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The Beast of Bolsover Dennis Skinner has lost his seat to the Conservatives in one of the most devastating defeats his party has ever seen.
After serving as Bolsover’s MP for almost five decades, the toppling of the veteran Labour MP’s stronghold seat was met with shock and dismay from his party.
He had served as the MP for Bolsover for 49 years and was expected to become Father of the House after Conservative Ken Clarke retired ahead of the election.
But last night Mr Skinner was suffered a shocking defeat by Tory Mark Fletcher, who overturned his 5,288 majority to win the seat with 21,791 votes against Skinner’s 16,492.
Mr Skinner, 87, would have been the longest serving MP in Parliament having first been voted in in 1970.
He is known for his hilarious heckling in the Commons.
He has become infamous for his outbursts during the Queen’s Speech ceremony, when lawmakers are summoned to hear the government’s legislative agenda pronounced by the monarch.
Here, we take a look back at some of The Beast’s best moments.
2017
One of his best known heckles was in 2017 when he cried: ‘Get your skates on; first race is half past two’ referring to the ceremony clashing with the Queen’s annual day out at Ascot.
2016
In 2016 he shouted: ‘Hands off the BBC!’, in response to Tory ministers trying to make changes to the public broadcaster.
2015
Skinner made no quip this year, claiming he was too tired from fighting an influx of SNP MPs.
2014
In 2014 he predicted the end to the Lib-Dem Tory coalition, shouting ‘Coalition’s last stand’!
2013
After the Royal Mail was privatised he caused a stir by shouting ‘Royal Mail for sale. Queen’s head privatised’.
2012
Skinner was lambasted by Tories with cries of shame when he shouted ‘Jubilee year, double dip recession, what a start’ ahead of a Queen’s speech in May 2012.
2009
As Black Rod arrived in the Commons, Skinner joked: ‘Royal expenses are on the way.’
2008
In 2008 Skinner quipped: ‘Any Tory moles at the palace?’, in reference to the arrest of the Tory MP Damian Green in connection with Home Office leaks.
2006
Skinner asked Black Rod: ‘Have you got Helen Mirren on standby?’ In reference to the new film The Queen,
2000
One of his best heckles was in 2000 when Skinner shouted: ‘Tell her to read the Guardian’ after the newspaper launched a new campaign calling for Britain to become a republic.
1997
‘New Labour, New Black Rod’ was the quip of 1997, an adaptation of the campaign slogan ‘New Labour, New Britain’.
1992
In 1992 pressure was growing on the Queen to pay tax on her personal income, so Skinner said: ‘Tell her to pay her taxes.’
1990
In one of his earliest moments of stardom Skinner quipped: ‘It tolls for thee, Maggie’, a reference to Margaret Thatcher’s imminent resignation as prime minister.
