An MP from the Reform party expressed frustration by slamming his documents on the table after facing persistent interruptions during the PMQs session, leading the Commons speaker to step in.
Lee Anderson, representing Ashfield, aimed to inform Deputy PM David Lammy that Labour backbenchers were in revolt. In response, Mr. Lammy quipped that Anderson had “boosted the IQ of the Labour Party” upon leaving the Tories to join Reform UK.
While attempting to continue his query, an MP seated behind Anderson repeatedly heckled him, mocking his lack of a TV license, a fact Anderson had proudly shared previously, having avoided paying the BBC license fee for a decade.
Anderson turned to confront the heckler before abandoning his question, visibly irritated as he slapped down his papers.
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle intervened, calling out the disruptive MP and urging them to leave if they lacked the courage to acknowledge their behavior.
Despite the distractions, Anderson continued to address Lammy, highlighting differences between himself and the Prime Minister and criticizing recent decisions affecting pubs. He challenged Lammy to address the closure of hundreds of pubs since Labour’s leadership.
In response, Lammy, standing in for Keir Starmer during his absence in China, deflected the pub-related query, opting to mock Anderson and Reform instead.
The exchange continued with Lammy hinting at Anderson’s history with the Labour Party and speculating on his potential role within Reform’s shadow cabinet, poking fun at other party members’ theoretical responsibilities.
The government recently announced support for struggling pubs, including a 15% reduction in business rate bills and a freeze on bills for two more years, with a review of the valuation model used for pubs. The Mirror has supported the industry through its campaign, Your Pub Needs You, advocating for support for pub landlords and their communities.