Editor’s blog Wednesday 30 June 2010: Health Minister Burns flares up at Speaker Bercow

Further to our recent mention of the gaiety that new Conservative Health Select Committee members Nadine Dorries and David Tredinnick promise bring to the world of health policy, we may have a front-bench find in Health Minister Simon Burns.

During health questions yesterday, Burns called Speaker John Bercow a "stupid, sanctimonious little dwarf" in response to an injunction to address the chair when replying to a question (as is the Parliamentary custom).

Bercow ordered the remarks to be deleted from Hansard, which is a pity. Although not exactly a masterpiece of Parliamentary wit, Burns' heckle reveals an irascibility which could enliven health questions. It may also prove tempting to his political foes.