Why MPs like Bradford’s Imran Hussain and Green Party’s Caroline Lucas must show more respect for PMQs as Ukraine fights for its democracy and sovereignty – Tom Richmond

THE sombre silence that greeted Boris Johnson’s statement to Parliament on Thursday teatime over the Ukraine crisis reflected the seriousness of the biggest military threat to Europe since the Second World War.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle in the House of Commons this week.Sir Lindsay Hoyle in the House of Commons this week.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle in the House of Commons this week.
By Tom Richmond
Published 26th Feb 2022, 06:01 BST

It also came hours after Sir Lindsay Hoyle – the Speaker – took the rare step of rebuking all MPs following the unruly and unedifying exchanges at Prime Minister’s Questions just 24 hours earlier.

What is NATO? What does N.A.T.O. stand for, member states, map of countries - are Ukraine and Russia involved?

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And, to his credit, Sir Lindsay adopted the no nonsense approach so favoured by Yorkshire’s very own Baroness Betty Boothroyd rather than the self-aggrandizement of the pontificating and often prejudiced John Bercow.

Labour MP Imran Hussain (Bradford East) who was interrupted by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle during his question on the appointment of Mark Spencer as Commons Leader while an investigation is carried out into allegations made by Tory MP Nusrat Ghani, during Prime Minister's Questions.Labour MP Imran Hussain (Bradford East) who was interrupted by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle during his question on the appointment of Mark Spencer as Commons Leader while an investigation is carried out into allegations made by Tory MP Nusrat Ghani, during Prime Minister's Questions.
Labour MP Imran Hussain (Bradford East) who was interrupted by Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle during his question on the appointment of Mark Spencer as Commons Leader while an investigation is carried out into allegations made by Tory MP Nusrat Ghani, during Prime Minister's Questions.

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First, the Speaker rebuked Bradford MP Imran Hussain who sought to use PMQs – questions to the Prime Minister – to assert that Mark Spencer, the new Commons leader, is Islamophobic prior to an official report that is trying to establish the motivation behind the decision to sack Nusrat Ghani as a transport minister.

Next, Sir Lindsay rebuked Caroline Lucas, the desperately long-winded Green Party MP who will always use 100 words when 10 will suffice, and others for the verboseness and, often, aimlessness of their questions – and how they deny their colleagues the opportunity to raise issues. Lucas is a serial offender who does herself, or her cause, few favours.

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