Stephen Tall

Lib Dem MP urges charity fines for mobile phone menace MPs

By | Tue 11th November 2008 - 10:45 am

Greg Mulholland, Lib Dem MP for Leeds North West, has urged House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin to introduce fines whenever an MP’s phone rings in the chamber. His proposal came after Culture Secretary Andy Burnham was repeatedly interrupted by Tory MP John Whittingdale’s Blackberry (he was, apparently, unaware how to switch it off).

BBC.co.uk takes up the story:

Calling a point of order minutes later, Mr Mulholland, a former Leeds city councillor raised the subject of the interruption. He said: “Whilst accepting that we’re all fallible in terms of the potential to leave our mobile phones on, may I recommend to the House a scheme in Leeds City Council whereby the Lord Mayor of Leeds fines a member of council who has his or her phone ring?”

He added: “And may I suggest that the Speaker considers a suitable charity and introduces a similar scheme in this House?” To laughter in the Commons chamber, the Speaker responded: “I’ve no powers to fine honourable gentlemen or ladies for that matter”. …

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Mulholland accepted that the Speaker clearly cannot budge on the matter, but said “I was talking about an informal protocol, not a serious thing”. He added: “If I get caught out I will pay money to a charity – and if the speaker doesn’t want to nominate one, I will find someone who will. It seems a particularly good natured way of dealing with this.”

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2 Comments

  • Hywel Morgan 11th Nov '08 - 5:30pm

    “the Speaker responded: “I’ve no powers to fine honourable gentlemen or ladies for that matter”

    Doesn’t the house have powers to imprison for breach of its privileges? In which case its not a great leap for the speaker to have powers to fine members.

  • Hywel Morgan 27th Nov '08 - 11:11pm

    It would appear not. The House last imposed a fine in 1666. I think it’s probably wise not to treat the actions of the House in the mid 1600s as having precedent value….

    Though the power of imprisonment has been used more recently.

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