Speaker interrupts Boris Johnson at PMQs to tell him to ‘answer the question’

“Mr prime minister,” Sir Lindsay patiently interrupted, “there are questions and sometimes we need to answer the questions to what was asked of you.

“I think to run through history is one thing but in fairness, it is Prime Minister’s Questions and what I would say was that it was the final question with lots of others to go through so I think I’m going to move on.”

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Sir Lindsay interrupted the prime minister after he changed topics mid-speech in response to a question on the school meals fiasco.

MORE: Watch the moment Boris Johnson was rebuked for ‘not truths’

Originally asked when parents could expect more food from the government, Johnson went on a tangent and begun discussing the coronavirus vaccine roll-out.

Taking aim at Sir Keir, Johnson said: “He says he supports the vaccine roll-out and tried to associate himself with it because he senses it is going well but be in no doubt because this is the party that wanted us to stay in the European Union vaccine programme.”

This is the second time in less than two months that the prime minister has been interrupted by the Commons speaker during PMQs.

In November, Sir Lindsay was forced to abruptly pause PMQs after the prime minister beganposing questions to Sir Keir.

Sir Lindsay’s rebuke was warmly welcomed online.

Bryan Smith posted: “Keep it up. One day we may even see the speaker helping MPs hold the government to account!”

“‘You’ve got to try’ is far too gentle,” suggest Wayne Ellis. “Stop proceedings until he does give a bloody answer.”

Rory Haczewski added: “Big fat thumbs up to Lindsay Hoyle for making Boris Johnson look like a bigger idiot than he normally his.”