Home Secretary (Press Reports) (Hansard, 27 June 1984)

§ Mr. Harry Cohen (Leyton)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should like to seek your advice on how we can raise the important matter of the reported allegation that disgruntled MI5 officers have smeared the Home Secretary, perhaps for his handling of the Libyan siege, perhaps for anti-Semitic reasons—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I do not think that anything arising out of this point of order can possibly be for me.

§ Mr. Cohen
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman must raise a point of order that I can answer. I am not prepared to comment upon allegations in newspapers.

§ Mr. Cohen
It is because there are restrictions in the House on raising matters about MI5 that I am raising this point of order. I should like you, Mr. Speaker, to take this away after I have made my case and consider it. First—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman is seeking to draw my attention to an allegation in the newspapers. It is absolutely nothing to do with me. I have nothing to say on the matter.

§ Mr. Cohen
It is for you, Mr. Speaker, to rule, not on the allegations, but on how such a matter can be raised in the House.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am not prepared to guide the hon. Gentleman on how he can raise that issue. That is entirely a matter for him.

§ Mr. Cohen
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
I do not propose to take a further point of order from the hon. Gentleman, because it is reprehensible to seek to smear an hon. Member of this House by means of a point of order. I must ask the hon. Gentleman to resume his seat.