David Lammy had to be handed a poppy halfway through PMQs after failing to wear one. The Deputy Prime Minister was not wearing the symbol of remembrance when he began taking questions in the House of Commons at midday.
However, he later borrowed a poppy pin badge from another Labour MP which he attached to his jacket during the session. The Tories seized on the incident as they took aim at the Justice Secretary, who stood in for Sir Keir Starmer as the Prime Minister attends the Cop30 summit in Brazil.
Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake said: “A disgrace that David Lammy, the Deputy Prime Minister of this nation and standing in for the Prime Minister at PMQs, is not wearing a poppy.”
Saqib Bhatti added: “Lammy isn’t wearing a poppy how disrespectful.”
Labour backbencher Calvin Bailey handed over his poppy, which Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson passed to Mr Lammy.
The Cabinet minister suggested he had forgotten his poppy because he was wearing a new suit.
Responding to a question from Tory MP Bob Blackman, he said: “I bought a new suit this morning because my godmother said she would be watching.
“I am very grateful to the honourable member for Sunderland South for ensuring that despite wearing a new suit I have managed to put my poppy on.”