Standards and Privileges

Part of Opposition Day – in the House of Commons at 7:58 pm on 17 November 1997.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Mrs Gillian Shephard Mrs Gillian Shephard Shadow Leader of the House of Commons 7:58, 17 November 1997

I have no comment to make on that. Any kind of dissembling or lying is obviously regrettable and not acceptable. That is one of the things that the Committee uncovered.

I have accepted that certain Conservative Members have fallen below the standards of conduct appropriate for Members of Parliament. Without exception, they have paid a heavy price, but it should not be forgotten that such conduct is not the prerogative of this party.

As I said, there are very strong feelings on both sides of the House and on all sides of the argument. While recognising those and the effect on individuals of the limitations of the Committee's role in this case, we accept the reports, but we expect that the Committee and the House will bend their efforts to a reform of their procedures, so that those limitations will be corrected.