Keir Starmer accused of avoiding scrutiny with plot to CANCEL Prime Minister's Questions

George Bunn
Fri, 17 Apr 2026 13:33:47 +0000

Labour whips made a bold attempt to scrap next week's Prime Minister's Questions session in the wake of Sir Keir Starmer's heated confrontation with Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.

According to parliamentary sources, Labour sought to bring the Commons session to an early close next week, sparing the PM from facing another encounter with Conservative Leader Kemi Badenoch.

The move came after Sir Keir reacted angrily on Wednesday when Sir Lindsay instructed him to stop evading Mrs Badenoch's questions during the weekly session.

Commons Leader Sir Alan Campbell indicated parliamentary business beyond Tuesday would proceed only "if necessary,", as peers faced pressure to withdraw their objections to several Government bills awaiting approval before the scheduled prorogation on April 29, ahead of the King's Speech on May 13.

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However, the attempt to fast-track legislation was rebuffed by the upper chamber. A House of Lords source confirmed to the Daily Mail peers had turned down the request.

"There was a lot of pressure to push everything through by next Tuesday so that Starmer wouldn't have to do another PMQs. But people are not having it," the source said.

The source expressed genuine concerns about bills covering social media regulation and pensions would not simply be abandoned to make life easier for Sir Keir..

"The concerns about legislation on things like social media and pensions are genuine, they are not going to be dropped to give the Prime Minister an easier time," they explained.

The rejection means Sir Keir will likely face Mrs Badenoch again at the despatch box, following a series of bruising exchanges in recent weeks.

Shadow Commons Leader Jesse Norman launched a scathing attack on the PM's conduct during Business Questions on Thursday.

With Sir Lindsay looking on stone-faced, Mr Norman claimed in 23 out of 24 responses to Mrs Badenoch during recent PMQs sessions, the Prime Minister had "ignored the question and changed the subject".

"Yesterday we even saw the PM hectoring you and on live television just for doing your job," Mr Norman told the Speaker.

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He described Sir Keir's conduct as "a shameful record" and demanded the PM write to Sir Lindsay to apologise.

"That is a shameful record, for which the PM should write to you and therefore by implication to this House and apologise," Mr Norman said.

The Conservative frontbencher characterised the behaviour as "contemptuous of you, of the Leader of the Opposition, and of us all as MPs".

The confrontation on Wednesday unfolded after Sir Lindsay intervened during exchanges between Sir Keir and Mrs Badenoch, telling the Labour leader: "Prime Minister, it's Prime Minister's Questions. We've got to concentrate."

Following the tense session, the Prime Minister was observed approaching the Speaker's chair as he left the chamber.

One MP who witnessed the scene at close range said Sir Keir was visibly furious with the Speaker.

"He was fuming with Lindsay," they said..

Witnesses reported the PM even struck the side of the Speaker's chair during the exchange.

Wednesday's intervention marked the third time in recent weeks Sir Lindsay has had to remind Sir Keir his role is to answer questions, not pose them.

The Speaker's office subsequently noted Downing Street officials had been reminded about proper conduct "on several occasions recently".