Sir Lindsay Hoyle, the Speaker of the House of Commons, was forced to intervene dramatically today after former Conservative leader Sir Iain Duncan Smith made an unverified allegation linking a government minister to the Chinese state.
The tense exchange occurred during Business and Trade questions, halting proceedings as the Speaker demanded the senior MP withdraw his comments for being 'not reasonable' and failing to adhere to the proper parliamentary procedure for such serious claims.
A Breach of Parliamentary Convention
Sir Iain had directly challenged Nusrat Ghani, a minister in the Department for Business and Trade, suggesting her decision-making was being "influenced by the Chinese government". The veteran MP did not provide immediate evidence to support the claim on the floor of the house.
Speaker Hoyle swiftly stepped in, reminding the chamber of the long-standing rule that any allegations of a direct nature against a fellow member must be preceded by a substantive motion. This procedure ensures that serious charges are properly investigated and debated, rather than being made as casual remarks during questioning.
The Speaker's Firm Intervention
In a firm rebuke, Sir Lindsay stated, "I am not having that. You know that that is not reasonable. You cannot make those comments. You know that it has to be done by a substantive motion. I want that withdrawn."
Facing the Speaker's direct instruction, Sir Iain Duncan Smith complied and withdrew the allegation. The incident highlights the ongoing tensions and sensitivities within UK politics regarding relations with China and the strict protocols governing debate in the Commons.
The episode serves as a stark reminder of the Speaker's role as the chief enforcer of parliamentary order and the conventions designed to maintain decorum and fairness in political discourse.
