In a dramatic and highly charged session of Prime Minister's Questions, a senior Conservative figure was forcibly ejected from the House of Commons following a brutal exchange centred on the ongoing issue of Tory defections to the Reform party.
Commons Chaos as Holden is Ordered Out
Richard Holden, the Shadow Transport Secretary, was instructed to leave the chamber by an evidently furious Speaker, Sir Lindsay Hoyle. The incident unfolded after Labour leader Keir Starmer delivered a series of pointed remarks mocking the Conservative party's recent losses to Reform.
Sir Lindsay had initially warned Mr Holden about his conduct, telling him, "As shadow secretary for transport, you'll soon be getting the express train." This warning, however, was merely a precursor to the main event.
Starmer's Stinging Quip Sparks Uproar
Seizing the moment, Keir Starmer turned his attention to the defection crisis plaguing the Tories. With a gesture towards the Reform MPs' benches, he quipped to loud cheers, "Those that shout loudest end up over there," suggesting that the most vocal critics within the Conservative ranks were potential future defectors.
The atmosphere became increasingly animated, prompting Speaker Hoyle to intervene decisively. "Mr Holden, I think you need to leave. I've had enough," Sir Lindsay declared, ordering the Shadow Transport Secretary out of the Commons.
Broader Context of Tory Defections
This fiery episode did not occur in isolation. Earlier in the session, Sir Keir had brutally mocked Business Secretary Kemi Badenoch over the recent defection of former Tory MP Robert Jenrick. The Prime Minister swiped, "They shout on a Wednesday and defect on a Thursday," referencing how Mr Jenrick had enthusiastically heckled the Labour leader from alongside Mrs Badenoch one week, only to defect to Reform the very next day after his plans were uncovered.
Speaking at PMQs, Mr Starmer pointedly noted, "The loudest shouts used to be from the former Shadow Justice Secretary (Mr Jenrick). We should take note of who's shouting most loudly this week."
Badenoch's Defence and Starmer's Rebuttal
In response, Mrs Badenoch attempted to turn the tables, stating, "The Prime Minister wants to talk about defections. Let me tell him that when I had someone undermining my party, I sacked him." She continued with a sharp retort, "We all know that if he sacked everyone undermining his party, his frontbench would be empty."
Mr Starmer, however, was quick to counter her claims of decisive action. "She's claiming strength," he said. "She read the guy's defection letter and then at that point decided to sack him. What else was she going to do, correct the typos? She should have sacked him when he made disgraceful comments about faces in Birmingham."
The Labour leader concluded by suggesting that Mrs Badenoch's actions were a case of too little, too late, and that the public largely views the reduction in Tory MPs as a positive development.
This tumultuous PMQs session underscores the deep internal divisions and political vulnerabilities currently facing the Conservative party, with defections to Reform becoming a potent weapon for the opposition and a source of public spectacle within the Westminster bubble.
