Jeremy Hunt has been reprimanded by the speaker of the House of Commons for failing to listen to the criticisms raised about his handling of the junior doctors row.

Labour shadow health secretary Heidi Alexander had intended to ask the health secretary about his plans to bring junior doctors back to the negotiating table in a row that has seen the first all-out strikes by doctors in the history of the NHS.

However, Jeremy Hunt declined to answer his critics, to which Alexander quipped:

“I will take it that the health secretary doesn’t want to come to the house to defend his policy”

Beyond refusing to answer questions or defend his policy, Hunt also made a point of ignoring Alexander and “fiddling” on his phone, an action which caused speaker John Bercow to reprimand him for his “rude” behaviour.

Bercow said:

“To sit there, fiddling ostentatiously with an electronic device, defies the established convention of the House.”