‘You wouldn’t behave like that in court!’ QC rebuked for ‘heckling’ Theresa May

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By Thomas Connelly on

Ouch

A prominent Scottish silk has been rebuked in the House of Commons today for heckling Theresa May, moments before Article 50 was officially triggered.

Joanna Cherry QC — who is MP for Edinburgh South West — was told off by House Speaker John Bercow for her “unseemly heckling” during today’s Prime Minister’s questions.

Cherry, a former lawyer at Edinburgh-based outfit Brodies, appeared to be responding to an answer given by May concerning Scotland and the referendum.

Rising to his feet, Bercow — who is responsible for keeping order within the Commons — gave the Scottish National Party politician a severe telling off. He said:

Ms Cherry, this is very unseemly heckling. You are a distinguished QC. You wouldn’t behave like that in the Scottish courts! You’d be chucked out.

The reprimand, which was met with laughter by MPs, also went down well with those following today’s session on Twitter.

Others felt the Scottish MP had been unfairly singled out.

Back in 2014 Cherry was the driving forced behind a campaign called ‘Lawyers for Yes’. Seeking Scottish independence, the group — supported by over 100 legal professionals — argued that an independent Scotland would be “fairer” and “more democratic.”

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