Reform UK’s Lee Anderson has slammed “out of touch” MPs after they moaned about the old traditions in the House of Commons.
The MP for Ashfield took to X on Monday (October 28) to slam the Parliamentarians who complained.
Anderson attached two pictures with his post, one of which was an old black and white photo of what looked like miners working in a dark and dirty tunnel.
The second picture was of the House of Commons filled with MPs wearing suits and sitting on their benches.
Anderson wrote in the accompanying caption: “Unbelievable. New MPs have expressed horror at the condition of their workplace.
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“The first pic is exactly the same sort of conditions as my first workplace, the second picture is my current workplace. No wonder they have no idea what a working person is.”
Commenting under the post, one person wrote: “They are all out of touch.”
Anderson’s rant stemmed from some new MPs claiming that they are feeling the strain of Westminster’s historical customs, which they argue hinder their effectiveness.
According to Politico, many are frustrated with the tradition of “bobbing,” where MPs must rise repeatedly to catch the Speaker’s attention.
Labour MP Chris Curtis described this and other customs as “a constant sense of frustration” and said some of them prevent MPs from spending time with family or performing their duties efficiently.
Green MP Ellie Chowns also labelled the practice of bobbing “inefficient”. She said: “It is not an efficient or accessible way to form an orderly queue to speak.”
Calls are also growing for a more structured speaking system, similar to the House of Lords’ daily “call list” to replace the traditional bobbing.
Some MPs also advocate returning to digital voting, which was introduced temporarily during the pandemic, as well as earlier sitting hours to support family life.
Beyond procedural reforms, some MPs are concerned about the building’s safety. Curtis voiced worries about falling masonry and fire hazards.
However, despite these safety concerns, one Cabinet minister noted that any large-scale refurbishment would depend on Chancellor Rachel Reeves, suggesting it may not be prioritised.
Lucy Powell, who leads the modernisation committee, confirmed there was “huge interest in this work,” especially among new MPs.
She said: “Supporting parents and those with other responsibilities to be effective and ensure parliament works for them is close to my heart and something I have long championed. A lot of progress has been made and there’s more still to do.”
