Boris Johnson is accused of threatening revenge on Sir Lindsay Hoyle by muttering ‘not for long’ after Speaker humiliated him with scolding in Commons insisting ‘I’m in charge’
- Boris Johnson is said to have threatened swift revenge on Sir Lindsay Hoyle for humiliating him in the Commons last week
- The Prime Minister allegedly muttered ‘Not for long’ after the Speaker angrily told him: ‘In this House, I am in charge’
- The claim comes amid a dramatic worsening of relations between Sir Lindsay and No10
Boris Johnson is said to have threatened swift revenge on Sir Lindsay Hoyle for humiliating him in the Commons last week.
The Prime Minister allegedly muttered ‘Not for long’ after the Speaker angrily told him: ‘In this House, I am in charge.’
The claim comes amid a dramatic worsening of relations between Sir Lindsay and No10.
In stormy scenes last week, the Speaker repeatedly rebuked Mr Johnson for trying to answer questions about Tory sleaze by challenging Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer’s own record of topping up his MP’s salary with outside work as a lawyer.
Sir Lindsay first reminded Mr Johnson that ‘it is Prime Minister’s Questions – not Leader of the Opposition’s Questions’. But when the PM tried again to ask questions about Sir Keir’s legal work, the Speaker exploded by ordering him to ‘Sit down!’. He then declared: ‘I am not going to be challenged.
‘You may be the Prime Minister of this country, but in this House I am in charge.’
Boris Johnson is said to have threatened swift revenge on Sir Lindsay Hoyle for humiliating him in the Commons last week
Tory attacks on Sir Lindsay came just a week after Labour MPs moaned privately that the Speaker was ‘too soft’ on the Tories over sleaze
Some MPs say a furious Mr Johnson mouthed ‘Not for long’ – an apparent threat to remove him. One senior Tory Minister privately accused ex-Labour MP Sir Lindsay of ‘going too far’ in his put-downs of the PM, adding: ‘The Speaker went way over the top.
‘The PM’s got a perfect right to respond to Starmer’s jibes about Tory MPs’ second jobs by asking for more details about the Opposition Leader’s own outside work.’
A former Minister sniped that Sir Lindsay, who replaced John Bercow two years ago, had developed ‘Bercow-esque tendencies’.
The Prime Minister allegedly muttered ‘Not for long’ after the Speaker angrily told him: ‘In this House, I am in charge’
However, at a meeting of the 1922 Committee of backbench Tories that evening – attended by Mr Johnson – senior MP Sir Roger Gale is understood to have warned him to ‘make his peace’ with the Speaker. Sir Roger reportedly said: ‘You should not speak to the Speaker that way – it’s not good.’
Tory attacks on Sir Lindsay came just a week after Labour MPs moaned privately that the Speaker was ‘too soft’ on the Tories over sleaze, and Mr Johnson’s failed bid to suspend a damning standards report into ex-Tory Cabinet Minister Owen Paterson. A Westminster insider defended the Speaker, saying: ‘Funny how quickly Lindsay has gone from breath of fresh air after Bercow to pain in the neck for both main parties. Must go with the job.’
No 10 said it was ‘totally untrue’ the PM had mouthed a threat in reply to Sir Lindsay’s put-down.
The Commons backed Government plans last week to restrict MPs’ outside work after ‘tougher’ Labour plans were voted down.
Since becoming an MP in 2015, barrister Sir Keir, a former Director of Public Prosecutions, has earned more than £100,000 for legal work, writing and speeches. Sir Keir’s legal work was carried out before he became party leader and Labour has said that his outside earnings were in line with Labour Party policy at the time.
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