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Theresa May gave her speech on the triggering of Article 50 to a whole lot of heckling in Parliament

Many think that certain MPs didn’t behave respectfully towards the PM.
Many think that certain MPs didn’t behave respectfully towards the PM. Many think that certain MPs didn’t behave respectfully towards the PM.

It’s official: There is “no turning back” as Theresa May has triggered Brexit in a “historic moment”. As such, you would probably expect the atmosphere in Parliament to be respectful, right?

But this is not what we saw. Following PMQs the Prime Minister gave a speech kicking off the two-year process of Britain’s withdrawal from the European Union minutes after the letter triggering Article 50 was delivered to the European Council.

To many watching on TV, it seemed the behaviour of MPs didn’t entirely reflect the importance of the occasion, as there was a whole lot of heckling going on.

People were outraged at the sheer ruckus in the chamber, likening many of the MPs to schoolchildren.

In her speech, May said: “We are going to make our own decisions and our own laws, we are going to take control of the things that matter most to us, and we are going to take this opportunity to build a stronger, fairer Britain – a country that our children and grandchildren are proud to call home.”Considering it is such a momentous occasion, many felt that the noise made by MPs was inappropriate.

At one point some MPs even laughed after the PM said: “I believe in the values of Europe.”

In fact, the noise got so bad that Speaker John Bercow had to step in to give the MPs a good dressing down – an act which was praised on Twitter.

However, some were unimpressed that Bercow deigned to call Boris Johnson by his first name.

Heckling or no heckling, the outcome is the same: Article 50 has been triggered and the countdown to Britain officially leaving the EU is now underway.To end on a positive note, May said in her speech: “I choose to believe in Britain and that our best days lie ahead.”