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Mr Skinner was voted out of his Bolsover seat in the general election on Thursday, after sitting in the House of Commons for 49 years. The shock result came as Boris Johnson swept to victory, in part by winning in Labour heartland areas like Mr Skinner’s Derbyshire constituency. The Labour veteran, 87, who was standing in his 14th election, was not well enough to attend his own count because he was recovering from a hip operation.
Mr Skinner is famous for his outrageous outbursts both in the Commons and outside it.
He has been expelled from the chamber multiple times for refusing to withdraw “unparliamentary language” including famously branding David Cameron “dodgy Dave”.
He also has a tradition of heckling the Black Rod and refusing to attend the Queen’s speech.
This is because Mr Skinner is a staunch Republican, believing the monarchy should be abolished.
READ MORE: Dennis Skinner’s bitter feud with Ken Livingstone exposed
Dennis Skinner said Prince Philip could “run a kebab shop” (Image: GETTY)
Dennis Skinner in 1994 interview (Image: YouTube (SUSIEPIP))
In a 1994 interview, he suggested possible career paths for the Royal Family once the institution was dismantled.
He said: “When we’ve got rid of them, I don’t believe we should be cruel like Mrs Thatcher and throw them on the dole – I think we should provide them with work.
“I think that Di and Fergie should become marriage guidance counselors.
“I believe the Queen could take a job at Royal Ascot looking after the horses, because that’s her real bent.
Prince Philip would do well in a kebab shop, according to Mr Skinner (Image: GETTY)
“And Prince Philip – he could be running a kebab shop in north london.”
Mr Skinner did not mince his words when it came to expressing how he feels about The Firm.
He claimed that the Royal Family have been “pushing their own self-destruct button” for the past few years by trying to be both mysterious and relatable at the same time.
He added that he believes the tide is turning and people are becoming increasingly anti-monarchy.
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The Queen famously loved horses (Image: GETTY)
Princess Diana and Sarah Ferguson’s marriages were breaking down simultaneously (Image: GETTY)
The then-Labour MP said: “It’s not because there’s been a massive sweep of Republicanism, it’s because they’ve dug their own pit.
“They want to be on the one hand, mysterious and on the other they want to be in the public eye and you can’t be both – you can’t be regal and common at the same time.
“And that’s what they’ve tried to be – they want to be in the footlights, they want to be like soap opera stars.
“My view is they’ve stripped away those veneers of mystery themselves in the last few years with the net result is the British people – a lot of them – are now saying that the Queen could be the last reigning monarch.”
According to Ipsos MORI, support for the monarchy has risen slightly since the turn of the century – in 2016 it was around 76 percent compared to 67 to 70 percent in 1993.
However, YouGov figures from 2018 suggest it is more around 69 percent who support the monarchy.
According to the same survey, the most popular royal was Queen Elizabeth II (92 percent like her), followed by Prince Harry (87 percent), Prince William (83 percent), Kate Middleton (82 percent) and Prince Philip (75 percent).
The least liked royal was Prince Andrew, who only 18 percent of respondents said they liked.
The Royal Family is as popular as ever (Image: GETTY)
Mr Skinner also expressed disapproval of a parliamentary convention whereby MPs should not say disrespectful things about the monarchy.
He said: “We’re allowed to say wonderful things about the Royal Family in the House of Commons.
“What you’re not allowed to say is: anything that might be truthful, but that might upset them.
“So from time to time I’ve been pulled up because I’ve said things which I think are important.”
Leanne Wood, former Plaid Cymru leader, is a known anti-monarchist too (Image: GETTY)
Former Plaid Cymru leader Leanne Wood was once ejected from the Welsh Assembly for refusing to withdraw her statement calling the Queen “Mrs Windsor”.
A Labour AM branded her language “childish and offensive”.
Mr Skinner is also famous for his Republican quips every time the Queen opens Parliament.
In 1992, he ordered the Black Road to “tell her to pay her taxes”, amid mounting pressure on the Queen to pay tax on her personal income.
In 2000, he yelled “tell her to read The Guardian” after the newspaper launched a new campaign calling for the UK to become a Republic.
In 2003, following a series of break-ins at Buckingham Palace, he shouted: “Did she lock the door behind her?”
In 2006, after the film The Queen was released, Mr Skinner asked Black Rod: “Have you got Helen Mirren on standby?”
Dennis Skinner is famous for his anti-monarchist quips in the Commons (Image: Parliament UK)
In 2009, he joked: “Royal expenses are on the way.”
In 2012, he shouted: “Jubilee year, double dip recession, what a start,” to which Tory MPs shouted “Shame!”
In 2013, Mr Skinner said: “Royal Mail for sale. Queen’s head privatised.”
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