London Local Authorities Bill [Lords] Debate

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John Bercow

Main Page: John Bercow (Speaker - Buckingham)

London Local Authorities Bill [Lords]

John Bercow Excerpts
Wednesday 25th January 2012

(12 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Anne Main Portrait Mrs Anne Main (St Albans) (Con)
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On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I seek your guidance. Is it appropriate parliamentary language for a Member of Parliament to call other hon. Members neanderthals, particularly when they have not even been anywhere near the debate or participated or engaged in it? Do you think that that is a somewhat judgmental statement?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Well, I think if we are going to have a prohibition on judgmentalism, we are setting ourselves rather than exacting test. What I would say to the hon. Lady is twofold. First, I am not aware, though it is not relevant to the appropriateness of her point of order, who the target of this intended abuse was—although I could try to speculate about it—but secondly, if the target of the intended abuse is at least one Member that I can think of, I rather imagine that far from complaining about it, he will take it as the greatest possible compliment that has ever been paid to him.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I choose randomly for a point of order. Mr Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Jacob Rees-Mogg Portrait Jacob Rees-Mogg
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On a point of order, Mr Speaker. I think many hon. Members would consider being called neanderthals remarkably modern.

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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I note the hon. Gentleman’s value judgment, and indeed his sense of humour. If there are no further points of order, we come now to the petition.