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PMQs too rowdy and intimidating, Dorset MP says

Tristan Pascoe
BBC News
BBC Vikki Slade stands outside with the London Eye in the background and a bridge over the River Thames. She is smiling at the camera, has mid length light brown hair and wears a navy blue blazer with a yellow and white floral print top underneath.BBC
"Sometimes the atmosphere in there can be really quite unpleasant," Dorset MP Vikki Slade said

A Dorset MP elected in 2024 has said she prefers to stay away from Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons because it is too noisy and badly behaved.

Vikki Slade, Lib Dem MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole, said the "wall of noise" could be particularly intimidating for women MPs.

She said if she did not have a question for the PM, she would rather watch from her office than be in the chamber itself.

It comes as the MP's Commons Modernisation Committee is considering ways to crack down on rowdy behaviour in Parliament.

"The boo-yah I just find a bit crazy," Ms Slade said.

"Sometimes the atmosphere in there can be really quite unpleasant not really conducive to getting the outcomes that you want.

"You want answers to your questions, you want to hold people to account, you want to hear what's being delivered. Sometimes that's just not possible.

"It was daunting coming in the first time. It remains daunting and it remains overwhelming.

"For me, turn down the boisterousness, tone down the braying - that's not for me at all.

"I want to achieve stuff up here. I don't want to be boo-yah. That's not my thing."

Jessica Toale is pictured giving an interview at the Labour party conference, with delegates in the background. She has tied-back brown hair and wears a green dress.
Bournemouth MP Jessica Toale said she would prefer the chamber to be more "respectful"

Jessica Toale was elected as Labour MP for Bournemouth West last July, having previously served for several years on Westminster Council.

"I think it's important as elected representatives that we model the behaviour we'd like to see in society," she said.

"The chamber itself - I'd love to see it be a bit more respectful - supporting our colleagues.

"We've got something unique here. It's really unusual to have the opportunity to ask questions directly of the prime minister.

"And yes, bringing the tone down and making sure that answers are heard, making sure we are supportive of colleagues and not necessarily boisterous would definitely not only help to improve people's experience of it, but also ours in the chamber as well."

Simon Hoare speaking in the commons
North Dorset MP Simon Hoare said the noise in the chamber reflected the "battle of ideas" taking place in Parliament

Simon Hoare has been the Conservative MP for North Dorset since 2015.

He said battling against rowdy behaviour in the chamber could make MPs become better communicators and speakers.

"Parliament is supposed to be a battle of ideas, and those ideas and principles should be passionately held," he said.

"The noise of the House of Commons reflects the mood of the House of Commons - the seriousness of the issue and the command of the house that individual members have.

"You can't sit there like mummified Trappist monks with gaffer tape over our mouths, unable to express anything - it would debase parliament to a point of unendurability."

The Commons Modernisation Committee is still gathering evidence from MPs about their experiences in the chamber and what they'd like to see reformed.

It is due to publish its findings and recommendations later this year.

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