Article informationauthor, Emma Petrierole, BBC News
Updated 1 hour ago
Conservative MP Victoria Atkins was reprimanded by the deputy speaker for loudly interrupting another MP during a parliamentary debate.
Footage taken from the House of Commons on Friday showed the shadow health and social care secretary standing at the podium and interrupting Environment Secretary Steve Reid as he spoke.
Deputy Speaker Christopher Chope called for order and said Mr Atkins’ “behaviour was appalling”.
Atkins’ office said he was “trying to get answers” during the debate.
As the House of Commons debated the Green Belt and the rural economy, Shadow Environment Secretary Steve Barclay criticised decisions taken so far by the New Labour government.
“This speech from the King does nothing to help our farming and fishing communities and the decisions we have seen so far will take vast swaths of farmland away from food production in favour of the environmentalism we have heard so many times in this Parliament,” he said.
In his reply, Mr Reid refused to intervene with Mr Barclay, Conservative MP Kemi Badenoch and Ms Atkins.
Mr Atkins remained at the podium as Mr Reid continued to speak and Conservative MPs continued to call for him to intervene.
A spokesman for Atkins’ office said: “Conservative MPs were seeking answers about the budget on agriculture, flood protection and food security but the minister ignored them.”
“She will always stand up bravely for farmers and rural Westminster, even if it means receiving a rare reprimand from the Speaker.”
But her actions have drawn criticism from other MPs, including Labour’s Perran Moon, who called for appropriate action to be taken.
Liberal Democrat MP Helen Morgan, who was in the House of Commons, said: “I witnessed this first hand. The Conservatives have proven what voters thought was right – they are unfit to govern.”
Concluding the debate shortly after the brief altercation, Mr Reid said: “I would like to thank all the MPs who took part in this constructive and insightful debate for their insightful contributions and their dedication to making progress on these important issues.”
“After 14 years of turmoil, there is renewed hope for our environment, our countryside and our rural communities.”
