Marbles thrown during Prime Minister’s questions

A bang was audible in the Commons chamber as David Cameron took questions during the weekly session, but the incident did not disrupt proceedings.

The man, who appeared to be shouting but who could not be heard by MPs or journalists, was taken from the public gallery by two Commons doorkeepers.

He was seen to struggle but was easily removed by the officials, whose job is to protect the chamber.

A House of Commons spokesman said: “Following a disturbance in the public gallery during Prime Minister’s Questions today, a man was escorted from the gallery by doorkeepers and is currently in Metropolitan Police custody.

“The incident did not disrupt the business of the House and there were no injuries sustained.”

Approached by a journalist while flanked by police officers, the man declined to give his name. Asked about why he had thrown the marbles he said: “You can ask but you are not going to get it.”

He added: “That was not a protest. Last week I heard them say it was us and them, the elite and us.”

Shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry tweeted: “There’s a fracas in public gallery #pmqs. Tried to lip read man as he’s dragged out. Believe he’s shouting ‘Answer the b***** questions’.”

Tory MP Mark Pritchard (The Wrekin) said: “Man taken hurriedly out of Commons public gallery. He threw something at the glass protective screen. Public and Members appear all ok.”

Labour’s Chris Bryant (Rhondda) added: “Someone just bundled out of the public gallery.”

In 2004, Prime Minister’s Questions was suspended for more than 70 minutes and MPs were evacuated from the chamber because of a projectile thrown from a gallery, for which the group Fathers 4 Justice later claimed responsibility.

Then-Prime Minister Tony Blair was hit in the back by purple powder contained in a condom. Other members of the Government front bench were covered in the powder.

The disturbance came just weeks after a £600,000 screen was installed in front of the rest of the public gallery amid fears of a possible terrorist attack.

MPs approved that security measure after then-Commons leader Peter Hain warned that spy chiefs had told the Government of a specific threat to the House. He said security officials had warned anthrax could be used.

It later emerged the protesters had been signed in by a peer.