Tory Frontbencher Demands Apology Over Starmer's PMQs Conduct
Conservative shadow Commons leader Jesse Norman has called for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to issue a formal apology to Members of Parliament for what he describes as "contemptuous behaviour" during Prime Minister's Questions sessions. The demand follows heated exchanges in the Commons chamber that have raised concerns about parliamentary decorum and accountability.
Allegations of Question Dodging
Mr Norman presented a detailed analysis claiming that the Prime Minister had "ignored the question and changed the subject" in 23 out of his last 24 responses to Opposition Leader Kemi Badenoch during their Wednesday clashes. The Conservative frontbencher highlighted that recent PMQs sessions have covered critical topics including the Iran war, fuel duty, North Sea oil and gas, and the defence review, yet the Prime Minister allegedly failed to address these matters directly.
"Yesterday, we even saw the Prime Minister hectoring you, Mr Speaker, in your chair and on live television just for doing your job," Norman told the Commons. "That is a shameful record for which the Prime Minister should write to you, and therefore, by implication, to this House and apologise."
Speaker's Intervention and Parliamentary Rules
The controversy escalated when Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle reportedly intervened during Wednesday's session, telling the Prime Minister: "It's Prime Minister's Questions, we've got to concentrate." According to the Speaker's office, Sir Lindsay has repeatedly reminded Downing Street officials that answers in the Commons chamber should "be confined to the points contained in the question."
This intervention followed an exchange where Badenoch questioned the government's delay in publishing its defence investment plan, asking directly: "What's the hold up?" The Prime Minister's response focused instead on what he described as Badenoch's "attempted mother of all U-turns" regarding Middle East policy, prompting the Speaker's interruption.
Broader Constitutional Concerns
Mr Norman expanded his criticism beyond the immediate PMQs exchanges, accusing the government of making announcements to the press before informing Parliament. "The deeper constitutional point is, of course, that in our representative system of Government, the people is Parliament and Parliament is the people," he stated. "Nothing good can come out of the attempt to undermine the British constitution by this means."
The Conservative frontbencher emphasised the fundamental role of parliamentary accountability, declaring: "Our job, however imperfectly we may do it, is to pursue the truth on behalf of those we represent. If we give that up, then Heaven help us."
Government Response and Defence
Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell responded to the criticism by noting that "all prime ministers deal with Prime Minister's Questions in their own way." He acknowledged that "it isn't unusual for any minister not to give the answer that the Opposition want on a particular day," while defending the government's communication practices in the modern political environment.
"Serious announcements should be made at the earliest convenience in this House," Sir Alan stated. "But we also understand that politics is done in a different environment to the way that it was done a decade or two decades before, and to some extent, it's a moving environment, and Government is working in that environment too."
Official Statements and Aftermath
A spokesperson for the Speaker's Office clarified that "the Speaker is not responsible for the questions asked by members or the answers given by ministers," but confirmed that "every so often, the Speaker has to remind prime ministers and ministers of the rules of engagement in the Chamber." The spokesperson noted this point had been made to officials at Number 10 on several recent occasions.
Meanwhile, Sir Keir's official spokesman offered a brief response to reporters, stating: "I'm not going to comment beyond saying that the Prime Minister attended the House of Commons yesterday for Prime Minister's Questions and gave comprehensive answers in the House on the topics that were raised."
The incident has sparked broader discussions about parliamentary standards and the evolving nature of political accountability in Westminster, with MPs from across the political spectrum observing how the government responds to these allegations of contemptuous behaviour during crucial parliamentary sessions.
