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| Version 5 | Version 6 |
|---|---|
| Tories mull challenge to Speaker | |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| David Cameron is seeking urgent clarification over Commons Speaker Michael Martin's intervention at prime minister's questions. | |
| Mr Martin sparked uproar in the Commons by stopping Mr Cameron asking Tony Blair who he wanted as "his successor". | |
| In what may have been an unprecedented move, Mr Martin said he could not ask about the Labour leadership. | |
| That decision sparked anger among Tory MPs and the party is now pondering an official challenge to the ruling. | |
| Mr Cameron hit back at the Speaker's ruling during stormy exchanges in the Commons, telling him: "Mr Speaker, are you honestly saying we cannot ask the prime minister of the country..." before being interrupted by Mr Martin. | |
| Mr Martin then threatened to suspend the sitting if Tory MPs did not stop interrupting him. | |
| Struggling to be heard above the noise, Mr Martin then attempted to explain the ruling. | Struggling to be heard above the noise, Mr Martin then attempted to explain the ruling. |
| I have let the right hon Gentleman away with that before... Michael Martin Exchange in full Sketch: Risky intervention | I have let the right hon Gentleman away with that before... Michael Martin Exchange in full Sketch: Risky intervention |
| "He has no right to ask at the floor of this house at Prime Minister's Question Time who the prime minister is supporting for an office within the Labour Party," he explained. | "He has no right to ask at the floor of this house at Prime Minister's Question Time who the prime minister is supporting for an office within the Labour Party," he explained. |
| 'Bizarre' | 'Bizarre' |
| Mr Cameron, whose original, interrupted, question had not mentioned the Labour Party, replied: "Perhaps I could just with my last question, ask the prime minister who he would like to see as the next prime minister of this country?" | Mr Cameron, whose original, interrupted, question had not mentioned the Labour Party, replied: "Perhaps I could just with my last question, ask the prime minister who he would like to see as the next prime minister of this country?" |
| Speaker Martin must be politically neutral | Speaker Martin must be politically neutral |
| Shouting "Order! Order!" as the House once more erupted, Mr Martin told the Tory leader: "I'll allow that. That's in order." | Shouting "Order! Order!" as the House once more erupted, Mr Martin told the Tory leader: "I'll allow that. That's in order." |
| Mr Blair then heaped praise on the Chancellor for delivering the lowest inflation, lowest unemployment and lowest interest rates in Britain's history. | |
| Mr Cameron's spokesman said he would be taking the matter up with the opposition Whips' office. | Mr Cameron's spokesman said he would be taking the matter up with the opposition Whips' office. |
| He described Mr Martin's intervention as "bizarre and extraordinary". | He described Mr Martin's intervention as "bizarre and extraordinary". |
| Neutral | Neutral |
| The Speaker has the job of presiding over debates in the Commons and has also rebuked Mr Blair in recent weeks for quizzing Mr Cameron over his policies. | |
| Mr Martin, who was elected as a Labour MP but whose role requires him to be politically neutral, became Speaker in 2000. | Mr Martin, who was elected as a Labour MP but whose role requires him to be politically neutral, became Speaker in 2000. |
| The Glaswegian former sheet metal worker's election broke convention as its saw Labour retain the speakership for a second time. | The Glaswegian former sheet metal worker's election broke convention as its saw Labour retain the speakership for a second time. |