Tracy Brabin: what are the conduct rules in the Commons?
Labour MP triggers online row by wearing off-the-shoulder dress at parliamentary debate

Shadow culture secretary Tracy Brabin has hit back after being criticised for wearing an off-the-shoulder dress in the Commons.
The Labour MP and former EastEnders actor has faced a barrage of abuse over her choice of outfit for a debate earlier this week, with one Twitter user asking: “Is this really appropriate attire for Parliament?”
In response, Brabin tweeted a list of the insults levelled against her, including looking like she had “just been banged over a wheelie bin’”.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
The MP for Batley and Spen had been raising a point of order on Downing Street’s ejection of journalists from a No. 10 briefing when her dress attracted attention. In a subsequent interview with BBC Breakfast, Brabin said she was surprised by the “vitriolic nature” of the response and branded the criticism “everyday sexism” .
So what are the rules on dress and general conduct in the Commons?
Respectful dress
The Commons rulebook states: “As with the language you use, the way in which you dress should also demonstrate respect for the House and for its central position in the life of the nation.
“There is no exact dress code: usual business dress is suggested as a guide. Jeans, T-shirts, sandals and trainers are not appropriate. It is no longer a requirement for men to wear a tie, but jackets should be worn.”
Constituency names
Parliamentary naming convention “sounds like part of a bad drinking game, but it’s true”, says The Independent.
For starters, MPs are not allowed to call each other by their names. Instead, they must always refer to “the honourable member for [constituency]”.
If an MP lacks an encyclopaedic knowledge of where each MP is from, they can refer to colleagues as “the honourable gentleman” or “the honourable lady”.
If they are referring to someone in their own party, they can refer to the member as “my honourable friend”, while members of the privy council – usually ministers – are dubbed “the right honourable”.
However, the House speaker is allowed to ignore all of these rules and can refer to any MP by name.
Addressing the speaker
MPs are not allowed to speak to one another, and can only address the House speaker, a role currently held by Lindsay Hoyle. That’s why MPs often say “Mr Speaker” in their statements and questions, and refer to colleagues by their third person pronouns rather than saying “you”.
Insulting colleagues
A raft of words fall under a ban on “unparliamentary language”. The following have all been deemed unparliamentary following their usage in the Commons, and may no longer be said there:
- bastard
- blackguard
- coward
- deceptive
- dodgy
- drunk
- git
- guttersnipe
- hooligan
- hypocrite
- idiot
- ignoramus
- liar
- pipsqueak
- rat
- slimy
- sod
- squirt
- stoolpigeon
- swine
- tart
- traitor
- wart
Any MP using this language is typically asked by the speaker to withdraw their comments, or face being asked to leave the chamber.
Former veteran Labour MP Dennis Skinner was ejected after calling then prime minister David Cameron “Dodgy Dave” during a debate on the Panama Papers scandal in 2016.
Wearing armour
It has been illegal to wear a suit of armour in the House of Commons since 1313, when the Statutum de Defensione portandi Arma (Statute Forbidding the wearing of Weapons) was passed under King Edward II.
Taking a sword into the chamber is also banned under the statute. MPs are still provided with a loop next to their coat hook on which to hang their swords in the cloakroom before heading in for debates.
–––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––For a round-up of the most important stories from around the world - and a concise, refreshing and balanced take on the week’s news agenda - try The Week magazine. Start your trial subscription today –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––
Speaking anything but English
Speeches in the House of Commons can only be made in English, so any MPs who speak Welsh as a first language are out of luck.
Quotations in other languages are allowed, but there is no translation service.
Taking photos
MPs are banned from taking photos or videos in the Commons, and the only recording equipment allowed in the chamber is the collection of fixed TV cameras that film the proceedings.
Photography is banned throughout most of the Palace of Westminster for security reasons, with the only exceptions being the public areas of Westminster Hall, St Stephen’s Hall and New Palace Yard, and in private rooms.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Are we facing a summer of riots?
Today's Big Question Anti-immigrant unrest in Essex has sparked fears of a summer of disorder
-
Who stands to gain – and lose – from 16-year-old voters?
Today's Big Question Many assume Labour will benefit but move could 'backfire' if Greens, a new hard-left party or Reform continue to pick up momentum
-
What difference will the 'historic' UK-Germany treaty make?
Today's Big Question Europe's two biggest economies sign first treaty since WWII, underscoring 'triangle alliance' with France amid growing Russian threat and US distance
-
Mortgage reform: is Rachel Reeves betting the house on City rules shake-up?
Today's Big Question Reforms could create up to 36,000 additional mortgages next year
-
Corbynism returns: a new party on the Left
Talking Point Jeremy Corbyn and Zarah Sultana's breakaway progressive party has already got off to a shaky start
-
How will Labour pay for welfare U-turn?
Today's Big Question A dramatic concession to Labour rebels has left the government facing more fiscal dilemmas
-
Backbench rebellions and broken promises: is it getting harder to govern?
Today's Big Question Backbench rebellions and broken promises: is it getting harder to govern?
-
Labour's brewing welfare rebellion
The Explainer Keir Starmer seems determined to press on with disability benefit cuts despite a "nightmare" revolt by his own MPs