Category: Parliament

  • Lindsay Hoyle – 2022 Statement on the Personal Conduct of John Nicolson

    Lindsay Hoyle – 2022 Statement on the Personal Conduct of John Nicolson

    The statement made by Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, in the House on 23 November 2022.

    On 20 October, the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee published a special report on answers given to it by the right hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Ms Dorries) when she was Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. The hon. Member for Ochil and South Perthshire (John Nicolson) subsequently wrote to me asking for precedence for a complaint of a breach of privilege, as was his right. I declined to do so since the bar for such a complaint is high. The House should take action only when essential in order to provide reasonable protection for the House, its Members or its officers from improper obstruction. I note that the Committee itself, of which the hon. Gentleman is a member, has said:

    “Had Ms Dorries remained Secretary of State, driving a policy of selling the channel, we may have sought a referral to the Privileges Committee but, as her claims have not inhibited the work of the Committee and she no longer has a position of power over the future of Channel 4, we are, instead, publishing this Report to enable the House, and its Members, to draw their own conclusions.”

    So I considered it appropriate to respect the Committee’s assessment of the situation.

    Correspondence on matters of privilege is private. Indeed, I go to great lengths to ensure that Members can write to me in confidence on any matter, knowing that their communication will remain private. I expect the same courtesy with my replies. The hon. Member has seen fit to give a partial and biased account of my letter on Twitter, and I await his apology. I gave the hon. Member notice that I would be raising this matter at this time, but I do stress that it is not the way we should be doing business in this House.

    John Nicolson (Ochil and South Perthshire) (SNP)

    As you have just explained, Mr Speaker, the DCMS Committee, on which I sit, published a unanimous cross-party report about the testimony given to us by the right hon. Member for Mid Bedfordshire (Ms Dorries), and there is now considerable public interest in what should happen next. I want to put on record that I deplore social media pile-ons against you, or indeed anyone else—I have been on the receiving end of them, and they are exceedingly unpleasant. But could I ask for guidance on what I and other Members should tell our constituents about integrity in politics in this context? If someone misleads a Committee, what should happen next?

    Mr Speaker

    First of all, printing the letter, and only half the letter, is not integrity; in fact, it is far from it. It misled the people of this country, and it certainly put me in a bad light with the people of this country, and I do not expect that to happen, as an impartial Speaker. If that was an apology, I do not think it was very good.

  • Supreme Court – 2022 Ruling on Whether Scottish Government Can Call Referendum on Independence

    Supreme Court – 2022 Ruling on Whether Scottish Government Can Call Referendum on Independence

    The ruling issued by the Supreme Court on 23 November 2022.

    Ruling (in .pdf format)

  • Steve Baker – 2022 Comments on IPSA Guidelines Allowing MPs to Claim for Christmas Parties

    Steve Baker – 2022 Comments on IPSA Guidelines Allowing MPs to Claim for Christmas Parties

    The comments made by Steve Baker, the Conservative MP for Wycombe, on Twitter on 22 November 2022.

    I wouldn’t think for a moment of claiming for a staff Christmas party. What new hell is this?

  • IPSA – Statement on Taxpayer Funded Christmas Parties

    IPSA – Statement on Taxpayer Funded Christmas Parties

    The statement made by IPSA on 22 November 2022.

    We are aware of concerns regarding the rules for MPs’ festive and celebratory claims. Our rules have not changed. MPs employ, on average, five members of staff in their local constituencies to deal with casework from members of the public. These cases are often distressing for the constituent and staff member alike and working in that environment day in and day out is very challenging.

    As employers, it is entirely appropriate that MPs should, if they see fit, reward their staff with a modest gathering at Christmas. We are clear that alcohol is not included, that any event must represent value for money, is subject to publication for transparency and must not be party political in nature. It must be funded within existing budgets.

    To suggest that there is anything inappropriate in this is simply incorrect. We are disappointed with the interpretation of this normal employment practice at a time when MPs are receiving large amounts of abuse, particularly on social media.

  • Jess Phillips – 2022 Comments on IPSA Guidelines Allowing MPs to Claim for Christmas Parties

    Jess Phillips – 2022 Comments on IPSA Guidelines Allowing MPs to Claim for Christmas Parties

    The comments made by Jess Phillips, the Labour MP for Birmingham Yardley, on Twitter on 22 November 2022.

    Just want to say no one asked for this, no one I know will use it. The guidance wasn’t made by MPs and yet we will be pilloried for it. I think it’s really irresponsible to issue this guidance as if MPs have been clamouring for it when I’ve literally never heard anyone do that.

  • Gillian Shephard – 2022 Comments on Announcement of Chloe Smith Standing Down

    Gillian Shephard – 2022 Comments on Announcement of Chloe Smith Standing Down

    The comments made by Gillian Shephard, the former Education Secretary, on 22 November 2022.

    Chloe Smith has been an outstanding Member of Parliament for Norwich North since her election in 2009, when at only 27 she became the youngest member of the House of Commons.  Since then she has served as a minister in the Treasury, the Cabinet Office, as Minister for Disabled People, and finally as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.  She has worked tirelessly on behalf of her constituents in Norwich North, and in Norwich and Norfolk as a whole, while at the same time bringing up a young family with her husband and successfully fighting breast cancer.  She will be enormously missed by the many, many people she has helped in her time as a local MP, by her constituency members and her local colleagues. Nationally, her quiet competent presence will also be greatly missed. We will all miss her support and loyal friendship.

  • Chloe Smith – 2022 Statement on Standing Down at Next General Election

    Chloe Smith – 2022 Statement on Standing Down at Next General Election

    The statement made by Chloe Smith, the Conservative MP for Norwich North, on 22 November 2022.

    I have been honoured to be Norwich North’s MP. It’s a fantastic job for a fantastic place, and it’s a particular privilege to be able to represent Norwich and Norfolk where I come from.

    I am grateful to the thousands of Norwich citizens who placed their trust in me so many times. I would also like to thank my team of volunteers who work so hard alongside me to help the community, and who have been so supportive, including during tough personal times.

    I hope I’ve been able to make a difference, locally and nationally. In 2024, after 15 years of service, it will be the right time to step back, for me and my young family.

  • Jim Shannon – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the Situation in Iran for Minorities

    Jim Shannon – 2022 Parliamentary Question on the Situation in Iran for Minorities

    The parliamentary question asked by Jim Shannon, the DUP MP for Strangford, in the House of Commons on 16 November 2022.

    Jim Shannon (Strangford) (DUP)

    I thank the Minister very much for his response to the questions and for his desire and determination to assist the protesters in their quest for democracy in Iran.

    Iranian protesters are calling for a non-religious state, where the rights of women and religious minorities are protected—an issue on which both the Minister and I agree. A revolutionary court in Tehran has started sentencing protesters to death on charges that allegedly include “enmity against God” and “corruption on earth”. Those charges have a chilling effect on protesters and religious minorities and have led to fears of large-scale executions in Iran in the coming weeks. Does the Minister agree that, as a country, we must pursue every available measure to support Iranians asserting their fundamental human rights and sanction officials responsible for these violent crackdowns?

    David Rutley

    The hon. Gentleman always makes these points with conviction and real passion. I share his views. We want to support the Iranian people—women, girls and those of religious minorities—in their struggle. We will take every possible step forward that we can, and, with cross-party support here, we will have extra weight and clout in making those calls for action.

  • Bambos Charalambous – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Whether Dominic Raab had used a Non-Disclosure Agreement

    Bambos Charalambous – 2022 Parliamentary Question on Whether Dominic Raab had used a Non-Disclosure Agreement

    The parliamentary question asked by Bambos Charalambous, the Labour MP for Enfield Southgate, in the House of Commons on 16 November 2022.

    Bambos Charalambous (Enfield, Southgate) (Lab)

    Can the Deputy Prime Minister tell the House if he has ever entered into a non-disclosure agreement connected to a complaint against him?

    The Deputy Prime Minister

    The hon. Gentleman is referring to an employment dispute that was settled before I entered the House. It was not an NDA but it did involve a confidentiality clause, which was standard at the time.

  • Angela Rayner – 2022 Parliamentary Question about the Personal Conduct of Dominic Raab

    Angela Rayner – 2022 Parliamentary Question about the Personal Conduct of Dominic Raab

    The parliamentary question asked by Angela Rayner, the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party, in the House of Commons on 16 November 2022.

    Angela Rayner

    After days of dodging and denial, this morning, the Deputy Prime Minister finally acknowledged formal complaints about his misconduct, but his letter contains no hint of admission or apology. This is Anti-Bullying Week. Will he apologise?

    The Deputy Prime Minister

    On the economic challenges, which are global and caused by covid and the war in Ukraine, we have got a plan to grip inflation, balance the books and drive economic growth. If we listened to the right hon. Lady, debt would go up, unemployment would go up and working Britons would pay the price.

    The right hon. Lady asked about the complaints. I received notification this morning and I immediately asked the Prime Minister to set up an independent inquiry into them. I am confident that I behaved professionally throughout, but of course I will engage thoroughly, and I look forward, may I say, to transparently addressing any claims that have been made.

    Angela Rayner

    Let me get this straight: the Deputy Prime Minister has had to demand an investigation into himself because the Prime Minister is too weak to get a grip. We have a Prime Minister, who has been in office less than a month, with a disgraced Cabinet Minister who resigned with his good wishes; the Home Secretary, who breached the ministerial code and risked national security, still clings on; and now the Prime Minister defends his deputy, whose behaviour has been described as “abrasive”, “controlling” and “demeaning”, with junior staff too scared to even enter his office. And that is without mentioning the flying tomatoes. The Deputy Prime Minister knows that his behaviour was unacceptable, so what is he still doing here?

    The Deputy Prime Minister

    I am here, and happy to address any specific points the right hon. Lady wishes to make. [Hon. Members: “Flying tomatoes?”] That never happened. I will thoroughly rebut and refute any of the claims that have been made. She has not, in fact, put a specific point to me. If she wishes to do so—and this is her opportunity—I would be very glad to address it. [Interruption.]

    Angela Rayner

    Maybe the Deputy Prime Minister just does not think there is a problem, or maybe he is suggesting that civil servants are liars. Now he is reportedly banned from meeting junior staff without supervision, while we await an inquiry that the Prime Minister has not even instigated from a watchdog that he has not even appointed. In the Prime Minister’s letter, he did not say how and when this will be investigated, or by who—no ethics, no integrity and no mandate. And still no ethics adviser. When will the Government appoint an independent ethics adviser and drain the swamp?

    The Deputy Prime Minister

    The recruitment of the new ethics adviser is already under way and taking place at pace.

    There is a reason that the right hon. Lady has come to the Dispatch Box with her usual mix of bluster and mud-slinging: it is because Labour does not have a plan. We are helping people into work; she is in hock to the unions. We are protecting our borders; she voted against every single measure to control illegal immigration to this country. We are delivering cleaner growth and energy security; she wants to send billions in reparation payments abroad. The British people want a Government who can deal with the real challenges, and Labour Members are not up to it.