Kiss star Gene Simmons rocks as much as parliament for PMQs

Kiss star Gene Simmons left MPs surprised as he rocked as much as prime ministers’ questions throughout a shock go to to the Houses of Parliament.

The veteran American musician, within the UK for the band’s End Of The Road tour, was a visitor of DUP MP Ian Paisley and obtained a non-public tour earlier than making his first journey into the Commons chamber.

With Prime Minister Rishi Sunak away within the US, the rock star watched deputy Labour chief Angela Rayner tackle deputy PM Oliver Dowden in scenes he described as “controlled chaos”.

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Speaking within the central foyer afterwards, he stated: “What I simply noticed in there was managed chaos. It was the conflict of wills however respectful – the fitting honourable so and so, it was fascinating.

“In America, it’s like the middle finger is a salute. I think Americans can take a big lesson in civility in how to make democracy actually work and still respect the other side.”

Simmons additionally praised the parliament buildings, describing the environment as “insane”.

Asked if he had visited parliament earlier than, the musician – who as soon as labored as a trainer – stated: “Never to parliament – taught it to my students, but never was physically here and I will tell you, touching a piece of granite that’s over 1,000 years old is insane.

“America is so younger and has no sense of historical past, every part over there’s simply quick, speedy, instantaneous gratification and there is no time to take a seat there and simply gaze, I imply, look the place you might be – it is insane.

“We’re standing on, in terms of democracy, hallowed ground.”

Simmons has beforehand taken an curiosity in British politics, dubbing former prime minister Boris Johnson “cool as can be”.

He watched on at PMQs as Ms Rayner accused the federal government of “obstructing” its personal COVID inquiry with its refusal to hand over text messages from Boris Johnson, and spending “hundreds of thousands of pounds” of taxpayers’ cash on “loophole lawyers”.

But Mr Dowden stated he would take no lectures on worth for cash as she had “purchased two pairs of noise cancelling headphones on expenses”.

He quipped: “I will be fair to (her) if I had to attend shadow cabinet meetings, I think I’d want to tune them out too.”