A prominent Lancashire MP has taken a battering on Twitter after calling the Queen's funeral the 'most important event the world will ever see'.
Sir Lindsay Hoyle, MP for Chorley and Speaker of the House of Commons, was talking on BBC One's weekend politics show, Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, when he came out with the questionable remark.
People have trouble believing he actually said this. https://t.co/dlD2TvRukB pic.twitter.com/V6DHILjRdH
— Alex Andreou (@sturdyAlex) September 18, 2022
He said: "It's been important to try and make sure we get it right.
"And it's about showing the respect and the dignity and doing it in the right way, and we should not allow anything to overshadow the most important event the world will ever see, and that's the funeral of Her Majesty.
"And the passing of Her Majesty has brought people together so we shouldn't be distracted by others and I think that's the problem that we're seeing.
"People always want a different story and a different angle, what I want to do is keep focused - this is about the Royal Family, this is about their grief, this is about the people of this country coming together."
Posting a short video recorded from the show, under the handle @sturdyalex, Alex Andreou, referring to the Speaker, said: "People have trouble believing he actually said this."
His post about Sir Lindsay's comment provoked a backlash, with many taking to his Twitter thread to have their own say on the matter.
One user said: "Hoyle is bought and paid for by the Tories. That’s why they were so keen to have him in place. The queen’s death serves as a perfect distraction to the dire situation the Tories have put the country in and strengthening ties to the monarchy plays to the Brexiter base."
Another Twitter user wrote: "It is an important day for many across the world but millions of people are worrying how to feed there family's, heat there home's and pay the bills. Another smokescreen by the out of touch @CommonsSpeaker of which none of the above will affect him."
It is an important day for many across the world but millions of people are worrying how to feed there family's, heat there home's and pay the bills.
— ExcludedFighter (@ExcludedFighter) September 18, 2022
Another smokescreen by the out of touch @CommonsSpeaker of which none of the above will affect him.#OneRuleForThemAndOneForUs pic.twitter.com/R5UqZG134a
One person commented: "Anyone alive since the late 80s knows this is wrong. I can name 2 more important events just off the top of my head:
"1. Fall of the Berlin wall.
"2. Release of Nelson Mandela.
"Both way, way more important than a funeral."
Anyone alive since the late 80s knows this is wrong.
— Dick van Drijver (@benevans_ATAC) September 18, 2022
I can name 2 more important events just off the top of my head:
1. Fall of the Berlin wall.
2. Release of Nelson Mandela.
Both way, way more important than a funeral.
Another said: "How out of touch he is. We need perspective here. Life still goes on, bills have to be paid and food put on tables. There’s a #CostOfLivingCrisis which the media seem to have forgotten about."
And one user said: "I mean I’m pretty sure the events in Ukraine and their implications for Russian power have been more important to the major powers just this week?"
And another said: "Talk about out of touch with reality. Sad to see and hear. Read the room..."
Talk about out of touch with reality. Sad to see and hear. Read the room. Parliament is a farce much of the time, serves us dreadfully poorly, and here is one of its key players.
— Alan (@joemontana100) September 18, 2022
While one user tried to make light of the situation by posting the following: "Describing the Queen’s funeral as “the most important event the world will ever see” is an insult. An insult to every one of us who witnessed Barry from Eastenders singing ‘So strong’ at the World Indoor Bowls Final 2014."
Describing the Queen’s funeral as “the most important event the world will ever see” is an insult. An insult to every one of us who witnessed Barry from Eastenders singing ‘So strong’ at the World Indoor Bowls Final 2014. pic.twitter.com/TTxlKFC2P0
— James Withers (@JamesRWithers) September 18, 2022
At the time of writing the Tweet has had more than 113,000 views.
The Queen's funeral will take place tomorrow, with many businesses closing, and local authorities, as well as GP practices and dentists suspending services.
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