Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, was spotted with one foot encased in a surgical boot following a recent mishap, yet this physical discomfort did not prevent him from delivering a stern reprimand to a junior Treasury minister during a contentious parliamentary session.
A Painful Performance in the Chamber
Treasury minister Dan Tomlinson, aged 33 and a relatively junior figure within the department, was tasked with the unenviable duty of announcing the Government's partial retreat on pub taxes. This was not a full reversal but rather what observers might term an L-turn, offering some relief to pubs while leaving hotels and other businesses to contend with the existing burdens.
Labour backbenchers responded with notable displeasure, feeling the measures fell short of meaningful support. There was speculation that Sir Lindsay believed Chancellor Rachel Reeves should have been the one making the lunchtime statement, particularly as she was present in the vicinity, having earlier handled Treasury questions and with no immediate travel plans to China alongside the prime minister.
Ministerial Avoidance and a Junior Stand-In
It is understood that Cabinet ministers often seek to distance themselves from policy retreats, especially when perceived incompetence might be a factor. Consequently, the House was presented with the inexperienced Mr Tomlinson. Described as a pleasant enough individual, his delivery was criticised as monotonous, with his appearance drawing comparisons to the cartoon character Shaggy from Scooby Doo.
More critically, he significantly overran his allocated speaking time of ten minutes. Deputy Speaker Caroline Nokes, presiding at the time, attempted to intervene, but Mr Tomlinson continued unabated. Upon Speaker Hoyle's return to the chamber, visibly hobbling and in apparent pain, Ms Nokes quietly informed him of the minister's disregard for the time limit.
"He ignored me," Ms Nokes reportedly stated, to which Sir Lindsay responded with determination, "Well he won't chuffin' ignore me!"
The Core of the Matter
Mr Tomlinson's statement eventually concluded after thirteen minutes or more, a lengthy exposition that could arguably have been condensed into a single sentence: the previous Budget's measures had proven problematic, so pubs were being granted a temporary amnesty for a couple of years until political pressures subsided.
Sir Lindsay, rising with difficulty, did not mince words. "That's not acceptable," he snapped at Mr Tomlinson. "You can't just carry on. Weren't you advised that it was meant to be ten minutes? The House should be shown the respect it deserves." Mr Tomlinson attempted an apology, turning a deep shade of pink under the Speaker's disapproving glare.
Broader Parliamentary Frustrations
The incident reflects a growing impatience from the Speaker's chair with Downing Street aides perceived to treat Parliament as an afterthought. Questions were raised about why Mr Tomlinson was not properly briefed on his speaking time by officials, suggesting potential failures in ministerial preparation within the Treasury.
The junior minister then faced a series of pointed interventions from backbenchers. Dame Meg Hillier urged faster action on changes, while Dame Harriett Baldwin noted pubs' shrewd tactics in threatening to withhold service from Labour MPs over rates. Mr Tomlinson appeared to wilt under their scrutiny.
Further criticisms came from MPs highlighting other sectors, with Samantha Niblett raising cardboard-disposal charges, Jim McMahon calling for broader business support, Stella Creasy emphasising the importance of soft-play centres, Rachael Maskell voicing concerns for bookshops, and Jenny Riddell-Carpenter advocating for lower alcohol duties. Government backbenchers were similarly unimpressed.
The absence of Chancellor Reeves was noted, with observers suggesting her presence might have provided a clearer lesson on the political costs of tax-and-spend decisions. This episode may soon become part of a broader portfolio of challenges for others in government to address.
