Justice Secretary David Lammy has been branded a "disgrace" after forgetting to wear a poppy during his stand-in appearance at Prime Minister's Questions earlier today.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, who was wearing a Remembrance poppy, handed Mr Lammy his own RAF-themed badge shortly after MPs spotted the blunder.
RAF veteran Calvin Bailey is believed to have lent his poppy to the Deputy Prime Minister, passing the metal badge along the Commons' green benches.
However, eagle-eyed viewers would have noticed that Mr Lammy was not wearing a Remembrance poppy at the beginning of today's Prime Minister's Questions.
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Mr Lammy went on to tell MPs that he had made the blunder after buying a new suit for his first appearance deputising for PMQs and thanked Ms Phillipson for coming to his assistance.
He told the House of Commons: "I bought a new suit this morning because my Godmother said she would be watching.
"I am very grateful to the Honourable Member for Sunderland South for ensuring that, despite wearing a new suit, I have managed to put my poppy on."
In his first outing at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Lammy opened by paying tribute to those who had fought “to defend our freedom”.
David Lammy before he was handed the poppy
|PARLIAMENT
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.
"This week, the Government announced the biggest renewal of armed forces housing in more than 50 years, kickstarting one of Britain’s most ambitious building programmes in decades."
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Lammy was not wearing a poppy at the start of today's DPMQs
|PA
Mr Lammy continued: "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."
However, Conservative Party chairman Kevin Hollinrake led a gaggle of critics blasting Mr Lammy for his poppy cock-up.
Mr Hollinrake said: "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."
A poppy was quickly handed to the Deputy Prime Minister
|COMMONS
Reform UK Deputy Leader Richard Tice added: "Deputy Prime Minister fails to wear poppy whilst remembering our brave veterans and the fallen."
However, Mr Lammy's stand-in appearance at Prime Minister's Questions marked a historic moment in the House of Commons, with the Justice Secretary becoming the first black politician to lead the Wednesday despatch box bout.
The Deputy Prime Minister was standing in for Sir Keir at the weekly session in the Commons, while the Prime Minister attends Cop30 in Brazil.
Mr Lammy also paid tribute to both Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch and Mother of the House Diane Abbott, hailing the pair as "trailblazing" black politicians.
Speaking in the House of Commons, Labour MP Connor Rand congratulated Mr Lammy "on being the first black person to ever answer Prime Minister’s Questions".
“A landmark moment for this place in our country and I hope he is proud," Mr Rand added.
Mr Lammy replied: "It’s very kind of the honourable gentleman (Mr Rand) to say that, and I’m conscious that my right honourable friend the member for Hackney North and Stoke Newington (Ms Abbott), and indeed, the leader of the Opposition (Mrs Badenoch), are both trailblazers who have stood at this despatch box.
"And it’s important to recognise the progress that we’ve...made, particularly in the wake of Black History Month."
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