The clapping started as soon as he crossed the bar. He stood there on the floor of the House looking round the room, over to the Speaker, and then up into the galleries, acknowledging the applause and the applauders. They were all on their feet – MPs, public, even some of the journalists – a universal standing ovation. Not even Betty Boothroyd got one of those. Your sketch writer is uneasy at public displays of affection in the Chamber and to tell the truth certain parts of it got a little blurred, around at the sight of his three-year-old daughter in a sky-blue summer dress alert in her mother’s lap, clapping the NHS staff when they had their turn. She will be a strong candidate for Best Little Girl in the World when the judging takes place.
Craig took it all without humility or arrogance, with great balance, and some humour. He apologised for being the cause of so much rule breaking. Such as clapping. And the trainers he wore because “shoes wouldn’t go over the plastic feet, and the jacket wouldn’t go over the bionic arm.” He thanked the Speaker for coming to visit him in hospital. “The rest of the hospital thought I must be dreadfully ill because they said, ‘That guy’s got the funeral director in already.’” (Much laughter)
