Tory MPs jeer Jeremy Corbyn over green tie for Grenfell Tower fire victims
He was speaking during PMQs when the jeering happened, as relatives of those killed in the blaze looked on in the public gallery.
Wednesday 30 October 2019 19:34, UK
Conservative MPs have been criticised for jeering Jeremy Corbyn over his green tie, which he wore as a mark of respect to the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire.
The Labour leader was wearing the tie for a Commons debate on a report into the 2017 disaster, which left 72 people dead.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson wore a green Grenfell heart on his lapel during proceedings.
Mr Corbyn was speaking during PMQs - which came immediately before the debate - when the jeering happened.
Relatives of those killed in the blaze were in the public gallery at the time.
It came after he thanked outgoing Speaker John Bercow for having "reduced some of the strange customs and garments that people wear in this building", a reference to the sometimes archaic dress code seen in parliament.
Some Tories then interrupted and heckled the Labour leader.
"I know you're all jealous of my tie but it's OK," Mr Corbyn responded.
Theresa May, who was prime minister when the fire at the west London tower block happened, could be seen telling Tory MPs around her that the tie was for Grenfell.
Sky's political correspondent Tom Rayner, who was in the Commons chamber at the time, tweeted: "Theresa May giving dagger eyes and acid words to Tory backbenchers jeering Jeremy Corbyn for the colour of his green tie. 'It's about Grenfell', she says. They stopped their chortling pretty quickly."
Contacted for a response to the incident, a Conservative spokesman told Sky News: "A number of MPs wore the colour green as a mark of respect and no criticism of this was intended during PMQs before the statement."
The Labour leader's spokesman said the incident was "fairly contemptible".
He added: "He was wearing a green tie as a mark of respect for the victims of the Grenfell disaster.
"I think those Tory MPs mocking his tie would be better supporting justice for the families and the victims of the Grenfell Tower fire and those who died in similar conflagrations and to deliver safety and protection for people living in tower blocks all over the country."
Opening the debate on the Grenfell report, Mr Johnson paid tribute to the community's "exceptional tenacity" in their fight for justice.
He said that this commitment had "not always been matched by their faith in the system's ability to deliver".
The PM said: "This is no surprise.
"After all, they have been let down many times before, too often overlooked and ignored in the months and years before the tragedy, and shamefully failed by the institutions that were supposed to serve them in the days and weeks after it."
Mr Johnson promised to accept all of the report's recommendations relating to central government in principle and set out how action will be taken "as quickly as possible".
"I will not allow the lessons of this tragedy to fall through the cracks," he added.
On the debate, a Tory spokesman said: "Today's statement reflected the profound nature of the Grenfell tragedy and the appalling impact it had on the victims, families and community affected.
"MPs from across the house debated the report in a tone and manner befitting of the seriousness of the report, its findings and the two year quest for the truth that campaigners have undertaken."