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Starmer Pressed to Apologise After PMQs Clash With Commons Speaker

The row signals firmer enforcement of direct answers at the weekly scrutiny session.

Overview

  • Parliament TV footage shows the Prime Minister approach Sir Lindsay Hoyle and strike the Speaker’s chair after Wednesday’s Prime Minister’s Questions, following a public rebuke to stick to the questions.
  • The Speaker’s Office said answers should be confined to the point of the question and confirmed it has reminded No.10 of this rule on several recent occasions.
  • Conservative frontbencher Jesse Norman urged the Prime Minister to apologise, claiming 23 of his last 24 replies to Kemi Badenoch changed the subject rather than addressing her questions.
  • No.10 said the Prime Minister gave comprehensive answers during the session and offered no further comment on the exchange captured on camera.
  • Reports from parliamentary sources say Labour whips tried to shorten next week’s Commons business to avoid another PMQs, which House of Lords sources say peers rejected.