'I’ll make that decision': Lindsay Hoyle reprimands Boris Johnson during PMQs

25 November 2020, 14:52

Speaker reprimands the PM over questioning Sir Keir Starmer

The Prime Minister has received a dressing down from the Speaker of the House of Commons after he tried to question Sir Keir Starmer during PMQs.

Boris Johnson once again had to appear in the Commons chamber via video link after he came into contact with somebody who had Covid-19.

But as he and the Labour leader clashed once again during the weekly session, Sir Lindsay Hoyle took issue with Mr Johnson during Prime Minister's Questions after he asked the Labour leader about Jeremy Corbyn's membership of the party amid the ongoing anti-Semitism row.

Mr Johnson was told by the Speaker: "It actually is Prime Minister's Questions, not Leader of the Opposition questions."

The PM had tried to flip a question from Sir Keir about who was leaking information within his Government.

Mr Johnson asked: "I'd take them a lot more seriously, frankly, Mr Speaker, if the Leader of the Opposition could explain whether or why the right honourable member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn) is still a member of the Labour Party.

"Does he support the right honourable member for Islington North's membership of the Labour Party, yes or no, why doesn't he answer that question?"

The PM hit back at Sir Lindsay's interjection, saying: "I think it's a reasonable question" before the Speaker declared it was his "decision".

Prompting laughter from MPs inside the Commons, the Speaker joked: "Thankfully we've got the sound... we don't want to lose it."

Read more: Rishi Sunak cuts public sector pay but gives boost to jobs in Covid 'emergency'

The Prime Minister then finished the brief spat by shouting: "It was your end last time, by the way."

He was referencing the moment his video feed was muted during his coronavirus announcement on Monday.

A straight-faced Sir Keir accused the Prime Minister of "running away" from the "problems" occurring from within the Government.

Mr Johnson shouted down the camera "oh yeah" five times in response.

It is not the first time the Prime Minister has been admonished by Sir Lindsay in the Commons.

In September, Mr Johnson was warned not to treat Parliament with "contempt" over the Government's response to coronavirus legislation.