🤦‍♂️ Points of Order

Commons Chamber

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In a heated parliamentary session, Labour MP Sam Carling accused Nigel Farage of breaching the behaviour code by not informing him of a visit to his constituency, sparking a debate on protocol. The tension escalated when Conservative MP Ben Obese-Jecty countered by accusing Carling of the same offense in his constituency, leading to a sharp reminder from Madam Deputy Speaker about the need to follow proper notification procedures. Amidst the political squabbles, a new bill was introduced by Blair McDougall aimed at requiring labels on groceries that have been reduced in size, set for its second reading on July 11.

Summary

  • Point of Order by Sam Carling:
    • Sam Carling raised a concern about Nigel Farage visiting his constituency without prior notice, which he believes breaches the behaviour code.
    • He mentioned a similar incident involving the Leader of the Opposition, Kemi Badenoch.
    • Sam Carling asked for guidance on ensuring compliance with section 43 of the behaviour code, which requires MPs to inform colleagues before visiting their constituencies.
  • Response by Madam Deputy Speaker:
    • Madam Deputy Speaker confirmed that MPs must inform colleagues in advance of constituency visits, unless the visit is private.
    • She noted that Sam Carling had given notice of his point of order and had informed the Members concerned.
  • Further Point of Order by Ben Obese-Jecty:
    • Ben Obese-Jecty pointed out that Sam Carling had also visited his constituency without prior notice.
    • He asked for a reminder of the behaviour code.
  • Response by Madam Deputy Speaker:
    • Madam Deputy Speaker noted that Ben Obese-Jecty should have informed her or the Clerks in advance of raising his point of order.
    • She suggested that his point could be addressed next time and stated that the issue had been raised and recorded.
  • Bill Presentation:
    • Blair McDougall presented the Groceries Labelling (Size Reduction) Bill.
    • The Bill aims to introduce labelling requirements for grocery products that have been reduced in size by manufacturers.
    • The Bill was read for the first time and is scheduled for its second reading on Friday, 11 July.

Divisiveness

The session shows a moderate level of disagreement, primarily centered around the enforcement and adherence to the parliamentary behavior code regarding constituency visits. The disagreement is evident in the points of order raised by Sam Carling and Ben Obese-Jecty. Sam Carling expresses frustration over not being informed about visits to his constituency by Nigel Farage and the Leader of the Opposition, indicating a breach of the behavior code. This is a clear point of contention as it involves a perceived violation of protocol. Ben Obese-Jecty then counters by pointing out that Sam Carling himself did not adhere to the same code when visiting his constituency, suggesting a reciprocal disagreement on the application of the rules. However, the disagreements are procedural and do not escalate into a heated debate, as Madam Deputy Speaker quickly addresses the issues and moves the session forward. The disagreements are more about ensuring adherence to protocol rather than deep policy or ideological conflicts, which is why the rating is moderate at 2.