Points of Order

Chris Bryant Excerpts

Wednesday 19th October 2022 Commons Chamber

[Mr Speaker]

That is not a point of order, as you well know. That was a poor effort; you are better than that normally.

[Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)]

On a point of order, Mr Speaker. This is further to the point of order made by the former leader of the Liberal Democrats, the hon. Member for Westmorland and Lonsdale (Tim Farron). You are, of course, quite right that it is not for you to comment on internal communications among Conservative MPs. However, by tradition, when a motion is declared a motion of confidence by the Government, the Prime Minister makes that announcement at some point during the debate. Is there any means whereby the Prime Minister could do so today? That is how I understand it and, as I look across to the faces on the Conservative Benches, they all seem to think that it is a motion of confidence.

Historically, lots of different things have been made confidence motions, including the conduct of war and various Bills. Traditionally, every single time that happened and the Government lost, that led to a general election. Is that not just factually correct?

[Mr Speaker]

You have certainly put that on the record. I would say, once again, let us wait and see what unfolds this afternoon. We will see where we go from there.