Cries of 'shame' greet Dennis Skinner quip at Queen's Speech

Veteran Labour MP and republican Dennis Skinner angered Tory MPs after using the State Opening of Parliament to draw attention to the country's economic difficulties.

Mr Skinner, who has a reputation for greeting Black Rod's appearance in the Commons with a quip, said: "Jubilee year, double dip recession, what a start."

His comment was greeted with cries of "shame" from Tory MPs angry at Mr Skinner's intervention during the ceremony.

The 80-year-old made his comment as Black Rod Lt Gen David Leakey arrived to summon MPs to the Lords to hear the Queen's Speech.

The Bolsover MP's quips have become a tradition in recent years.

Following the release of the movie The Queen, in 2006 he asked: "Have you got Helen Mirren on stand-by?"

Tory Claire Perry attacked Mr Skinner's behaviour in a post on Twitter and denied that MPs had been laughing at his remark.

She said: "Dennis Skinner is a total disgrace. Charmless, friendless and clueless. We weren't laughing, we were suggesting he, er, move on."

Fellow Tory Louise Mensch said Mr Skinner's comment was "cheap".

PA