Dennis Skinner finds fans in the US after being ejected from Parliament over 'Dodgy Dave' comment
Americans show their admiration for the 'badass' Beast of Bolsover - and Speaker John Bercow
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.While Parliament must seem like some sort of bizarre pantomime across the pond, there is one MP in it whose appeal is proving transatlantic: Dennis Skinner.
The ‘Beast of Bolsover’ was unceremoniously ejected from the House of Commons for branding David Cameron ‘Dodgy Dave’ and refusing to rescind the adjective during a riotous debate.
Their exchange has endeared the yah-boo style of politics to some in the US, with the news and media site Gawker declaring the argument “extremely good s**t” and Mr Skinner’s jab as a “pithy schoolyard nickname”.
“It crescendoes in Skinner delivering a thunderous applause line and then being tossed out of Parliament,” writes Gawker.
"England is.... great?"
Comments suggest Mr Skinner’s jibe has also won him a few American fans.
“Holy sh*t! Speaking of sick burns...Dennis Skinner has a whole section of his Wikipedia devoted to cracks he makes during the Queen’s Speech. Dude DGAF old-school Labour Style,” wrote one.
“I just love this. It’s so British... the disdain, the language, everything. I could watch it twenty times," said another.
Another commenter suggested he was also an admirer of Speaker John Bercow's intevention, saying: "The Speaker, John Bercow, is pretty badass, too, with that sneering 'I don’t require assistance from some junior minister'."
The New York Times also reported on Mr Skinner’s ejection, describing Westminster debates as “rough and tumble affairs”.
Mr Skinner is known for heckling every year seconds before the Queen’s speech, shouting “Coalition's last stand” to bursts of laughter from fellow MPs in 2014.
His viper-tongue quips have seen him ejected from the House of Commons 10 times over the years.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments