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Sky News
03-07-2025
- Politics
- Sky News
The most memorable PMQs moments: Insults, gaffes and front bench dance moves
A lot can happen during Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs). The half-hour weekly session in the House of Commons is a key opportunity for MPs to grill the prime minister on the government's actions and policies. Over the years, PMQs has involved everything from name-calling to politicians defecting to the opposition. This week, all eyes were on an emotional chancellor, who appeared to be in tears next to the prime minister. Here, we look back at other memorable moments that have happened during PMQs. 2:31 'In the name of God, go' On 20 January 2022, PMQs opened with Christian Wakeford, MP for Bury South, defecting to the Labour Party. It was the first blow of an extraordinary session that also saw former Conservative cabinet minister David Davis telling then prime minister Boris Johnson to step down after it emerged he attended a Downing Street party during the COVID lockdown, which became known as partygate. 3:32 "I expect my leaders to shoulder the responsibility for the actions they take," Mr Davis began to tell the Commons. He then added: "So I'll remind him [Johnson] of a quotation altogether too familiar to him of Leo Amery to Neville Chamberlain: 'You have sat there for too long, for all the good you have done. In the name of God, go.'" Mr Johnson resigned as prime minister in September 2022, following a mass revolt by ministers over his leadership, sparked by scandals including partygate. 'My mother would say do up your tie' During a 2016 session when David Cameron was prime minister, the former Tory leader jibed at then leader of the opposition Jeremy Corbyn's dress sense, telling him to "put on a proper suit" and "do up your tie". At the time, Lord Cameron said his comments were in response to being heckled about his mother by a Labour MP. "Ask my mother? I think I know what my mother would say. I think she would look across the despatch box and she would say 'Put on a proper suit, do up your tie and sing the national anthem'," Lord Cameron said. Theresa May's out-of-control laughter Theresa May throwing her head back and laughing after being challenged by Jeremy Corbyn went viral on social media in March 2017. The altercation started after Mr Corbyn suggested the government had cut a "special deal" with Surrey County Council over council tax, but the politics of the day played second fiddle to the former leader's cackle. 0:08 'I lead my party, he follows his' In 1995 - as opposition leader - Tony Blair used PMQs to accuse the Conservative prime minister John Major of weak leadership, tapping into party divisions emerging at the time. Responding to a jibe by Mr Major over disagreements between Labour MPs, Mr Blair quickly responded: "There's one very big difference. Oh no, there's one very big difference. I lead my party. He follows his." Brown claims to have 'saved the world' Gaffes are easily made during PMQs, and in 2008 Gordon Brown made one that was met with loud jeers and shouts from Tory MPs on the opposition. Instead of saying ministers in his government had "saved the banks and led the world", he claimed the Labour Party had "saved the world". 'Calm down dear' In 2011 former prime minister David Cameron was forced to apologise after telling Labour MP Angela Eagle to "calm down, dear" after she interrupted him during PMQs. The phrase was taken from a 2003 car insurance advert which starred British filmmaker and writer Michael Winner, but it garnered criticism from opposition Labour MPs when it was used in the House of Commons. Lord Cameron later told The Sunday Times: "If I offended anyone, I am hugely sorry. That is not what I wanted to do. It was a light-hearted reference." The sneaky 'dab' PMQs is not the first place where you would expect dancing, but in February 2017, former Labour deputy leader Tom Watson was caught "dabbing" after Jeremy Corbyn blasted Theresa May over the state of the NHS. Mr Watson lifted his arm and performed the move behind the leader of the opposition before folding his arms and turning to his fellow frontbenchers. The viral dance move, which originated in the US, exploded in popularity after being used by celebrities and sports stars to celebrate their achievements, but no one expected it in the House of Commons. 0:18 'Pinocchio prime minister' In April 2022, SNP MP Richard Thomson labelled Boris Johnson a "Pinocchio prime minister" during PMQs. The comments were made as Mr Thomson called for the former prime minister to "pack his bags and go" over the COVID partygate scandal. He was later told by Speaker of the House Sir Lindsey Hoyle to withdraw his use of "Pinocchio", which was met by cheers and groans from the chamber.
The Sun
09-06-2025
- Politics
- The Sun
Meet London-based ‘Hamas operative' behind Greta Thunberg's ‘Freedom Flotilla' stunt that was foiled by Israel
A MAN accused in parliament of being a Hamas operative based in London was one of the organisers of Greta Thunberg's "Freedom Flotilla", it has emerged. Zaher Birawi, who has been photographed with slain Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh, was present at the launch of the British-flagged yacht Madleen. 7 7 7 7 As a Palestinian-British journalist, Mr Birawi is chair of the International Committee to Break the Siege of Gaza. He also runs a UK-registered charity called Education Aid for Palestinians, which has raised more than £3 million since 2017. Just a week ago, Mr Birawi was present at the launch of Madleen and live-streamed the event from a dock in Sicily. He called himself the 'founding member' of the Freedom Flotilla International Coalition - which arranged Madleen's voyage to Gaza. The 'selfie yacht' has now been seized by Israel, and all the people onboard have been detained. Labour MP Christian Wakeford named Mr Birawi in the Commons using special parliamentary protections that protect him from being sued. Mr Birawi said Mr Wakeford's claim was 'baseless' and that he was looking at 'all available legal recourse' in response to the MP's comments. According to Israel's strategic affairs ministry, Mr Birawi moved to the UK in the 1990s, has 'close ties to Hamas' and worked for several pro-Palestinian NGOs - including one tied to Hamas. In 2023, The Sun on Sunday revealed Mr Birawi lived in a £500,000 semi-detached house in leafy north London. MP for Bury South Mr Wakeford raised concerns over a 'serious national security risk' from 'Hamas operatives'. He told the Commons: '[Mr Birawi] was designated by Israel in 2013 as a senior Hamas operative in Europe. 'He is listed as a trustee of a UK-registered charity Education Aid for Palestinians, and a publicly available video shows him hosting a 2019 event in London titled 'Understanding Hamas'. 'Two weeks ago, Hamas launched the deadly terrorist attack the world has seen since 9/11. 'This House rightly voted to proscribe Hamas in its entirety in November 2021. It is therefore a serious national security risk for Hamas operatives to be living here in London." There is no suggestion that Mr Birawi was involved in the deadly October 7 terror attacks. He said: 'I have been made aware of the fact that the Member of Parliament for Bury South, Christian Wakefield, made a reference to my name in the proceedings of the House of Commons on October 26. 'Regrettably, this mention appears to have been motivated by an intent to besmirch my character and, potentially, to rationalise any harm that may befall me or my family. 'In a time when we should all exercise vigilance and contemplate the potential consequences of our words, particularly their capacity to incite violence and animosity, Mr Wakefield chose a contrary course of action. 'I wish to reaffirm that what the respected MP said about the accusation is baseless and that it is part of the distortion attempts undertaken by the occupying state to prevent activists supporting Palestinian rights from carrying out their duties in supporting the Palestinian human rights.' 7 7 7 Hamas has been proscribed as a terror group in the UK under the Terrorism Act 2000 since 2021. Swedish eco warrior Greta, ten other activists and a journalist were on the Madleen when it left the Italian isle of Sicily last week. Israel accused the Freedom Flotilla Coalition of supporting Hamas terrorists. The 'selfie yacht' operated by the pro-Palestinian Freedom Flotilla Coalition was said to be "safely making its way to the shores of Israel", Israel's Foreign Minsitry said. All passengers were safe and unharmed and activists handed out sandwiches and water before the vessel docked at the southern Israeli port of Ashdod. The boat was carrying a "tiny amount of aid" on board - which will be sent to Gaza. Israeli defence minister Israel Katz said that he has instructed the Israeli Defence Forces to screen footage of the 7 October attacks as soon as they arrive. The disturbing footage - titled "Bearing Witness" - shows innocent people being massacred and mutilated. And all the footage was taken from the Hamas terrorists' bodycams as they filmed their massacre. Hamas branded the interception of the yacht as a "crime of piracy". The group said in a statement that activists were on a "humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the siege on the Gaza Strip and exposing the crime of mass starvation." It added that Israel's action was "organised state terrorism, a clear violation of international law, and an attack on civilian volunteers motivated by humanitarian motives."
ITV News
28-04-2025
- Politics
- ITV News
Calls for new football regulator to be based in Bury where sport is 'woven into the fabric'
A town which saw its football club disbanded after financial issues should be the base for the sport's proposed new regulator, its MPs have said. Bury FC were kicked out of the Football League in 2019 after a takeover bid collapsed, leaving the club heavily in debt and sparking calls for a regulator to make sure teams are being run properly. The creation of the regulator is at the heart of the Football Governance Bill, which is due to undergo its second reading in the House of Commons. Bury has now been put forward as the home of the regulator by MP James Frith, who says the "trauma" the town felt "when we faced a no-fan-fault eviction from the Football League... will never been forgotten". The letter is co-signed by Bury South MP Christian Wakeford and Eamonn O'Brien, the leader of Bury Council. In a letter to Lisa Nandy MP, the Culture, Media and Sport Secretary, he said: "We believe Bury is the perfect location for the new football regulator. "As with so many of our great English towns, football is woven into the fabric of Bury. Across the borough we represent four non-league clubs Bury FC, Radcliffe FC, Ramsbottom United and Prestwich Heys. "In Bury we've the resolve and determination you should expect from this new regulator in its quest to protect the beautiful game now and in the future." An independent regulator was the key recommendation of the 2021 fan-led review of football - which led to the Football Governance Bill - commissioned by the Conservative Government in the wake of the European Super League scandal. Its progress through Parliament was interrupted when the General Election was called in summer 2024, but the new Labour Government has picked up the baton. One of the regulator's key early tasks will be to produce a 'State of the Game' review examining football's financial flows, including the controversial parachute payments made to clubs relegated from the Premier League. The bill is back in the House of Commons after it cleared the House of Lords in March on its journey to becoming law. Changes made by the Government to the Bill, in response to concerns raised in the Lords, included placing a duty on the regulator to avoid having a negative impact on the financial growth of English football as well as investment. It also introduced an amendment that would make a club's contribution to the economic and social well-being of its local community part of its corporate governance. And ministers indicated the regulator could eventually be expanded to include women's football. David Kogan has been selected as the Government's preferred candidate to chair the new regulator. Kogan, who has previously advised the Premier League and the EFL on television rights deals in a 45-year career as a media executive, business leader and corporate advisor, is now set to head up the watchdog intended to ensure football clubs in the top five tiers are financially sustainable. The regulator is also crucially set to have 'backstop' powers to impose a financial settlement between the leagues if they cannot agree one. Want more on the issues effecting the North? Our podcast, From the North answers the questions that matter to our region.
