Lindsay Hoyle was left red-faced during a lively Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) as he addressed Sir Keir Starmer wrongly.
Calling on the Labour leader to give remarks, the Speaker told MPs that Starmer was Prime Minister.
Hoyle had paused proceedings to attend to the simmering atmosphere which had spilled over.
After telling boisterous MPs to stop their “interruptions” and instead allow the discussion about the Post Office scandal to continue, Hoyle then called on Starmer to take centre stage again.
Lindsay Hoyle made the gaffe during PMQs
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Instead of branding him the Leader of the Opposition, Hoyle instead introduced him as “Prime Minister”.
Thankfully for the Speaker, his gaffe appeared to go largely unnoticed with Starmer able to make his point about the Post Office scandal without interruption.
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The feisty PMQs session was made contentious by a notable absence, with Liberal Democrats leader Ed Davey opting not to show up.
MPs could be heard shouting "where is he?", as the floor opened to questions.
Tory Party Deputy Chairman Lee Anderson used his opportunity to talk to deliver a scathing verdict on the Lib Dems leader, urging him to “clear his desk, clear his diary and clear off”.
Lindsay Hoyle presided over a tense PMQs
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Davey served as postal affairs minister between 2010 and 2012, before being knighted in the 2016 New Year’s Honours List for “political and public service”.
He is facing accusations of turning down a meeting with campaigner and former sub-postmaster Alan Bates as he fought for fellow postal workers.
The Lib Dems leader has defended his actions by claiming he was “deeply misled” about the situation while he carried out the role.
Over 700 sub-postmasters were dished with criminal convictions between 1999 and 2015 after faulty software wrongly suggested employees were stealing money.
The PMQs session was also notable for the unveiling of a major new plan to end the scandal.
Rishi Sunak confirmed the Government will introduce new legislation to exonerate those convicted as a result of the faulty Horizon IT software.
Sunak told MPs at PMQS: "Today I can announce that we will introduce new primary legislation to make sure that those convicted as a result of the Horizon scandal are swiftly exonerated and compensated.
“We will also introduce a new up-front payment of £75,000 for the vital GLO (group litigation order) group of postmasters.”
