LEWISHAM’S newest Dame has been congratulated by the Prime Minister in the Commons – and then blasted over her nuclear disarmament views.

Joan Ruddock, the MP for Lewisham Deptford who has been made a Dame in the New Year’s honours, received the response from David Cameron at Prime Minister’s Questions.

The former Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament chairman had asked about the plight of one of her constituents – a 32-year-old woman made redundant and now facing a 50 per cent cut in her housing benefits.

Mr Cameron replied: “I congratulate the right honourable lady on her preferment in the new year’s honours list.

“Although I profoundly disagree with many of the things that she has tried to do over her political career—mostly to disarm Britain one-sidedly—I praise her for her persistent efforts.”

His mocking reply was then interrupted by heckling from the other side.

He told her: “The housing benefit bill is completely out of control.”