Blundering David Lammy forgets poppy at PMQs and is compelled to borrow colleague’s
A colleague had to pass David Lammy a poppy 15 minutes into Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) to save his blushes after forgetting to wear one
Blundering David Lammy was forced to borrow a poppy from an RAF veteran Labour colleague after forgetting to wear one in the House of Commons.
The deputy PM was standing in for Sir Keir Starmer at PMQs on Wednesday and took to the pew without donning a poppy, just days before Remembrance Sunday takes place.
The minister was blasted online for the gaffe and the insults clearly quickly made their way back to him, forcing him to take a colleague’s poppy badge.
Justice Sec Lammy was handed a poppy badge halfway through after starting the debate session by paying tribute to “those who had fought to defend our freedom.”
After 15 minutes of debate, an awkward Lammy was handed a poppy pin from RAF veteran Labour MP Calvin Bailey by Cabinet colleague Bridget Phillipson to cover his blushes.
One user took to X saying: “Can’t remember to wear a poppy and we are trusting these people to run the country,” while another added simply: “Just unbelievable.”
Conservative MP Bob Blackman questioned the lack of a poppy, and Lammy replied that the blunder was because he had bought a new suit.
“I bought a new suit this morning because my Godmother said she would be watching,” he told the Commons as an excuse, adding that he was ‘very grateful’ to Ms Phillipson “for ensuring that despite wearing a new suit I have managed to put my poppy on.”
He said: “We wear a poppy to remember all those who fought and died for this country. They represented every walk of life, every race and every religion.”
At the beginning of PMQs at lunchtime, Mr Lammy said: “This weekend is Remembrance Sunday.
“We will never forget those who fought to defend our freedom. It’s been one of the greatest honours of my career to meet our troops around the world, whether in Cyprus, the Gulf or Australia.
Other MPs were also not impressed by the blunder.
Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake said it was “a disgrace” that Mr Lammy had stood in for Sir Keir at PMQs while not wearing a poppy.
In a post on X, Mr Hollinrake wrote: “A disgrace that David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister of this nation and standing in for the Prime Minister at PMQs, is not wearing a poppy.”
