Points of Order (Hansard, 18 October 1990)

§ Dr. John Cunningham (Copeland)
On a point or order, Mr. Speaker. May I seek your advice and guidance? During Prime Minister's Question Time today, the Prime Minister, in a somewhat hysterical outburst, referred clearly to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition as a crypto-communist. Those words were not only clearly overheard, but are in the preliminary draft of the Official Report. Since they were uttered, I have had the opportunity to consult "Erskine May", which on page 381 makes it clear that the imputation of false or unavowed motives is unparliamentary language. I assume that the rules on unparliamentary language apply even to the Prime Minister. I hope that you, Mr. Speaker, can advise me how that totally dishonest and abusive smear of my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition—[Interruption.] There would be very different noises on the other side of the House if the position were reversed. We are not prepared to accept one set of rules for the rabble over there and another set for my hon. Friends. Can you advise me, Mr. Speaker, how the Prime Minister can be caused to remove those words from the record and how we can have Hansard put straight?

§ Mr. Speaker
This is not the moment for points of order but since it has been raised I will deal with it. As far as I am aware, the word "communist" has never been considered unparliamentary. In any case, I am afraid that I did not hear the last part of that sentence—

§ Dr. Cunningham
It is in the record.

§ Mr. Speaker
It may be in the record, but there was a great deal of noise. I recollect that when the Leader of the Opposition rose he appeared to be laughing heartily. I did not hear the remark, but such matters should be raised immediately in order that they can be dealt with by the Chair.

§ Dr. Cunningham
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I rest my case on "Erskine May" which says on page 381: The imputation of false or unavowed motives to a Member is unparliamentary. It is absolutely unacceptable for the Prime Minister to get away with smearing the Leader of the Opposition in this way.

§ Mr. Speaker
If I had heard the expression, I would have stopped it. I am surprised that the issue was not raised immediately at the time if anyone else heard it. I did not hear the Prime Minister make a personal accusation against the integrity of the Leader of the Opposition in that exchange. I cannot do anything about it now, but I am sure that the matter will be brought to the attention of the Prime Minister and she will make amends.

§ Dr. Cunningham
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. What you are really saying is that on some future occasion we can refer to the Prime Minister as a crypto-fascist and that that will be in order.

§ Mr. Speaker
I hope that we shall always treat each other with respect. Sadly at Prime Minister's Question Time there is frequently a great deal of noise and it is not possible for us all to hear exactly what is said. I did not hear the expression. If other hon. Members heard it and felt aggrieved about it, I am genuinely surprised that they did not get up to draw it to my attention immediately.

§ Mr. Nicholas Bennett (Pembroke)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. We all heard the Leader of the Opposition utter crude and uncouth abuse at the Prime Minister. If the Opposition do not like it being dished out, they should not dish it out in the first place.

§ Mr. D. N. Campbell-Savours (Workington)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I have just driven back from the by-election at Eastbourne and I heard clearly on the car radio the term "crypto-communist". Therefore, the nation heard it. You will recall, Mr. Speaker, that two years ago a complaint was made by a Conservative Member about a reference to fascism made by one of my hon. Friends. On that occasion my hon. Friend was required to withdraw that statement. May we simply ask—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. If the hon. Gentleman had been in the House instead of driving in his car, he would have had an opportunity to raise the matter with me at the time. The whole House knows that I deprecate the use of such phrases. I required the term "fascist" to be withdrawn on that occasion because I heard it. Today, unfortunately, I was not driving in my car and I did not hear it.

§ Mr. Campbell-Savours
rose—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Allow me to reflect upon the matter to see what can be done.

§ Mr. Dennis Skinner (Bolsover)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. While you are reflecting on the matter you might bear in mind that representations have been made in the past; for instance, when I called Dr. Death a pompous sod, I had to take an early bath. When I said that the right hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) had been lining his pockets because he got an non-executive directorship of British Telecom, I had an early bath. In this quaint little place you have different rules for different people.

§ Mr. Speaker
I hope that the hon. Gentleman does not want another one.

§ Mr. David Trimble (Upper Bann)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Is it on the same matter?

§ Mr. Trimble
Yes, it is. I just wondered, now that we have the cameras in this place, whether it would be appropriate to have action replays. You could then be sure of exactly what was said.

§ Mr. Speaker
The cameras are a large part of the trouble really.