The strangest rules MPs have to follow
One of the oldest assemblies in the world, parliament has many bizarre regulations and conventions
The UK parliament is one of the oldest continuous representative assemblies in the world, having existed in some form since the middle ages.
And given its long history, it is perhaps no wonder that it has more than a few strange and outdated rules that MPs and Lords are still required to follow.
Labour MP Lloyd Russell-Moyle fell foul of one of those rules this week when he said that he would “prefer to be led by a lawyer than a liar” during Prime Minister’s Questions (PMQs).
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.
“My constituents think that [Boris Johnson] lied to this House and my constituents think that he lied to them when he was partying,” said Russell-Moyle. “So, I would prefer to be led by a lawyer than a liar. Will he now resign?”
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle asked him to withdraw the comment, as calling a fellow MP a “liar” is in breach of parliamentary rules – just one of many oddities that make up proper parliamentary etiquette and conduct.
Unparliamentary language
“Liar” is not the only unacceptable insult. In fact, most unpleasant words or terms – deemed “unparliamentary language” – are banned from the chamber.
As parliament’s rules state, there is no “hard and fast list of unparliamentary words” and a breach of the rules is determined by the “context” in which it is said. But there are several that have been branded as “unparliamentary” over the years, including calling a fellow MP a traitor, hypocrite, drunk, blackguard, coward, guttersnipe, idiot, pipsqueak, squirt, stool pigeon, swine, traitor or wart.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
MPs who use unparliamentary language are generally asked to withdraw their comments. If they refuse, they can be asked to leave the chamber and possibly face suspension.
Perhaps the most infamous example of a parliamentarian attempting to sidestep the rules on “unparliamentary language” came when former Labour MP Dennis Skinner said in the Chamber that “half of the Tories opposite are crooks”.
Asked to withdraw the comment, Skinner said: “Okay, half the Tories opposite aren’t crooks.”
Naming names
It is a rule that may sound like “part of a bad drinking game”, said The Independent. “But it’s true.”
MPs are not allowed to refer to each other by name and instead have to say “the honourable member for” followed by the constituency they were elected to. MPs can also refer to each other as “the honourable gentleman” or “the honourable lady”.
Members who are from the same party can refer to each other as “my honourable friend”, while members of the privy council are called “the right honourable”. The only exception to the rule is the Speaker, who “can refer to anyone he likes by name”.
Addressing the Speaker
When MPs rise to speak in the House of Commons, they are only allowed to directly address the Speaker, either Lindsay Hoyle or one of his three deputies.
MPs never address their colleagues directly, instead, they direct their arguments or statements to either “Mr Speaker” or “Madam Speaker”. They refer to their fellow MPs as “he” or “she” instead of “you” when referring to opponents or colleagues in a debate.
It is a convention “designed to keep things civil and stops just anyone speaking when they feel like voicing their opinion”, said The National. The rule is generally “carried out in parliaments around the world”.
MPs often “chat and whisper to each other on the backbenches”, said The Independent. However, parliamentary rules require that only one person can speak at a time, meaning gossiping MPs are often chastised in the chamber by the Speaker.
Royal silence
This is a rule Labour leader Keir Starmer fell foul of at a recent PMQs when asking a series of questions over alleged Downing Street parties.
“Last year, Her Majesty the Queen sat alone when she marked the passing of the man she had been married to for 73 years,” said Starmer. “She followed the rules of the country that she leads.
“The prime minister has been forced to hand an apology to Her Majesty the Queen. Isn’t he ashamed that he didn’t hand in his resignation at the same time?”
It led to an intervention from Hoyle, who said: “We normally would not, and quite rightly, mention the Royal Family. We don’t get into discussions on the Royal Family.”
According to the official parliamentary procedure guide: “No question can be put which brings the name of the Sovereign or the influence of the Crown directly before Parliament, or which casts reflections upon the Sovereign or the royal family.”
“Unless it’s a question specific to how taxpayer cash is used to support the royal household,” said Holyrood, “you can’t ask about it because it might sway MPs.”
The other House
During debates in the Commons, MPs never mention the second chamber – the House of Lords – by name. Similarly, the House or Lords never refers to the Commons by name. Instead, they each refer to the other House as “the other place” or “another place”.
A House of Commons paper on its traditions and customs calls this practice a “nineteenth century development” that was “more often used in the Lords than in the Lower House at that time”.
Kidnapping MPs
At the opening session of parliament, an MP is “kidnapped” and held hostage at Buckingham Palace while the Queen’s Speech is read.
The tradition “comes from a time when the monarchy had a difficult relationship with parliamentarians”, the BBC said, and the MP would therefore “be used as a bargaining tool in case the King or Queen were threatened during their time in Westminster”.
-
The mental health crisis affecting vets
Under The Radar Death of Hampshire vet highlights mental health issues plaguing the industry
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
The Onion is having a very ironic laugh with Infowars
The Explainer The satirical newspaper is purchasing the controversial website out of bankruptcy
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'Rahmbo, back from Japan, will be looking for a job? Really?'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Last hopes for justice for UK's nuclear test veterans
Under the Radar Thousands of ex-service personnel say their lives have been blighted by aggressive cancers and genetic mutations
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Will Donald Trump wreck the Brexit deal?
Today's Big Question President-elect's victory could help UK's reset with the EU, but a free-trade agreement with the US to dodge his threatened tariffs could hinder it
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
What is Lammy hoping to achieve in China?
Today's Big Question Foreign secretary heads to Beijing as Labour seeks cooperation on global challenges and courts opportunities for trade and investment
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Britain about to 'boil over'?
Today's Big Question A message shared across far-right groups listed more than 30 potential targets for violence in the UK today
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
UK's Starmer slams 'far-right thuggery' at riots
Speed Read The anti-immigrant violence was spurred by false rumors that the suspect in the Southport knife attack was an immigrant
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
For God and country: is religion in politics making a comeback?
Talking Point There are many MPs of faith in the new Labour government despite it being the most openly secular House of Commons in history
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published