Gransnet forums

News & politics

Powers of The Speaker in HoC

(27 Posts)
biba70 Thu 03-Sep-20 11:28:10

A serious question, which requires a serious answer, please.

Our Parliamentary Democracy requires the PM to be answerable to the HoC, openly via PMQT. If a PM refuses to answer the questions tabled, and the Speaker has to intervene twice to insist that he does, should the Speaker then ignore if he does NOT? Surely he should ask a third time, with an ultimatum- that if he refuses to answer and just goes on wasting time- the PM will be requested to leave the House?

Dinahmo Thu 03-Sep-20 11:50:23

I 'm afraid I don't know whether the Speaker should tell the PM to leave but I wish that he would, in those circumstances.

biba70 Thu 03-Sep-20 15:13:56

Yes thanks Dinahmo - I was wondering if anyone here had information about the extent of his Powers in the House. It seems to be that he is in charge, and could do as mentionned above. Same for retracting comments and attacks like the one re IRA yesterday.

Fennel Thu 03-Sep-20 16:32:36

I was watching PMQ yesterday about 12.45 when Ian Blackford asked a question about the media involvement in Johnson's holiday in Appledore (which is in Blackford's constitiuency.) He had rceived hatemail about it.
As far as I remember the Speaker had allowed the question even though he hadn't been notified.
PM gave a brief evasive reply then the Speaker called a short break in proceedings, Maybe to consult on the correct procedure.
So these rules seem to be complicated.
I didn't see the next part.

oldgoat Thu 03-Sep-20 16:33:15

I wonder how Bercow would have dealt with Johnson, yesterday?

biba70 Thu 03-Sep-20 16:36:52

Fennel, questions do not have to be tabled in advance- any MP can stand and 'catch the eye of the Speaker'. However, those tabled in advance have priority.

Fennel Thu 03-Sep-20 16:40:55

ps just realised I missed the point of the OP - it developed further later blush.

biba70 Thu 03-Sep-20 18:01:35

ah no worries, threads do wander, that is OK

Callistemon Thu 03-Sep-20 18:56:20

Ian Blackford asked a question about the media involvement in Johnson's holiday in Appledore (which is in Blackford's constitiuency.

Ian Blackford is a Scottish SNP MP, Fennel.

Appledore is in Devon. I to believe Boris Johnson had to cut short his holiday in Scotland (why would he choose there anyway?) and then visited the Appledore Shipyard in Devon.

varian Thu 03-Sep-20 18:58:33

I think he was in Applecross, not Appledore.

Fennel Thu 03-Sep-20 19:16:12

Yes it was Applecross!

janipat Thu 03-Sep-20 19:21:02

Bercow would have had the guts to challenge and discipline Johnson. Love him or loathe him Bercow was very well versed in parliamentary rules and procedures.

MaizieD Thu 03-Sep-20 20:00:02

Hoyle was a deputy speaker, wasn't he? So he ought to know the rules and procedures.

Kali2 Mon 14-Jun-21 18:23:03

At last, today Lindsay Hoyle finally made it clear that the House matters, and that the PM and his Government have to respect it and make major announcements to the House first.

He sounded determined this time- and I hope he will hold the PM to account, and also insist he answers questions in PMQT- instead of going on prepared attacks and rants.

Fingers crossed. About ***ing time.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 14-Jun-21 18:39:03

But if Johnson ignores him?

Kali2 Mon 14-Jun-21 18:46:38

Well, I truly hope, and believe, that Lindsay Hoyle will finally bring him to heel.

varian Mon 14-Jun-21 18:50:24

Lindsay Hoyle has, so far been a bit of a disappointment.

Not a patch on his predecessor John Bercow.

MayBee70 Mon 14-Jun-21 18:54:28

Crazy thing is, after all the infuriating things that Johnson has done, Hoyle has finally lost it with him when he’s actually doing something that I agree with. Albeit being responsible for it happening in the first place.

Ladyleftfieldlover Mon 14-Jun-21 19:06:10

Bercow was brilliant and kept to the rules beautifully, which is why the Tory Brexiteers despised him. It was more than mean when they refused his peerage.

Dinahmo Mon 14-Jun-21 19:43:24

Ladyleftfieldlover

Bercow was brilliant and kept to the rules beautifully, which is why the Tory Brexiteers despised him. It was more than mean when they refused his peerage.

Agree totally.

Whitewavemark2 Mon 14-Jun-21 19:53:55

Tories seem to dislike the rule of law.

westendgirl Mon 14-Jun-21 20:27:41

To be fair though I was a Bercow fan, I have heard Hoyle tell Johnson to answer questions and in May 2020 Johnson was told off , the Government criticised when Hoyle heard that Johnson was to make a major public announcement on T.V. about his lockdown strategy before running it first past Parliament." It is the duty of this house to hold this Government to account, not the media "
I was however cheered to hear Channel 4 's Gary Gibbon 's interview of Johnson, at the G7. I saw it on Twitter !

MaizieD Mon 14-Jun-21 21:34:28

To be fair though I was a Bercow fan, I have heard Hoyle tell Johnson to answer questions

I've watched many PMQs with Starmer and Johnson. I have never known Hoyle to tell Johnson to answer the question and I have never seen Johnson answer one. He has never been asked to correct his statements though much of it has been lies. OTOH, I have seen Hoyle remind Johnson that he should be the one answering the questions, not the one asking them... He has occasionally cut him short on his last 'answer' rant. Perhaps Hoyle asks him to answer questions from other opposition MPS?

It would be good to know that he has found his backbone, and discovered that he is meant to 'defend' Parliament against the encroachment of Executive powers. but I'm not convinced it will last.

MayBee70 Mon 14-Jun-21 21:40:00

Did Peter Bone just criticise Johnson? Think I may need to have a lie down in a quiet room for a while…..

Callistemon Mon 14-Jun-21 21:42:38

varian

I think he was in Applecross, not Appledore.

I've only just seen this and Fennel's subsequent post.

Yes, Boris did visit Appledore Shipyard in Devon on 25/8/20 after cutting short his holiday in Applecross in The Highlands.

Understandable confusion (but old news), however it was good news for Appledore Shipyard.