– in the House of Commons at 12:18 pm on 27 October 2005.
David Heath
Shadow Leader of the House of Commons, Shadow Spokesperson (Cabinet Office)
12:18,
27 October 2005
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. During business questions, the Leader of the House, in response—a very careful response—to Mr. MacShane, gave what I think was an inadvertent impression that the sub judice rules apply to cases that may or may not be brought before jurisdictions other than our own. Can you confirm that that is not the case and that we are free to comment on cases that are before foreign courts?
Michael Martin
Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
It does apply to the UK jurisdiction. I urge the House to be very careful when any attack is made on an hon. Member. We know the conventions of the House when we are dealing with these matters.
John Bercow
Conservative, Buckingham
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. In the light of the growing scandal of the arbitrary and unsafe removal of failed asylum seekers to Zimbabwe, Somalia and Sudan, to name but three countries where returnees are at risk of imprisonment, torture, death or a grisly combination of all three, have you received any indication from a member of the Government that Ministers intend to make a statement about the systems that they will put in place and the painstaking efforts they will make to ensure that individuals are not returned to countries whose Governments cannot or will not guarantee their safety?
Michael Martin
Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission, Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
I think that perhaps the hon. Gentleman is asking a failed business question. It is not a matter for the Chair.
The Speaker is an MP who has been elected to act as Chairman during debates in the House of Commons. He or she is responsible for ensuring that the rules laid down by the House for the carrying out of its business are observed. It is the Speaker who calls MPs to speak, and maintains order in the House. He or she acts as the House's representative in its relations with outside bodies and the other elements of Parliament such as the Lords and the Monarch. The Speaker is also responsible for protecting the interests of minorities in the House. He or she must ensure that the holders of an opinion, however unpopular, are allowed to put across their view without undue obstruction. It is also the Speaker who reprimands, on behalf of the House, an MP brought to the Bar of the House. In the case of disobedience the Speaker can 'name' an MP which results in their suspension from the House for a period. The Speaker must be impartial in all matters. He or she is elected by MPs in the House of Commons but then ceases to be involved in party politics. All sides in the House rely on the Speaker's disinterest. Even after retirement a former Speaker will not take part in political issues. Taking on the office means losing close contact with old colleagues and keeping apart from all groups and interests, even avoiding using the House of Commons dining rooms or bars. The Speaker continues as a Member of Parliament dealing with constituent's letters and problems. By tradition other candidates from the major parties do not contest the Speaker's seat at a General Election. The Speakership dates back to 1377 when Sir Thomas Hungerford was appointed to the role. The title Speaker comes from the fact that the Speaker was the official spokesman of the House of Commons to the Monarch. In the early years of the office, several Speakers suffered violent deaths when they presented unwelcome news to the King. Further information can be obtained from factsheet M2 on the UK Parliament website.
