BORIS Johnson has been told by an angry Speaker of the Commons that “I’m in charge” after the Prime Minister refused to listen to pleas to stop asking questions of Keir Starmer and wriggled out of withdrawing accusing his opponent of misconduct by insisting he had used the word “mish-conduct”.
During a heated session of Prime Minister’s Questions, in which the PM faced more pressure over the sleaze scandal, Mr Johnson tried to shift the focus onto Sir Keir.
The Labour leader has faced his own accusations over former paid work at a law firm.
The Prime Minister said: “Perhaps he could clear up from his proposals from his proposals, whether he would continue to be able to take money as he did from Mishcon de Reya.”
But Speaker Lindsay Hoyle intervened, saying: “Prime Minister, as you know, and I do remind you, it's Prime Minister's Questions – not Leader of the Opposition's questions.”
READ MORE: PMQs: Boris Johnson labelled 'coward not a leader' for failing to apologise for sleaze scandal
However, Mr Johnson repeated his attempts to ask questions of the Labour leader, accusing Sir Keir of “now trying to prosecute others for exactly this course of action that he took himself”.
The PM added: “What I think the nation wants to know because he's registered as incomplete, who paid Mishcon de Reya, and who paid the £25,000? Who's paying him for his services?”
But an angry Speaker again reprimanded the Prime Minster.
He said: “Prime Minster, I don’t want to fall out, but I’ve made it very clear – it is Prime Minister's Questions, it's not the opposition to answer your question.
“Whether we like it or not, those are the rules of the game that we're all into and we play by the rules don’t we – ad we respect this house, so let’s respect the house.”
But Mr Hoyle lost his patience further as the noise levels increased from both sides.
He said: “Look, this is not good.
“We lost a dear friend. I want to show that this house has learned from it.
“I don't want each other to I don't want each other to be shouted down. I want questions to be respected. I expect the public to actually be able to hear the questions or the answers because I'm struggling in this chair. I need no more.”
Following the next question from the Labour leader, Mr Johnson again tried to shift the scandal onto his opponent but was interrupted mid-sentence by the Speaker, visibly angry at the Prime Minister.
“Prime Minister, sit down”, he shouted.
He added: “Prime Minister, I'm not going to be challenged.
“You may be the Prime Minister of this country, but in this house I'm in charge.”
But Mr Johnson still refused to stop trying to point the finger at Sir Keir.
He said: “It is plain from listening to the Right Honourable gentleman that he seeks to criticise this Government while refusing to explain his own position and you've ruled on that, Mr. Speaker, you've ruled on that Mr. Speaker I hear you, I hear you.
“But his own misconduct is absolutely clear to everybody, his own misconduct is absolutely clear.”
The Speaker again called order, stressing: “I’m struggling to hear.”
He added: “We can't or cannot accuse somebody misconduct.
“If it was said I want it withdrawn, if it wasn’t I will accept it.”
But the Prime Minister wriggled out of having to withdraw the remarks.
He said: “I referred to the Right Honourable Gentleman’s mish-conduct because that is what he’s guilty of.”
The Speaker said: “I don't think this has done this house any good today.
“I'll be quite honest, I think it’s been ill-tempered. I think it shows the public that this house has not learned from the other week.
“I need this house to gain respect. But it starts by individuals showing respect to each other.”
Following Prime Minister’s Questions, Conservative MP Michael Fabricant raised a point of order urging Sir Keir Starmer to withdraw his “coward” jibe aimed at the Prime Minister.
The Speaker said: “Coward is not what is used in this House.”
Sir Keir replied: “I withdraw it. But he’s no leader.”
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