Brandon Lewis was quickly called-out and embarrassed by BBC Question Time host, Fiona Bruce, after the Conservative MP remained quiet following a series of questions about the WASPI women from the audience. The original question was long forgotten, with Lionel Shriver and Labour’s Andy McDonald arguing over whether the WASPI women should have their lost pensions reinstated for a stretched amount of time

While this happened, Mr Lewis reclined in his chair and sneakily avoided any involvement in the debate.

However, Ms Bruce was well aware of his ducking the issue, and pointed it out for both audience members and those at home.

She said: “Alright lets get back to the first question which was from you Daisy – the Institute of Fiscal Studies says both parties spending plans are not credible, when will politicians start being honest with the public.

“So Brandon, you’ve been sitting here very quietly while this conservation has been going on.”

To this, the panel laughed, with sporadic grumbles of ironic laughter rumbling through the audience.

Mr Lewis smiled and looked on at the table in front of him.

Ms Bruce continued: “But, the Conservatives have also also been criticised by the Institute of Fiscal Studies, saying you’re likely to spend much more than what your manifesto says.”

Mr Lewis went on to explain that the Conservatives plan to spend what they have said they will spend – no more, no less.

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He said: “Yes, I have been quiet sitting here biting my lip for the last few minutes, for a couple of reasons…”

Here, Ms Bruce interrupted and said: “Have you? I thought you were sitting thinking ‘Oh, phew, I can sit this out’.”

He replied: “No, not at all.”

The conversation Mr Lewis sat quietly through has renewed as of recent since the Labour Party made it an election campaign pledge to ensure the WASPI women are reimbursed with money they lost out on.

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Their loss came about as a result of a change in Government policy that accelerated a pre-agreed timetable to increase the retirement age for women.

Jeremy Corbyn has said the WASPI women who lost to their state pension payments were “misled” when the retirement age was suddenly stretched to 65 from 60 in the 2011 Pensions Act.

Labour vows to reinstate those women eligible, who were born between 6 April 1950 and 5 April 1955 £100 for each week of entitlement lost.

The party cites a “mora obligation” to the women whose lives have been affected by the change that came into force in 2018.

Under the pledge, women born between 6 April 1955 and 6 April 1960 would receive smaller amounts.

This would see Labour borrow £58bn to make compensation payments to the WASPI women, paying up to £31,300 to each of them.

Paul Johnson from the Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS) said it has driven a “cart and horses” through Labour’s manifesto costing.

Labour argues that reimbursing the women would be a one-off “contingency” payment.

Those women affected claim they were not properly alerted to a rise in the pension age from 60 to 65.

The Clegg-Cameron coalition acerbated the process set out in the 1995 Pensions Act to equalise the retirement age over the course of 10 years from 2010 to 2020.

Citing a state pension as becoming unaffordable, the Clegg-Cameron coalition sped-up the previously arranged timetable, bringing the date that women’s retirement age would be increased to 65 to 2018.

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