A Conservative member made a comedic mistake during a parliamentary session when he mistakenly sought an additional question during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs) after exhausting his allotted number, causing amusement among fellow Members of Parliament (MPs).
The incident unfolded when James Cartlidge, the Conservative Shadow Justice Secretary filling in for Kemi Badenoch, attempted to catch the attention of Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle for an extra question after already asking his designated six. This action led to light-hearted mockery from Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy, who humorously remarked on Cartlidge’s counting skills.
Following the confusion, the Speaker intervened during Labour’s Jonathan Brash’s speech to clarify that Cartlidge had indeed asked the correct number of questions. At the conclusion of PMQs, it was pointed out that Cartlidge had been mistaken in his attempt for an additional question.
This incident occurred during a heated exchange between Deputy PM David Lammy and Conservative representative James Cartlidge, where Lammy urged Cartlidge to “get a grip.” The discussion centered on the release of asylum seekers, particularly regarding an incident involving Ethiopian sex offender Hadush Kebatu mistakenly freed from HMP Chelmsford, prompting a search and eventual deportation.
Cartlidge persistently pressed Lammy on the issue, seeking assurance that no other asylum-seeking offenders had been erroneously released since Kebatu’s incident. In response, Lammy emphasized his role as the Justice Secretary and acknowledged past challenges in the justice system.
Lammy later expressed regret for any distress caused by the situation and highlighted the need to address systemic issues within the prisons, attributing responsibility to previous justice ministers for the current state of affairs.