Speaker of the House of Commons Sir Lindsay Hoyleexploded in anger when he felt he was getting cheek from a government Secretary of State. He responded furiously when Business Secretary Kemi Bedenoch seemed to make a sly comment when asked why a key piece of legislation was binned - but without coming before the house first.
Ms Badenoch was accused of avoiding a public statement in the Commons for the U-turn on the Government’s promised post-Brexit “bonfire” of EU laws. She was ordered before the Commons to explain how the plan to let thousands of laws expire by the end of the year had been scaled back.
Around 600 EU laws will be revoked, rather than the 4,000 pledged, Ms Badenoch said in a written statement. Business Secretary Ms Badenoch who some said was ‘smirking’ told the Commons Speaker: “I’m very sorry the sequencing we chose was not to your satisfaction.”
But Sir Lindsay interrupted furiously, shouting: “Order, order. That is totally not acceptable. Who do you think you’re speaking to Secretary of State?”
“I think we need to understand each other. I am the defender of this House and these benches on both sides. I am not going to be spoken to by a Secretary of State who is not accepting my ruling. Take it with good grace and accept it.”
He blasted the Government for failing to show the “correct manners” to MPs and their constituents, by trying to avoid Commons scrutiny.
Ms Badenoch replied: “Mr Speaker, I apologise. What I was trying to say is that I’m very sorry that I didn’t meet the standards you expect from Secretaries of State.”
Seasoned Parliament watchers were stunned at the exchange. ITV journalist Paul Brand said: “‘Who do you think you’re speaking to, secretary of state?’ Not sure I’ve ever seen a secretary of state get as much of a telling off by the Speaker as Kemi Badenoch did this morning.”
Cat Neilan added: “Oof... Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle absolutely livid about Kemi Badenoch saying that the “sequencing we chose was not to your satisfaction” on REUL u-turn announcement. “
Carol Vorderman added: “I’ve never seen the Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle as furious. ‘Who do you think you’re speaking to?’ Kemi Badenoch (she who compared serious menopausal issues in workplace to those who have ginger hair...yes her) absolutely showing her arrogant attitude to democracy itself.”
