§ Mr. Max Madden (Bradford, West)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. On the matter of order in the House, I draw your attention to today's issue of the Financial Times, which has a front-page article based on a memorandum written by John Maples, deputy chairman of the Conservative party. Referring to my right hon. Friend the Leader of the Opposition, Mr. Maples wrote:
Maybe a few yobbos of our own to try to knock him about a bit.While I am the first to accept that today's Tory yobbos are not a patch on those of the past, that article raises important issues for you, Madam Speaker, and in respect of the conduct of the House. Will you deprecate anyone who advocates concerted and organised efforts to undermine the procedures and order of the House?
§ Madam SpeakerThat is an important matter for me. I certainly deprecate such behaviour in the House, and I say to right hon. and hon. Members in all parts of the House that while I or any of my deputies are in the Chair, we shall not put up with that sort of behaviour.
§ Mr. Tony Banks (Newham, North-West)On a point of order, Madam Speaker. Do you not find it interesting that the deputy chairman of the Conservative party at least acknowledges the fact that there are yobbos on the Conservative Benches? Do you have a list of potential yobbos? If not, will you accept one from me?
§ Madam SpeakerLet me tell the hon. Gentleman that I have not seen the article to which hon. Members are referring. It has been cut out and put on one side for me to read, in what are laughingly known as my "moments of leisure".
Perhaps we can now get on with the business of the House.