, Conservative MP Caroline Nokes, and Labour's Kim Leadbeater, alongside former Strictly contestant Alex Kingston and ex-judge Dame Arlene Phillips.
Before the session, Angela Rippon advocated for dance as 'such a valuable tool in getting the nation healthy' and potentially saving NHS resources by addressing obesity and mental health crises. The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of news from the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority (IPSA) that MPs' basic salary will increase to £98,599 annually from next month, with aims to reach approximately £110,000 by 2029, citing increased abuse and constituency workloads.
