Labour’s veteran MP Dennis Skinner is in his 88th year, but still remains the party’s most fiery MP, famous for his now-traditional quips at each Queen’s Speech, blistering put-downs of Tory front-benchers and occasional corrections of errant reporters.
The ‘beast of Bolsover’ has also been being expelled from the Commons chamber at least ten times – including, memorably, for once calling David Owen a ‘pompous sod’ and when reprimanded, only agreeing to withdraw the word ‘pompous’.
Sadly, some of these moments took place before cameras were allowed in the chamber – but below is a selection of six that were caught on camera.
Which would be your pick of the bunch? Answer the poll at the end:
1. ‘Dodgy Dave’
Skinner’s condemnation of David Cameron was one of the occasions for which he was expelled, after refusing to retract it:
2. Love the NHS, hate UKIP
Skinner ‘welcomed’ a new UKIP MP to the Commons with a withering attack that praised the NHS and the ‘united nations’ of medics who had saved his life with a heart bypass:
3. ‘The first race is half past two’
In 2017, Skinner’s traditional quip to deflate the pomp and ceremony of the Queen’s Speech also took aim at the royals’ luxury lifestyle, as the Queen was heading to Ascot straight from Parliament:
4. Keep out of Syria – ‘You don’t know who the enemy is’
Skinner’s intervention against military action in Syria is all the more relevant now, as he warns about Turkey bombing the Kurds helping defeat ISIS:
5. ‘Murdoch Maitlis’
When the BBC’s Emily Maitlis tried to spin Skinner’s longstanding lack of desire for a front-bench position as a refusal to serve under Jeremy Corbyn, Skinner took her to task – live on national TV – to remind her she doesn’t work for Rupert Murdoch:
6. ‘Boy George’ and the lines of coke
In another moment that saw him expelled from the chamber, Skinner talked of the economic hardships caused by the Tories with a famous barb aimed then-Chancellor George Osborne:
Which is your favourite? Have your say below – or if it’s another, put a link in the comments.
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I voted for “first race is at 2:30”, but what about the famous “half the MPs opposite are crooks”….”sorry, half the MPs opposite are not crooks”?
Indeed. I had clicked through to ask exactly that. It is the best by miles 🙂
No sorry Thomas,I can’t agree on the “half the MPs opposite are crooks” Dennis hopelessly underestimated the numbers.
Yes, John – but we’re still to find out what they are, if not crooks 🙂
That would have been my favourite too by choice. I simply love that one.
PS
Skwawky, you need to merge the two threads 👍
Skwawk replicked by Allans betwn fost an second pists.
Note slutbe ererrs – Joseph OFKEEE old broke pooter in replipod same time SKWAWK olny explunction.
All of the Dennis Skinner moments of sanity by exposing the hypocrisy of the Torys and the farcical establishment traditions.of elitism.And hopfully he will be around to see a proper Labour government,and it will take longer than seven days to clean up the tory demolition job.
I love the attitude and confidence that causes this wonderful socialist man to challenge power, humbugery and smug stupidity in hia unique straight-forward manner.
This man is so sincere in his integrity, that even if he were to do the unthinkable and back Boris’s shit sandwich brexit ‘deal’ tomorrow, I don’t think I’ll be very angry or think less of him. He’s the salt of the earth and I’m proud that he’s a member of the same political party as me. Thank you Dennis.
John Mann on the other hand…. I’ll be as mad as hell – but not think any less of him of course, because he’s at the bottom of the barrell and a self-interested pratt anyway.
It tolls for thee Maggie
“New Labour, New Black Rod”
Black Rod being an Usher, newlabour being a ‘thirdway’ usher of capitalism.
“Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the 1970s and a lot of the 1980s, we would have thanked our lucky stars in the coalfield areas for growth of 1.75 per cent.?
The only thing growing then were the lines of coke in front of boy George and the rest of them.”
Skinner compendium