Black Rod Urged To 'Hurry Up' By Beast Of Bolsover

Laughter filled the House of Commons as veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner joked:

"Get your skates on, the first race is half past two."

The MP dubbed the Beast of Bolsover's annual quip at Black Rod was in reference to the Queen's planned attendance at Royal Ascot this afternoon after she has delivered the Queen's Speech.

As Black Rod, Lieutenant General David Leakey, informed MPs in the House of Commons that the Queen requested their attendance in the House of Lords, Mr Skinner shouted out - prompting laughter from both sides of the House.

Mr Skinner's remarks have become part of the pomp and circumstance of the State Opening of Parliament, which was watered down this year because it comes four days after Trooping the Colour.

In 2016 the Bolsover MP received cheers from some Opposition MPs as he shouted: "Hands off the BBC," in the Commons as MPs were summoned to hear the Queen's Speech.

But in 2015 he opted to stay silent in a break from tradition, having shouted the previous year: "Coalition's last stand."

Traditionally, Mr Skinner shouts out as Lieutenant General David Leakey instructs elected parliamentarians to attend the Queen in the Lords.

He won widespread laughs in 2013 when he shouted: ''Royal Mail for sale. Queen's head privatised," in reference to the planned Royal Mail privatisation.

In 2012 he angered Tory MPs by drawing attention to the country's economic difficulties, saying: ''Jubilee year, double dip recession, what a start.''

And in 2006, as the film The Queen was released, Mr Skinner joked: ''Have you got Helen Mirren on standby?''