PMQs: Poppy Mayhem and Miscounted Questions
A Turbulent Day in Parliament
With both Keir Starmer and Kemi Badenoch away, this week’s Prime Minister’s Questions turned into a challenging session for both benches. The Prime Minister was attending the COP30 climate summit in Brazil, leaving Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy to represent the government. On the opposition side, the Conservatives were led by the relatively lesser-known Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, James Cartlidge.
Historic First for David Lammy
Standing at the dispatch box, David Lammy made history as the first black politician to answer Prime Minister’s Questions on behalf of the UK government. Despite the unusual lineup, proceedings were far from orderly and quickly descended into heated exchanges.
Cartlidge’s Focus on Asylum Issues
James Cartlidge directed all six of his questions toward migration and asylum policy. His line of attack centered on what he called the government’s mishandling of the asylum system.
He began by raising the Epping hotel controversy and the case of Hadush Kebatu, an Ethiopian migrant who arrived in the UK in June.
Upon arrival, Kebatu was housed at the Bell Hotel in Epping. In July, he was arrested and charged with sexually assaulting a teenage girl, sparking anti-immigration protests and a local court challenge over using the hotel for asylum seekers. Although sentenced to twelve months in prison in September, he was mistakenly released on 24 October, prompting a police manhunt. Authorities have since re-arrested and deported him to Ethiopia.
Political Ripples and Aftermath
The incident fueled criticism from opposition MPs and put additional pressure on ministers managing asylum accommodations. The combination of human error and heated political rhetoric gave rise to one of the most disorderly PMQs in recent months.
Author’s summary: A chaotic PMQs session saw David Lammy make history while facing intense scrutiny over an asylum case that reignited political tension across Westminster.
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