Apoplectic speaker tells PM “In this House, I’m in charge”

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle erupts after Boris Johnson fails to uphold rules of Prime Minister’s Questions

Speaker of the House Sir Lindsay Hoyle lost his cool with Boris Johnson today after the Prime Minister repeatedly violated the rules of the commons.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer was attempting to put questions to Johnson during Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday November 17, when the speaker was forced to interrupt proceedings.

During a clash over the continuing Tory sleaze scandal, Johnson was silenced for repeatedly trying to grill the Labour leader over his past legal work.

Hoyle blasted the prime minister, saying: “Prime Minister as you know and I do remind you it’s Prime Minister’s Questions not Leader of the Oppositions Questions.”

"Sit down! You may be prime minister of this country, but in this House, I'm in charge."

Speaker Lindsay Hoyle puts Boris Johnson in his place. #PMQs pic.twitter.com/4ctADeiyiz

— PoliticsJOE (@PoliticsJOE_UK) November 17, 2021

Hoyle then demanded he stop immediately, reminding Johnson it is questions to the prime minister rather than to the opposition leader.

Hoyle first halted proceedings by telling Johnson: “This is PMQs. We play by the rules here, don’t we? Stop disrespecting the House.”

After a second breach of the rules the speaker shouted: “Prime minister, SIT DOWN! I’m not going to be challenged, you may be the prime minister of the country – but in this house, I’m in charge!”

Later today, the prime minister will seek to pass an amendment banning MPs from taking parliamentary consultancy jobs.

It has been suggested Johnson is attempting to draw a line on the ever-growing sleaze scandal that has engulfed his government for the best part of the last two weeks.

Labour leader Starmer has been accused of hypocrisy, having held a second job himself while working as an MP. There are also questions surrounding who paid Starmer vast sums of money declared on the Register of MPs Interests.

Johnson had been hoping to unravel the mystery before he was abruptly halted by Hoyle, speaker of the house.

Watch the exchange in full: