Nus Ghani accused of preparing Commons heckler rebukes in advance
Deputy Speaker Nus Ghani has been accused of preparing some of her humorous rebukes to Tory hecklers during Chancellor John Healey’s Budget speech in advance. Critics say the remarks may have been intended to raise her profile and strengthen her prospects of succeeding Sir Lindsay Hoyle as Speaker, though Ghani’s allies reject the claims.
Ghani drew attention for telling shadow energy minister Luke Evans to “write yourself a prescription to calm down”. A senior Conservative MP claimed she had told at least one colleague he was “on my list” for a possible rebuke; Evans and other MPs said they had no warning. Hoyle became Speaker in 2019 and is expected to serve for at least ten years, while Ghani has a majority of 6,842 in Sussex Weald.
In short
- Ghani faces claims she prepared Budget heckling put-downs in advance.
- Critics say the remarks could boost her profile as a future Speaker.
- Her allies dismiss the claims, and rebuked MPs said they had no warning.
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The case for
Critics could argue that a Deputy Speaker’s authority depends on impartiality, and that preparing pointed jokes to attract attention would risk making parliamentary discipline look like personal publicity. If Ghani is positioning herself for a future Speaker election, they may see the episode as relevant to whether her interventions are consistently even-handed and focused on the House’s work.
The case against
Ghani’s allies could argue that a lively, well-judged rebuke is a legitimate way to restore order and hold MPs to account, and that preparing remarks does not make them insincere or improper. The allegations rest on disputed accounts, while MPs including Evans say they had no warning; speculation about her future ambitions does not establish that the intervention was designed to advance them.
Explained simply
The Speaker chairs debates in the House of Commons, keeping order and ensuring MPs can take part. Deputy Speakers share this work and may be called on to respond when MPs interrupt or heckle during a speech.
Nus Ghani is a Conservative MP and one of the Commons’ Deputy Speakers. Sir Lindsay Hoyle has been Speaker since 2019; the role is filled by a vote of MPs when it becomes vacant, so discussion of possible successors can attract attention.
The dispute concerns whether Ghani’s jokes at MPs during a Budget speech were spontaneous or prepared beforehand. It matters because the Speaker is expected to act fairly across parties, and claims about a candidate’s conduct may shape how colleagues view them.
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Originally published by Daily Mail as “Played for laughs… Speaker’s No2 accused of scripting ‘witty’ Commons put-downs”.