The Commons Speaker intervened as the Reform politician faced heckles from another MP
Reform MP Lee Anderson caused chaos during PMQs (Image: BBC)
Chaos erupted in the Commons today as Lee Anderson grilled David Lammy over the pubs row at Deputy Prime Minster’s Questions. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was forced to intervene as MPs began laughing and shouting during the Reform MP’s question.
Mr Anderson said: “It was reported on the TV yesterday that the Labour backbenchers are revolting, now that is a matter of opinion but unlike the Labour backbenchers and the Prime Minister…”
But he stopped speaking as he faced shouts from an MP that he does not have a TV licence as others laughed.
Sir Lindsay then intervened and said: “I didn’t want to have to get up. Who was the person that was speaking out then? If you haven’t got the guts to admit to shouting leave the chamber.”
Mr Anderson went on: “Unlike the Prime Minister of our country I’ve never been thrown out or barred from a pub and after yesterday’s disastrous announcement to save our pubs there’s no wonder he’s cleared off to China.
“But I’ve got one question for the Deputy Prime Minister, will he come with me to Ashfield to visit some pubs and speak to some landlords and explain to them why over 500 pubs have closed since this Labour Government came into power and why another 500 pubs will close in the next year. Come on, be a man.”
Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle was forced to intervene during the rowdy moment (Image: BBC)
Mr Lammy replied: “I think I once campaigned with him when he was a member of the Labour Party and it’s been said that when he left he enhanced the IQ of the Labour Party and the IQ of the party he went to.
“I wonder what job he is pitching for on Reform’s shadow cabinet. They’ve got Nadhim Zahawi to advise on tax, the MP for Newark to open up the borders, now they need Liz Truss to crash the economy.”
Mr Anderson has previously ripped up a BBC TV licence letter at a Reform UK conference.
It comes after Labour yesterday announced more support for pubs over business rate changes announced at the Budget which sparked a backlash but critics warn the measures do not go far enough.
