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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Brown warned after Commons jibe | Brown warned after Commons jibe |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Gordon Brown was warned by the Commons Speaker Michael Martin to use "temperate language" after he accused David Cameron of "misleading" people. | Gordon Brown was warned by the Commons Speaker Michael Martin to use "temperate language" after he accused David Cameron of "misleading" people. |
| The exchanges came after the Tory leader claimed the Gould report into the Scottish elections said ministers had put party interest before voters. | The exchanges came after the Tory leader claimed the Gould report into the Scottish elections said ministers had put party interest before voters. |
| The PM said: "You're misleading people about the conclusions of that report." | The PM said: "You're misleading people about the conclusions of that report." |
| After consulting his clerks, Mr Martin told MPs he was "satisfied the prime minister said nothing unparliamentary". | After consulting his clerks, Mr Martin told MPs he was "satisfied the prime minister said nothing unparliamentary". |
| Mr Cameron asked how Mr Brown "had the gall" to accuse him of misleading people over the report. | Mr Cameron asked how Mr Brown "had the gall" to accuse him of misleading people over the report. |
| And there was an angry response from Tory MPs, with a number bringing up the matter during points of order after the half-hour prime minister's questions session. | And there was an angry response from Tory MPs, with a number bringing up the matter during points of order after the half-hour prime minister's questions session. |
| 'Rolling situation' | 'Rolling situation' |
| One of them, Tory chief whip Patrick McLoughlin asked Mr Martin: "Can I therefore take it that it's quite in order for a member of Parliament to accuse another member of Parliament of misleading the House? | One of them, Tory chief whip Patrick McLoughlin asked Mr Martin: "Can I therefore take it that it's quite in order for a member of Parliament to accuse another member of Parliament of misleading the House? |
| "In which case we will bear that in mind when we come to challenge the government." | "In which case we will bear that in mind when we come to challenge the government." |
| In the middle of all this, like the jacket potato in the centre of the bonfire, Speaker Michael Martin popped. Nick AssinderPolitical correspondent class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7059832.stm">Read Nick's sketch in full | |
| Mr Martin said he understood the chief whip's "anxiety". | Mr Martin said he understood the chief whip's "anxiety". |
| "All I can say is read the record of Hansard tomorrow. I ask you to take my word for it," he said. | "All I can say is read the record of Hansard tomorrow. I ask you to take my word for it," he said. |
| "Honourable members have got to understand that I'm in the chair and it's a rolling situation. | "Honourable members have got to understand that I'm in the chair and it's a rolling situation. |
| "I have consulted the record and I'm satisfied that the prime minister has said nothing unparliamentary." | "I have consulted the record and I'm satisfied that the prime minister has said nothing unparliamentary." |
| Mr Martin told Mr McLoughlin he was always entitled to come and see him about the matter. | Mr Martin told Mr McLoughlin he was always entitled to come and see him about the matter. |
| Unparliamentary language | |
| Labour left-winger Dennis Skinner, who was once rebuked for calling a fellow MP a "squirt", weighed in to add that it would be a different matter if Mr Brown had said an MP had been "deliberately misleading the House". | Labour left-winger Dennis Skinner, who was once rebuked for calling a fellow MP a "squirt", weighed in to add that it would be a different matter if Mr Brown had said an MP had been "deliberately misleading the House". |
| "I have been around a long time - I've tested the market and it's called experience," he joked. | "I have been around a long time - I've tested the market and it's called experience," he joked. |
| Decisions on whether MPs have used "unparliamentary language" are taken by the Commons Speaker - the person who chairs proceedings in the Commons chamber. | |
| Both the Scotland Office and the Scottish Executive were frequently focused on partisan political interests in carrying out their responsibilities, overlooking voter interests Gould Report Read the report for yourself [29KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | |
| It is expected that the proceedings of Parliament be conducted in a courteous and good tempered manner although criticism and accusations are permitted. | |
| MPs are not, however, allowed to accuse another member of Parliament of lying, suggest another MP has false motives, misrepresent another MP's language of use abusive or insulting language. | |
| If an MP uses unparliamentary language during debates the Speaker will ask the member concerned to withdraw what has been said. |