A Conservative leader calling a Labour minister a "spiteful class warrior" and accusing MPs of having "400 knives stuck in [the prime minister's] back" — then refusing to apologise. This was the scene at a recent Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) session that saw the Speaker intervene to demand "a little bit more decorum and respect". PMQs is a weekly ritual in the House of Commons where MPs question the prime minister. But it also has unwritten rules about language and tone, designed to keep debate robust but respectful. When those lines are crossed, the Speaker can step in.
The session in question took place just days after Sir Keir Starmer announced he would resign as Labour leader and prime minister. Kemi Badenoch, the Conservative leader, used her questions to attack not only Starmer but also Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson, calling her a "spiteful class warrior". She also suggested Labour MPs had abandoned Starmer for "a pair of eyelashes and a black T-shirt" — a reference to leadership frontrunner Andy Burnham. Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle intervened, saying: "Think about the language we use, because when we leave this chamber, don't be surprised when constituents feel they can use the same language." Badenoch's team said she would not apologise.
“Explains PMQs, its language rules, and why a recent heated session matters for UK politics.”
PMQs has existed in its current form since 1961, but the tradition of questioning the government goes back centuries. The session is often fiery, with MPs heckling and trading insults. However, the Speaker's role is to ensure order. MPs can be asked to withdraw remarks or even suspended for repeated breaches. The incident also sparked a separate row afterwards: Labour sources say Badenoch told Phillipson, "You are spiteful. I will keep talking about how spiteful you are." Phillipson replied: "The public are going to find out who you really are." Labour whips said they would refer the incident to the Speaker.
For UK readers, PMQs is one of the most visible moments of parliamentary democracy. The language used there can set a national tone. The Speaker's intervention highlights a growing concern about political discourse: if MPs use harsh personal attacks, it can normalise aggressive language in wider society. The row also comes at a time of leadership change. Starmer's resignation after losing the support of his party has paved the way for a new prime minister, likely Andy Burnham, who won a landslide in a by-election and has said he will stand. The Conservative leader's attacks may preview the style of opposition she will employ against a Burnham government.
Q: What is Prime Minister's Questions? PMQs is a weekly session in the House of Commons, usually on Wednesdays, where MPs ask the prime minister questions about government policy. The session lasts about 30 minutes and is often confrontational, with opposition leaders and backbenchers pressing the PM on current issues.
Q: Why did the Speaker intervene in this session? Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs to "think about the language we use" after Kemi Badenoch called Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson a "spiteful class warrior" and said Labour MPs had "400 knives stuck in [Starmer's] back". He warned that such language could encourage constituents to use similar terms.
Q: What happens when an MP breaks the rules of behaviour? The Speaker can ask an MP to withdraw a remark or apologise. If they refuse, they can be ordered to leave the chamber for the rest of the day, or even suspended for longer periods. In this case, Badenoch was not formally sanctioned, but her party confirmed she would not apologise.
What happens next? Sir Keir Starmer will remain as an MP for Holborn and St Pancras but will step down as prime minister once a new Labour leader is chosen. Andy Burnham is the overwhelming favourite and could be installed by mid-July. The Speaker may decide to review the incident, and Labour MPs have raised the possibility of a formal complaint. Regardless, the clash has set the tone for the next phase of UK politics — where language and respect in Parliament will remain a point of contention.