Judith Cummins kicks Dawn Butler out of Commons for calling Boris Johnson a 'liar'

Ms Cummins, who is standing in for Rosie Winterton who has been required to self-isolate due to Covid-19, was called into the role for a week.

It’s the first time a temporary Deputy Speaker has been needed since 1972, and makes Ms Cummins the first Bradford MP to serve in the role.

During her stint in the chair yesterday afternoon, Brent Central MP Dawn Butler caused shock in the House of Commons after accusing the Prime Minister of lying to MPs throughout the pandemic.

Labour backbencher Ms Butler said Mr Johnson had “lied to the House and the country over and over again” and refused to withdraw the comments, leading to her ejection from the chamber.

It is not considered within the boundaries of parliamentary etiquette to call another member a liar.

Ms Butler had said: “Poor people in our country have paid with their lives because the Prime Minister has spent the last 18 months misleading this House and the country over and over again.”

She highlighted disputed claims made by the Prime Minister, including that the link between Covid-19 infection and serious disease and death had been severed.

She added: “It’s dangerous to lie in a pandemic.

“I am disappointed the Prime Minister has not come to the House to correct the record and correct the fact that he has lied to the House and the country over and over again.”

Dawn Butler leaves the House of Commons after being ordered out by Judith Cummins

Ms Cummins intervened and said: “Order! Order! I’m sure that the member will reflect on her words she’s saying and perhaps correct the record.”

Ms Butler replied: “What would you rather – a weakened leg or a severed leg?

“At the end of the day the Prime Minister has lied to this House time and time again.

“It’s funny that we get in trouble in this place for calling out the lie rather than the person lying.”

Ms Cummins intervened again and urged Ms Butler to “reflect” on her words and withdraw them.

Ms Butler replied: “I’ve reflected on my words and somebody needs to tell the truth in this House that the Prime Minister has lied.”

Ms Cummins then read out a statement in which she ordered Ms Butler to “withdraw immediately from the House for the remainder of the day’s sitting”.

Ms Butler left her seat and exited the chamber.

The Government’s deputy chief whip – and Pudsey MP – Stuart Andrew took exception to Ms Butler’s speech, saying it was “disappointing to hear the constant accusation of cronyism and corruption”.