§ Mr. Ivor Stanbrook (Orpington)On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Is it not in accordance with the traditions of the House that we treat each other and speak of each other as hon. Members? When an hon. Member accuses another of dishonesty and the Member accused denies that accusation, and when that denial is supported and confirmed by another hon. Member who is in the best position to make a decision and to give us the truth, is it not right that the Member making that accusation should withdraw it totally at the time?
§ Mr. SpeakerOrder. I have listened with great care to what was said this afternoon. It is right that we do not impute dishonour to each other, but what the right hon. Gentleman the Leader of the Opposition said was that he did not himself believe it. That is a different matter.
§ Mr. Neil Kinnock (Islwyn)Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. What I said, and Hansard will show it tomorrow, was that my words stand unless and until I receive an adequate explanation of the decision, in the circumstances, to prosecute Mr. Ponting when no breach of national security had taken place.