PMQs descends into chaos as Tory loses depend of what number of questions he is requested
Blundering James Cartlidge appeared to demand another question after using his allotted six, prompting Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle to interrupt a Labour MP
PMQs: Lindsay Hoyle gets confused over the order of questions
A blundering Tory appeared to demand an extra PMQs question after using up his quota – leaving MPs in stitches.
Proceedings descended into confusion after James Cartlidge tried to get Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle’s attention after asking his allocated six. The Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary – who was standing in for Kemi Badenoch – was mocked by Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy.
Mr Lammy, making his first appearance at the dispatch box at PMQs, quipped: “Like the honourable member for Braintree (Sir James Cleverly), it doesn’t seem that the spokesman can count, let alone stand up on behalf of the public.”
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The Speaker has forced to interrupt Labour’s Hartlepool MP Jonathan Brash in chaotic scenes. Sir Lindsay then said: “It is six. He’s had his six, he was right.”
At the end of PMQs he pointed out that he had been right and Mr Cartlidge was wrong.
It followed a fierce clash which saw Deputy PM David Lammy tell his Conservative rival to “get a grip, man”. Mr Lammy was standing in for Keir Starmer, and Mr Cartlidge was picked to represent Kemi Badenoch.
In a tense back and forth, Mr Cartlidge asked multiple times whether there had been any further mistaken releases of asylum seekers after Hadush Kebatu was freed. Ethiopian sex offender Kebatu was accidentally released from HMP Chelmsford, sparking a two-day manhunt before being captured and deported.
Addressing Mr Lammy, Mr Cartlidge said: “He’s the Justice Secretary. He’s responsible for the justice system. He needs to take responsibility. And I’m going to repeat it once more for the avoidance of doubt, because he did not answer it twice.
“Can he reassure the House that since Kebatu was released, no other asylum-seeking offender has been accidentally let out of prison?”
Mr Lammy responded: “Get a grip, man, I know I’m the Justice Secretary, that’s why I’m at the despatch box.” We know that there have been spikes since 2021 under his watch. When did he come to this House and apologise?”
And following the call to apologise, Mr Lammy said: “The House is thankfully quiet, so I’m surprised (Mr Cartlidge) didn’t hear me when I said that of course I apologise and I’m sorry for the anxiety caused.
“But look, let me just remind him that he was a justice minister that allowed our prisons to get to this state in the first place and it’s now for us to fix the mess that we’ve got into.”
