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Memorable PMQs moments

by Vicky Wong / 13 Jul 2012

Anne-Marie Morris unleashed her inner Boothroyd at the last PMQs before summer recess, but it’s just one of many memorable moments we’ve seen in the debating chambers of Westminster village so far this year

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Before the MPs pack up their suitcases for their summer holidays we round up some of our favourite moments from PMQs

“Muttering idiot”

Cameron was scolded for “unparliamentary language” after calling shadow chancellor Ed Balls a “muttering idiot”. Speaker Bercow asked Cameron to retract the word idiot. He could also have been ticked off for using words such as “pipsqueak” and “guttersnipe”.

Sir Peter Tapsell and the 18^th century

The Conservative MP for Louth and Horncastle evokes his inner Churchill as he took to the floor to ask a question on whether or not bankers will face criminal prosecution following a rousing lecture on the “almighty subject”. Quite appropriately the Father of the House began the next part of his speech with “In the 18th century...” prompting laughter from fellow mpS. “I want to hear the honourable gentleman’s views about the 18th century!” piped up Speaker Bercow.

Nadine Dorries is “extremely frustrated”

Poor David Cameron was left flustered after Bedfordshire MP asked if it was time for the prime minister to show the deputy prime minister “who is the boss” in the coalition government. Cue the jeers and the laughter. In the end, red-faced Cameron concluded: “I’m going to give up on this one.”

That awkward moment when you call the wrong person “deputy prime minister..."

Poor Simon Hughes was rather flustered after accidentally calling William Hague “deputy prime minister”. With Cameron at the G20 summit, and Clegg at the Rio+20 Conference, Hague took to the despatch box for the day. After the public schoolboy cheers died down, Hague smirked: “I won't mention his slip to the deputy prime minister... It's entirely between ourselves..."

Cameron “walks out”

Another altercation with Ed Balls ensued at the conclusion of PMQs when the shadow chancellor tabled in a cheeky point of order to ask Cameron a question on the 50p tax rate. Cameron stayed behind briefly after Balls took to the stand and then left when he finished his question.

And on that final note, here's a reminder of Ann Marie Morris' feisty performance in the last PMQs before the summer recess.

Comments

Hana / August 04 2012 11:47pm

I laughed at Gordon's "Saved the world" conmemt - I think it was more than just a slip and was very telling.As for his "let me teach you something" conmemts - I must say this comes across as, more than anything else, painfully arrogant.