Reform MP Lee Anderson was heckled multiple times during PMQs before Deputy PM David Lammy slapped him down with a brutal joke about his IQ
David Lammy and Reform’s Lee Anderson clash at PMQs
A Reform MP slapped down his papers after being repeatedly heckled during PMQs – with the Commons speaker forced to intervene.
Lee Anderson, the MP for Ashfield, attempted to tell Deputy PM David Lammy that Labour backbenchers are revolting. Mr Lammy later hit back and told him he “enhanced the IQ of the Labour Party” when he left the Tories – before later joining Reform UK.
As he tried to carry on his question, an MP sitting behind him heckled him at least four times, shouting: “You don’t have a TV licence.” Mr Anderson has previously boasted about not having paid the BBC licence fee for 10 years.
Mr Anderson turned around to shoot a look at the MP heckling him, before eventually giving up on his question and slapping down the papers in his hand in a huff.
READ MORE: PMQs RECAP: David Lammy makes brutal Sol Campbell jibe at Tories over Reform defections
Speaker Lindsay Hoyle then intervened, saying: “Who was the person that was speaking out then? If you haven’t got the guts to admit to shouting somebody down, then leave the chamber.”
Continuing his question to Mr Lammy, Mr Anderson said: “Unlike the Prime Minister of our country, I’ve never been thrown out or barred from a pub. And after yesterday’s disastrous announcement to save our pubs, there’s no wonder he’s cleared off to China.”
He then told Mr Lammy to “come on, be a man” and explain why 500 pubs have closed since Labour came into power, with hundreds more expected to have to shut down.
Mr Lammy, who was standing in for Keir Starmer while he is on a visit to China, dodged the question on pubs and instead ridiculed Mr Anderson and Reform.
The Deputy PM said: “I think I once campaigned with the honourable gentleman who was a member of the Labour Party.
“And it’s been said of him that when he left, he enhanced the IQ of the Labour Party, and the party that he went to. I wonder what job the honourable member is pitching for in Reform’s shadow cabinet. They’ve got Nadhim Zahawi to advise on tax.
“The Member for Newark (Robert Jenrick, a former immigration minister) to open up the borders. Now they need Liz Truss to crash the economy.”
The Government yesterday announced struggling pubs will be given a 15% cut in new business rate bills. Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson said the measure will apply from April while bills for boozers will also see a real-terms freeze for a further two years. The valuation model used for pubs will also be reviewed.
The Mirror has been championing the industry’s cause with its Your Pub Needs You campaign, calling for support for landlords and the communities they serve.