A high-ranking Conservative member was ejected from the Prime Minister’s Questions session following a sharp ridicule by Keir Starmer regarding the party’s defections. Richard Holden, the Shadow Transport Secretary, was instructed to leave the chamber by the Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle, after being warned about his conduct earlier.
Sir Lindsay initially remarked, “As the shadow secretary for transport, you’ll soon catch the express train.” Mr. Starmer then humorously suggested that Holden might be a potential defector to the Reform party, which received enthusiastic cheers.
Pointing towards the Reform MPs, Starmer added, “Those who shout the loudest often end up over there.” Amid escalating tensions, Sir Lindsay intervened, stating, “Mr. Holden, I believe it’s time for you to depart. I have had enough.”
Earlier, Keir Starmer had mockingly criticized Kemi Badenoch over the former Tory member Robert Jenrick’s decision to switch parties. The Prime Minister quipped, “They shout on a Wednesday and defect on a Thursday.” Jenrick had sat alongside Badenoch the previous week, actively disrupting the Labour leader, only to defect to Reform the next day after his intentions were exposed.
During the PMQs, Starmer commented, “The loudest voices used to come from the former Shadow Justice Secretary (Jenrick). We should pay attention to who is being the loudest this week.”
In response, Mrs. Badenoch retorted, “The Prime Minister seems keen on discussing defections. Let me remind him that when someone undermined my party, I dismissed him.” She continued, “If he removed everyone undermining his party, his frontbench would be empty.”
Starmer remarked, “She claims strength. She only sacked him after reading his defection letter. She should have dismissed him when he made offensive remarks about Birmingham.” Despite this, Badenoch appeared pleased with her decision, implying that having fewer Tory MPs was a positive outcome, which she believed resonated with the rest of the country.
Mrs. Badenoch fired Mr. Jenrick after discovering his defection plans, asserting her authority.