§ EARL PERCY (Kensington, S.)I wish to call attention to certain circum- 59 stances relating to the return of the hon. Member for Galway, and to move, "That the election to serve as Member for the borough of Galway of Mr. Arthur Lynch, who is commonly and notoriously reported, and has himself claimed, to have aided the King's enemies in the war in South Africa, is an insult to the House of Commons, and that a Special Committee be appointed to consider and report what course should be taken by the House in respect of the above matter." I submit that this is a matter of privilege, because it can be shown, as the motion says, that the hon. Member for Galway has publicly claimed to have assisted the King's enemies in the war, and that during the election this claim was notorious, and was specially put forward by the hon. Members for Waterford, North Leitrim, and West Kerry. After the election the Member for Waterford boasted of the return to Parliament of a Boer candidate, and the Member for Galway has himself stated that his being a rebel became the crux of the election. I submit that in view of these circumstances the House of Commons has unquestionably been insulted, that the insult was intended, that the House feels it as such, and that consequently a Committee of Privilege should be appointed.
§ * MR. SPEAKERThe noble Lord has been good enough to furnish me with a copy of the resolution, and perhaps he will not be surprised after what has passed between us if I say that I do not think this is a case of privilege. A defamatory reflection upon the character of the House of Commons or upon its conduct and actions, may constitute a claim to raise a question of privilege. There is a great distinction between that and the case the noble Lord puts forward. Assuming the facts to be as stated, the Member elected has boasted that he bore arms against the King's troops and that by so doing he secured his election. That may be offensive to the feelings of a large number of Members of this House, but it is not enough to make it a question of privilege. It must be an attack, as I say, on the character or conduct of the House of Commons itself. The noble Lord must therefore give notice in the ordinary way of any motion for which he thinks he has ground.
§ MR. WINSTON CHURCHILL (Oldham)Do I understand that you rule, Sir, 60 that the motion of the noble Lord is out of order on the ground that the facts as stated by him do not constitute an insult to the House of Commons?
§ 6 MR. SPEAKERI am not going to argue with the hon. Member, or to repeat what I have already said.
§ MR. HORNER (Lambeth, N.)I beg to give notice that if the gentleman elected for Galway presents himself at the table for the purpose of taking the oath, I shall move that the oath be not administered to him.