Conservative MP Tom Tugendhat has accused Labour MPs of using artificial intelligence, specifically ChatGPT, to write their parliamentary speeches. Speaking in the House of Commons, the Tonbridge MP pointed to repeated phrases such as “I rise to speak” as evidence of chatbot-generated content.
“On the other side, all we’re hearing is the ChatGPT generated press releases. I rise to speak. I rise to speak. I rise to speak. ChatGPT knows you’re there, but that is an Americanism that we don’t use,” Tugendhat said, criticising the language as un-British.
His remarks came during the second reading of the Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory Bill, which concerns the government’s plan to transfer sovereignty of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius. Tugendhat also mocked Labour backbenchers for their flattering speeches about government actions following a recent reshuffle, suggesting they would have to wait months or years for any reward.
“So many honourable gentlemen from the benches opposite seem to have forgotten the reshuffle was a couple of days ago. They’re going to have to wait another few months and possibly years for their obsequiousness to be rewarded,” he said.
Tugendhat further criticised the debate itself, calling it a waste of time while the government listens to arguments from Mauritius, China, India, and the United States but not to those of Britain. “We’re not willing to stand up for the interests of the British people,” he added.
