A Labour MP heckled Black Rod during the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday, shouting “not now, Andy” as the senior Lords officer arrived at the House of Commons to summon MPs to hear the King’s Speech.
Ed Davis, the Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, approached the chamber doors in the traditional ceremony that marks the formal start of a new parliamentary session. As he knocked, a voice from within called out the remark, breaking the solemn protocol that usually governs the occasion.
The tradition of Black Rod’s summons
The incident occurred at the climax of one of Parliament’s most ancient rituals. Each year at the State Opening, Black Rod is sent from the House of Lords to the Commons to command MPs to attend the Sovereign’s speech. The tradition dates back centuries and is the only regular occasion when the three parts of Parliament—the Crown, the Lords and the Commons—converge.
A key element of the ceremony is the symbolic door slam. As Black Rod approaches, the door to the Commons chamber is slammed shut in their face. This act is a deliberate re-enactment dating from the English Civil War, signifying the independence of the elected house from the monarchy. After the door is barred, Black Rod knocks three times. Only then is it opened, and MPs follow the officer through the Palace of Westminster to the Lords.
On Wednesday, Davis—a former senior Royal Marines officer who served for 35 years and was Governor of Gibraltar before being appointed Black Rod in April 2025—performed the ritual without incident until the moment after his third knock, when an MP shouted: “Not now, Andy.”
The heckler and the motive
Three backbench MPs told the Press Association that the heckle was made by Torcuil Crichton, the Labour MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar—the Western Isles constituency—who has served in Parliament since 4 July 2024. Crichton, a former journalist who was Westminster editor of the Daily Record and also worked for The Herald and the BBC, took his oath of allegiance in Gaelic using a Gaelic Bible.
The remark is believed to refer to Andy Burnham, the Mayor of Greater Manchester, who is considered a leading contender to replace Sir Keir Starmer if the Prime Minister resigns. According to YouGov ratings, Burnham is currently the most popular Labour politician among the British public, with 35% holding a positive view of him compared to 19% for Starmer. However, Burnham is not a sitting MP, and Labour’s National Executive Committee has previously blocked him from standing in a by-election—a decision some MPs have called a mistake. His supporters favour a delayed leadership contest to allow him time to return to the House of Commons.
The heckle also echoed a long-standing tradition of MPs making remarks during Black Rod’s summons. For many years, the late Labour MP Dennis Skinner was known for such interventions, often injecting republican sentiments or witticisms into the ceremony. Wednesday’s shout was seen as a modern continuation of that practice.
The broader political context
The State Opening took place against a backdrop of intense speculation about Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership following heavy losses for Labour in local elections on 7 May 2026. The King’s Speech—written by the government—outlined a legislative agenda that included addressing an “increasingly dangerous and volatile world,” strengthening energy, defence and economic security, and improving critical infrastructure. Proposed bills included a Clean Water Bill, a Railways and Passenger Benefits Bill, a Social Housing Renewal Bill, a Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Bill, a Tackling State Threats Bill, and an EU Partnership Bill. There were also plans to nationalise British Steel and to pilot innovations in defence technology, including AI-controlled ships, alongside measures to tackle late payments and reduce unnecessary regulation.
Torcuil Crichton has been contacted for comment. His background includes producing a Gaelic TV documentary about Donald Trump’s mother, Mary Anne MacLeod, and co-writing a Gaelic TV drama. Before his election, he worked for the West Highland Free Press and served as the Daily Record’s Westminster editor for 12 years.
The remark “not now, Andy” appears to have been aimed at Burnham’s leadership prospects at a moment when the government’s programme was being formally announced—a delicate ceremonial moment that, as some observers noted, risked embarrassment for the King if the political situation remained uncertain.
