Peterborough MP Paul Bristow kicked out of House of Commons during Prime Minister’s Questions
Paul Bristow #PaulBristow
Peterborough MP Paul Bristow was kicked out of the House Commons during this afternoon’s (May 24) Prime Minister’s Questions. Speaker Lindsay Hoyle made the decision just four minutes into proceedings.
The Commons speaker was forced to pause twice in the first three minutes of PMQ’s. This was to ask MPs to stop shouting during an exchange between Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer on the topic of uncontrolled immigration.
Mr Hoyle was angered by the amount of yelling that was coming from government benches. During that time, he told Mr Bristow, who sits on the health select committee, that he would have to leave the chamber or else he would be formally disciplined.
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He said: “Order, order. Mr Bristow, I think you’re going to be leaving. I’m asking you to leave now, because otherwise I’ll name you. I’m not having it, and I’ve warned you before. It’s the same people.
The threat to “name” the MP is parliamentary language that results in formal disciplinary action of a politician and, in some cases, suspension. The speaker also warned the opposition benches that “the same will happen on this side”.
The Commons speaker has criticised MPs in the past for shouting during debates. He said that it reflects poorly on parliamentary proceedings and is not popular with the public.
Sir Keir Starmer has asked Rishi Sunak if he thinks his policy is encouraging businesses to train people “here or hire from abroad”, just before the interruption.
Speaking at PMQs, the Labour leader said: “If anyone wants to see what uncontrolled immigration looks like, all they have got to do is wake up tomorrow morning, listen to the headlines and see what this Government…,” Sir Keir was then interrupted by Commons Speaker ordering Conservative Mr Bristow to leave PMQs.
The Labour leader continued: “The reason they are issuing so many visas is labour and skill shortages. And the reason there are shortages is the low-wage Tory economy. Under his Government’s rules, businesses in IT, engineering, healthcare, architecture, welding can pay foreign workers 20per cent less than British workers for years and years on end. Does he think his policy is encouraging businesses to train people here or hire from abroad?”
The Prime Minister replied: “He talks about immigration but we know his position because it turns out that Labour would actually like to see even more people coming to the UK, increasing the numbers.
“It’s not just my view, those are the words of his own frontbencher who said ‘having a target is insensible and that the numbers might have to go up’.”
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