People Over Performances: End Bear‑Pit PMQs
Our political system is based around conflict. Prime Minister’s Questions, where MPs shout, jeer and boo represents the worst of our Parliamentary System. It normalises aggression and sends a message to the public that in politics anything goes.
At a time when democracy is under threat and violence against politicians is on the rise, the weekly spectacle of MPs behaving as if they were in a school playground not only normalises aggressive behaviour and point-scoring it also makes politicians look ridiculous. Other countries look at our Parliament and wonder what on earth is going on.
Politicians hold our lives in their hands. A lot of their work involves respectful collaboration and co-operation across party lines but if you watch PMQ’s you’d be excused for thinking you’d ended up in a school playground. Like it or not, PMQ’s sets the tone for how politicians are perceived by the public.
Our polling shows that a majority of the public think such behaviour should have no place in parliament. Yet parliament clings on to this out-moded tradition.
We need a parliament fit for the 21st Century. We need our leaders to behave in ways that model civility and respect. That’s why we are asking you to sign our letter to the Speaker of the House of Commons asking him to replace PMQ’s with a functional and effective system of accountability.
We have already submitted evidence on the harmful impact of PMQ’s to the Speaker and the House of Commons Modernisation Committee but they need to know that you care too. That’s why we’re asking you to sign our letter to the Speaker saying you want things to change
Our Letter to the Speaker
To: The Rt Hon Sir Lindsay Hoyle MP, Speaker of the House of Commons
Dear Mr Speaker,
Prime Minister’s Questions in its current form has become a deeply flawed spectacle, where jeering, personal attacks, and disruption overshadow serious political scrutiny. This archaic style of debate diminishes the dignity of the House and damages public confidence in Parliament.
Recent incidents, including moments where Members have been visibly distressed, highlight how the boundaries between robust debate and personal humiliation are all too easily crossed. Such behaviour not only undermines the decorum of the Chamber but also fosters a toxic environment that is harmful to the wellbeing of all Members.
While vigorous political accountability is vital, it must be conducted with respect and professionalism. The House must commit to replacing this outdated format with a modern system of accountability—one that restores dignity to debate, prioritises constructive dialogue, and reflects the standards of conduct expected in any professional workplace.
Replace Prime Minister’s Questions with a Modern System of Accountability
Scrap the current PMQs format. Its outdated style of jeering, booing, and personal attacks undermines serious debate and public trust.
- Introduce a modern system of accountability that replaces PMQs with respectful, constructive, and effective scrutiny of the Prime Minister.
- Ensure the new system promotes clear, evidence-based questioning without interruptions or disrespect.
- Hold MPs to professional standards of behaviour, reflecting the respect expected in any workplace.
We believe these steps would make a meaningful difference—not only to the way Parliament works, but to how it is perceived by the public. Thank you for considering our request and for all you do to uphold the dignity of the House.
Yours sincerely,
The Undersigned
Like this to spread the word
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Erica Rawlings signed via CiP Admin 2025-07-09 13:23:02 +0100
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Julie Kealy signed via CiP Admin 2025-07-09 11:58:15 +0100
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I don’t particularly like Rachel Reeves, nor her political policies, but seeing her crying silent tears during PMQ’s, my heart went out to her and I felt so sorry for her. Kemi Badenoch’s bullying behaviour towards Ms Reeves was utterly disgusting and she really showed her true colours with a total lack of empathy. Ms Badenoch should be held accountable in some way!!
PMQ’s should also abandon the archaic jeering and booing. It is wholly outdated, not to mention it sounds ridiculous and farcical in this day and age….. -
Daphne Beale signed via CiP Admin 2025-07-08 21:12:22 +0100
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About time our politicians of all parties set the country a good role model for individuals to emulate in life. That way maybe this country will become a better place to live in again. Tespect one another and stop trying to score cheap political points all the time. I thought this had been talked about by our PM when he was seeking election.
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Sally McKenzie signed via CiP Admin 2025-07-08 17:10:24 +0100
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Melusine Colwell signed via CiP Admin 2025-07-08 12:24:42 +0100
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I gave up regularly watching PMQ almost 12 years ago, when the jeering, booing, and the constant over-talking/shouting of those MPs, who were trying to hold a debate, became prevalent.
Sadly, this was especially true among the Tory Benches, as though these MPs, who are paid what might be considered a fortune, nowadays – especially when adding on the very extensive ‘Expenses’ allowed to MPs – haven’t left the behaviour of the School Debating Class behind, in order to show the dignity, and the responsibilities, needed in order to represent the UK, both at Home, as well as Abroad!
What has made it worse, is that the Labour Party soon picked up on this behaviour, and so it seems to have become a ‘competition’ – and one becoming ever more child-like – over who can cause the most uproar at any given time!
I’ve also noticed a tendency for this to be used, to ‘waste precious time’, when the debate is something extremely important to whichever is the opposing party, there! This is a gross waste of us Tax Payer’s money, and the time allotted FOR these ‘Debates!’
This is not only totally unprofessional, and would cause anyone in a Business setting to be sacked, imediately, for such disrespect, but is also causing actual deprivation, to the very People that you are, ALL OF YOU, meant to be representing – that’s US, the UK Public, who pay your salaries, plus expenses, at a time when Millions of ZUS are living in Poverty – this showed a total disrespect of US, and your own job!
Despite all of the very precious time, and money, that you waste on important issues to US, the UK has now become a laughing stock around the world, as these nasty, childish, behaviours have become a prevalent, weekly, event!
This kind of behaviour has NO place within the House of Commons, nor within The House of Lords, and it needs stamping out completely!
How on Earth do MPs expect to be treated with ANY kind of respect, when they can’t seem to show the same respect, either to each other, or to US, the very People you are SUPPOSED TO represent?
We need a Modern approach to the very serious debates, that SHOULD BE happening within Parliament, but which we haven’t seen for far, far, too long!
Televising these Debates is a necessary Part of our Democratic process but, seeing our PM, and so many of our MPs, treating this as though they are still ‘performing’ in their Public Schools’ Debates Teams, shames EVERYONE taking part within it!
These Men and Women were voted into these Halls of Power, to represent US, the People of the UK but, with their present behaviour, they are just an ever-growing embarrassment!
Our Representatives are supposed to be doing all that they can, to make the lives of the People of the UK BETTER, but all they’ve done, for far too many years now, is embarrass us, & waste huge sums of the money paid to them, put of OUR need, AS our representatives!
I REALLY don’t want this kind of behaviour representing ME on the World Stage, especially as Parliament is meant to be representative of the Power of the UK, and NOT a Theatrical Performance!
PLEASE, bring us the kind of debate that we deserve – where the Men and Women, who have been given the PRIVILEGE of representing ALL of us in the UK, take that power seriously, and treats it with the dignity, and the honour, that it deserves that WE, the People you are supposed to Represent, and -are paid VERYY WELL in order to do so, deserve!