Rock royalty upstaged MPs at Prime Minister’s Questions when The Who’s Roger Daltrey earned a rebuke from Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle.
The rock legend, who was in the visitors’ gallery, clearly believed there was no “Substitute” for applauding when the SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn taunted Sir Keir Starmer.
But before he could protest “I Can’t Explain” to a furious Mr Speaker, Sir Lindsay rose to his feet and made clear to the 80-year-old rocker that “My Generation” doesn’t behave like that in the Commons chamber.
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Pointing to where Daltrey was sitting up above the prime minister behind the government benches, Sir Lindsay remonstrated sternly: “Sorry, the gallery will not clap and not interrupt the proceedings.”
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The “Pinball Wizard” had clapped after Mr Flynn challenged the prime minister: “Is he aware of anyone who’s promised to reduce energy bills only for them to increase, is he aware of anyone who promised to back business only to tax business and is he aware of anyone who promised to protect pensioners only to pick their pockets for their winter fuel allowance.”
At the time, the Speaker may have had his eyes on the SNP chief, who was speaking from the third row below the gangway on the opposition benches.
But when it comes to misbehaviour up in the gallery, Sir Lindsay might have said: “I Can See for Miles and Miles.” The wizard had been well and truly bounced like a mean pinball.
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The rock aristocrat was at PMQs as a guest of Nigel Evans, a former Tory MP and Commons deputy Speaker, who lost his seat in the July general election after 32 years as an MP.
Mr Evans later confirmed to Sky News that Daltrey, who may well have travelled to Westminster on a “Magic Bus”, had been his guest and was indeed the culprit who applauded Mr Flynn.
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But before this rock and roll PMQs ended, Mr Evans, his rock star pal and other guests scurried out. The reason: not shame or remorse, but a meeting with the new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch.
He was meeting Ms Badenoch, apparently, to talk about the teenage cancer trust and the impact of the government’s national insurance increase on charities.
Daltrey, however, has form for political controversy and has long been outspoken in his political views.
Claiming he’s “from a working-class background”, he was a Labour supporter until he denounced Sir Tony Blair over his “mass immigration” policies. He branded Jeremy Corbyn a “communist”.
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Then in 2016 he backed Brexit, claiming the European Union was run by bureaucrats “ruled by a mafia”. And in 2021 he attacked “the woke generation”.
Really? Whatever happened to “The Kids are All Right”?
As for Mr Speaker and clapping in the visitors’ gallery in the Commons, “You Better You Bet” he “Won’t Get Fooled Again”.