HC Deb 16 April 1973 vol 855 cc28-30
Mr. Speaker

Last Thursday the hon. Member for Fife, West (Mr. William Hamilton) raised as a point of order the question whether the expression "a pack of lies", as applied to what an hon. or right hon. Member has said, is a parliamentary expression.

As the hon. Member pointed out, and as the House will no doubt recollect, the expression is recorded in HANSARD as having been used by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 7th and 8th November 1972, and by the Leader of the Opposition on 10th April of this year.

In Erskine May, unparliamentary expressions are classified as follows:

  1. (1)The imputation of false or unavowed motives.
  2. (2)The misrepresentation of the language of another and the accusation of misrepresentation.
  3. (3)Charges of deliberate falsehood.
  4. (4)Abusive and insulting language of a nature likely to create disorder.
In the light of that classification, I have examined some of the precedents, and considered the expression "a pack of lies".

Since 1921, the Chair has ordered the following words to be withdrawn: "a lie", "that's a lie", "he is lying", "liar", "deceiving", "lied to the House", "deliberately misleading", "deliberately misled", "a damn lie".

As to whether the Chair should intervene without a request for a ruling is a matter of judgment. In none of the three cases of the use of the words "a pack of lies" was I asked for a ruling. Indeed, in the first instance, I do not think that I heard the remark. Nevertheless, I have come to the conclusion that I was at fault on the second and third occasions, and should have intervened to rule the expression as unparliamentary, and I certainly intend to do so in the future if I hear it repeated. This will also apply to similar allegations of deliberate untruthfulness.

Finally, may I remind the House that Erskine May prefaces the passage on the rules governing the content of speeches with the sentence: Good temper and moderation are the characteristics of parliamentary language. I can only hope that that sentiment will be more consistently remembered by hon. and right hon. Members in all quarters of the House.

Mr. William Hamilton

May I express qualified thanks for that ruling? I hope you will agree, Mr. Speaker, that anything which further restricts the right of hon. Members to say what they really think in language of their own choosing must be deprecated and guarded against. As far as we can, we want to conduct ourselves with dignity in this House but, speaking for myself, I like to say what I think. I like to call a spade a spade with occasional suitable adjectival embellishments.

Mr. William Price

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the increasing number of adjectives which are being ruled out of order—

Mr. Speaker

Does this matter arise out of what I have just said?

Mr. Price

Yes. In view of the increasing number of adjectives which are being ruled out of order, would it not help the House if you were to place in the Library a list of words which are acceptable?