Prime Minister’s Questions descended into disorder on Wednesday after Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle intervened to reprimand Sir Keir Starmer for not answering questions directly.
The intervention occurred when Starmer was challenged on defence and security policy but repeatedly diverted to criticisms of Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch and her stance on the war in Iran.
The Speaker interjected, stating, “Prime Minister, this is Prime Minister’s Questions; we have got to concentrate.”
Then a mmber of Parliament could be heard urging, “Just answer the question.”
As the exchanges between the Prime Minister and the Opposition leader escalated, Hoyle stood up in the chamber to restore order amidst growing noise and interruptions from both sides of the House.
Badenoch responded to Starmer, saying, “He’s talking about the biggest sustained increase – talking about an increase is not the same as giving an increase. The military and the defence industry want to hear what he’s going to do, not him reproaching past governments. He promised that the defence investment plan would be published last autumn.” Concluding her remarks, she asked, “What’s the hold-up?”
Starmer retorted, “I’ve set out my position – the defence investment plan is the first line-by-line review of defence budgets in 18 years. She talks about talking – if you’re going to support and keep your country safe, you have to make the right calls on the big issues.”
In response, Hoyle once again intervened, prompting Starmer to say, “She called for us to jump into the war; they can pretend otherwise. I remember walking in and standing here for the first time, saying we would not get drawn into the war and we would not join the offensive, and they all shouted ‘shame.’”
Under scrutiny regarding defence spending and military readiness, Starmer criticized the Conservative government’s record, highlighting a reduction in defence spending from 2.5 percent of GDP at the start of their tenure to 2.3 percent at its conclusion.
This session highlighted the growing political tensions over security and defence policy, with ministers facing continuous questioning about funding priorities and preparedness amid escalating international instability. Opposition MPs again accused Starmer of avoiding direct answers, while government MPs pointed to inherited spending decisions as the root of current pressures. These exchanges contributed to an increasingly combative atmosphere in Parliament as defence and foreign policy take center stage in the political agenda.
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