Personal Statement (Hansard, 19 April 1988)

§ Mr. Ron Brown (Edinburgh, Leith)
I should like to make a statement concerning an incident last evening. Of course, the media have made much of it—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Will the hon. Gentleman resume his seat? I advise him that he must make the statement that has been agreed with me.

§ Mr. Brown
I can agree many things, and if I apologise—[Interruption.]—I apologise to my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Garston (Mr. Loyden)—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. What the hon. Gentleman is now about to do, quite correctly, is laid down in our practice. He must make the personal statement that he has agreed with me.

§ Mr. Brown
With respect, Mr. Speaker, that statement is not acceptable. The facts, in all fairness to yourself and to others in this place—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order.

§ Mr. Brown
rose—

Hon. Members
Sit down.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman has agreed a statement which he wishes to make to the House—[Interruption.] Well, if the hon. Gentleman does not now wish to make it to the House, that puts a completely different complexion upon it.

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

§ Mr. Speaker
No, I am on my feet. If the hon. Gentleman is prepared to make the statement which has been agreed and in the proper form, I will hear him. If he seeks to qualify it in any way, I regret—it would be with regret—that I cannot hear it.

§ Mr. Brown
Since you know the grovelling statement, Mr. Speaker, I am not going to read it out; I am going to accept it. Right? [HON. MEMBERS: "No."]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I do not think that it is a grovelling statement and I ask the hon. Gentleman to make it.

§ Mr. Brown
All right, I will make a statement. This is the place, so they say, where precedent is so firmly established. My statement is simply this—it is only a few words—if the House is embarrassed, I must say that it is true that last evening an incident happened and I was involved. I apologise to the hon. Members—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order—[Interruption.] Order. Will the House please allow me to deal with this? I advise the hon. Gentleman that whatever private advice he may have received, as far as I am concerned and as far as the House is concerned, I must abide by our practice. If the hon. Gentleman wishes to make a personal statement—I hope that he does—it must be made in the form which has been agreed with me. I give him an opportunity now to do that; otherwise I am afraid that I may have to take other action.

§ Mr. Brown
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can I just say to you—[HON. MEMBERS: "No".]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. If the hon. Gentleman wants to come and say anything to me, he must do so privately after he has made his statement, but he must make his statement now.

§ Mr. Brown
Obviously, if, really—[Interruption.] In view of the fact—[Interruption.] So be it—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I must say to the hon. Gentleman for the last time that he should make his personal statement now, without qualifications.

§ Mr. Brown
Mr. Speaker, I grovel, grovel and say—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. That is not a personal statement.

§ Mr. Brown
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. If the hon. Gentleman does not make his statement, I shall be forced to take other action.

§ Mr. Brown
May I quote, Mr. Speaker—[HON. MEMBERS: "No."] I wish to make a personal statement—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Gentleman is making his personal statement.

§ Mr. Brown
With regard to the Mace—I do not know who he is—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]—I apologise to you, Mr. Speaker, and to the House because I accept responsibility for any damage that was sustained by the Mace. I did not write this rubbish but you know it—[HON. MEMBERS: "Oh."]

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I cannot accept that as a personal statement by the hon. Gentleman.

§ Mr. Brown
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I must ask the hon. Gentleman now to leave the Chamber while I consider carefully what further action I shall have to take on the matter.

§ Mr. Brown
This is the agreed statement.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I ask the hon. Gentleman now to leave the Chamber, otherwise I shall be forced to name him.

§ Mr. Brown
That was the agreed statement.

§ Mr. Speaker
I ask the hon. Gentleman to leave the Chamber.
The hon. Member left the Chamber.

§ Mr. Speaker
Ten-minute Bill. Miss Widdecombe. [Interruption.] Will the hon. Lady kindly resume her seat for one moment? If hon. Members are not remaining for the ten-minute Bill, will they please leave the Chamber quietly?

§ Sir Peter Tapsell (East Lindsey)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
I will take the point of order after the ten-minute Bill. Miss Widdecombe.

§ Mr. Cranley Onslow (Woking)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I have already called the hon. Lady. I will take the points of order after the hon. Lady has finished.

Mr. Eric S. Heifer (Liverpool, Walton)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
I have already said to the right hon. Member for Woking (Mr. Onslow) that 1 have called the hon. Lady to move her ten—minute Bill. I will take the points of order after she has done so.