Last week Denis MacShane gave a speech saying that the conduct of politicians was turning the electorate off politicians. So anxious was he to prove the point that he indulged in this childish display of petulence int he Commons yesterday. Mr Speaker wasn't willing to play ball.
Mr. Denis MacShane (Rotherham) (Lab): Next year, Britain will celebrate two great acts of union—that with Scotland and that within the European Union. May I invite my right hon. Friend to take off her sober Foreign Secretary garb and, now and then, return to Margaret the great campaigner and campaign against some of the rancid rabble on the Opposition Benches who reject both the EU and the Act of Union with Scotland?
Mr. Speaker: Order. The hon. Gentleman makes a habit of this. He did it the last time that I called him. I did him a favour this time and called him thinking that he had learned the lesson. He is running the risk of not being called.
Mr. Douglas Hogg (Sleaford and North Hykeham) (Con): May I ask the Foreign Secretary whether in the margins of the Council— [Interruption.]
Mr. Speaker: Order. I heard the remark made by the right hon. Member for Rotherham (Mr. MacShane). He has been long enough in the House. Of course, he can raise political matters, but he is questioning a Minister on her responsibility. If he cannot learn that, I will not be long in teaching him.
I half expected a ruler to be whipped out...
Well, I hope an apology won't be long in coming from all those Tories who constantly allege the speaker only does this to them.
ReplyDeleteFrankly, Mr Speaker Martin may not be the greatest ever to do the job, but he's as good as any in my lifetime (not a establishment wannabe like Thomas or Boothroyd) or a mouse to the excutive like Weatherill - and it's about time all the sneering snobbery of "Gorbals Mick" was dropped.
MacShane is just like Boris Johnson, except that he actually speaks in the house sometimes.
ReplyDeleteDenis Macshane does the conservative party a favour every time he goes round the TV studio's.
ReplyDeleteIf the poor Labour sods found a personality between them they'd have to call in the British Museum to identify it.
ReplyDeleteI agree that the conduct of politicians is turning the electorate off politicians. And, so it should do. They tend to forget that they are no longer in the public school playground, and that they are adults trusted with the responsibility of running the country for us. I do not see anything wrong with questioning a minister's responsibility. It is only in criminal law that the defence of diminished responsibility is acceptable.
ReplyDeleteAndrew
ReplyDeleteHear Hear,
although there are a number of Tories that they could similarly target.
of petulAnce in The Commons
ReplyDeleteWhat was the offending remark?
ReplyDeleteOne swallow doesn't make a summer, does it 'anon'?
ReplyDeleteI see mac EUssrphile Shane, still seems to struggle with the word England
ReplyDeleteI've not seen 'sneering snobbery' as the problem for Gorbals Mick; it's working to put his son in his shoes etc., that was being looked at askance.
ReplyDeleteIt's always easy to call well-grounded criticism class aggression.
Lord Strathclyde for us, but then lords are held in high esteem round here, have been for centuries. What a pity their House has been so demeaned and besmirched, but then most of them are safely out now and deciding what's what elsewhere.
ReplyDelete"Andrew Woodman said... If UKIP were a serious party, they would be in Rotherham campiagning against this Euro maniac instead of depriving Tory Euro sceptics of seats with a scattergun approach. "
ReplyDeleteTo do that would be the act of a party that followed logic rather than stupidity.
It wasn't that long ago that Labour campaigned for withdrawal from the EC. What was Mr McShane's view then?
ReplyDeleteWas he also a CNDite?
I dont care about Denis MacShane. My bank has just charged me £25 for accidentally od'ing on a £14 debit that I thought had been paid ages ago.
ReplyDeleteI don't think Iain allows that word, but you know what it is.
Andrew: if Tories were a serious party you'd be growing up and not standing anywhere where doing so could prevent others beating the dreaded socialists or liberals ... Labour has the same problem (in a way) with independent left parties, but so far they have managed to keep them to trivial levels, though they have e.g. Respect in Burnley 04 helped fascists win seats on one or two occasions. Now of course one of them may be voting with Tories in Birmingham while Galloways troupe may be tempted to do likewise in BG&B/Tower Hamlets. Marvellous. Blaming UKIP is too lazy and also v unhelpful. Beat them by being honest about your unreconstructed policy platforms.
ReplyDeleteGood to see the speaker taking a firm hand with Labour once in a while.
ReplyDeleteCroydonian said...
ReplyDeleteOne swallow doesn't make a summer, does it 'anon'?
12:37 PM
Maybe not C c but it has made my day on a few ocasions (+:
Iain, you've called him "Gorbals Mick" on this website a few times I'm sure.
ReplyDeleteGeographical inaccuracies aside (he's not even from the Gorbals area of Glasgow, he's from Anderston) many Scottish people find this characterization sneering and elitist.
Good call, andrew woodman. off with his head. get ukip. what's nigel farage's phone number? I used to have it.
ReplyDeleteanon 1141
ReplyDeletewere you born in 1997.
GMick is a disgrace. this has nothing to do with his background but everything with his performance. Trotting out Dave Spartisms is no substitute for objective appraisal.
Another fine appointment by Blair to keep N lanarkshire mafia happy.
Anon 11:41 "Frankly, Mr Speaker Martin may not be the greatest ever to do the job, but he's as good as any in my lifetime"
ReplyDeleteOK Junior, when you're old enough to vote maybe you'll see things differently.
"Britain will celebrate two great acts of Union--that with Scotland......"
ReplyDeleteHow did "Britain" negotiate with Scotland before 1707?
Usual interchangeable "England/ Britain". MacShane's a tosser.
Its not big and its not clever...
ReplyDeleteThe McLabour Regime, full of anti-English kranks and yobs.
ReplyDeleteAmazing. When Mr Speaker Martin slaps down Tory MP's for being a bit like this (inc one memorable occasion with David Cameron), he is being biased. When he applies the same firm hand towards a Labour MP it is seen by the same people (i.e. Tories) as disipline that needs to be used!
ReplyDelete