Epic Points of Order II (Posted December 20, 2018)



After several days of backlash over the cancellation of the meaningful vote on the EU Withdrawal Agreement, the ire of MP's suddenly turned to Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn and, subsequently, Speaker John Bercow, when Conservative MP's interpreted a muttered aside by Corbyn as "stupid woman." Sutton and Cheam Conservative MP Paul Scully raised the issue at the end of PMQ's, and immediately after the session his colleagues on the government benches insisted Speaker John Bercow hear points of order on the matter.

The exchanges during the points of order both before and after Corbyn's explanation of the incident revealed as much about the contributors themselves as the matters of procedure about which the points of order were raised (clips below).

To be fair, even if Corbyn did say "stupid people," his words should be deprecated. When David Cameron called Ed Balls a "muttering idiot" at the despatch box, Bercow ruled that his words were unparliamentary and instructed Cameron to withdraw them. Since Corbyn's words were not on the record, they could not be formally withdrawn, but insofar as the word "stupid" is unparliamentary, an apology would not go amiss. Although it is in order to describe the government's handling of business as stupid (which, as it were, Bercow has done in an off-the-record aside) or even underhanded (which Jacob Rees-Mogg has done, on record, Nov 10, 2014), neither quality can be imputed to a member.

One of the most noteworthy contributions came from Dame Margaret Beckett, whose spoken contributions have been infrequent in recent years, but whose appeal for calm today was exceptional in both its content and delivery.



Sir Patrick McLoughlin raises a point of order accusing Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of calling Prime Minister Theresa May a "stupid woman."





Conservative MP's, in their own ways, take issue with the alleged use of the words "stupid woman" to describe a female member. Anna Soubry presses Speaker John Bercow to hold Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn to account for the alleged utterance (which Corbyn later denied); while Leader of the House of Commons Andrea Leadsom, and the member for Chelmsford, the erstwhile assiduous but more recently tiresome Vicky Ford attempt to steer the subject of the exchanges to their own grudges against and contempt for the Speaker.





Dame Margaret Beckett appeals for calm and orderly behavior in the House so that, in the public interest, the House can proceed with its business.





Jeremy Corbyn issues a short statement to the House to clarify the content of an off-the-record utterance. Conservative MP's claim that Corbyn called Prime Minister Theresa May, "stupid woman." Corbyn denies the allegation, claiming that the words he muttered were, "stupid people."





Rachel Maclean implies that Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn was not truthful in his statement to the House. Conservative MP's claim that Corbyn muttered the words "stupid woman," but Corbyn says that he muttered "stupid people" to describe the government's handling of the Brexit debate. Speaker John Bercow reminds Maclean, and the House, that it is disorderly to accuse another member of dishonesty.





Vicky Ford accuses Speaker John Bercow of calling her a "stupid woman."





Sir Desmond Swayne cautions members against scrutinizing muttered asides.





Barry Sheerman implores members to behave more maturely with regard to the dispute over Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's use of the word "stupid" in a muttered aside. Conservative MP's claim that Corbyn called Prime Minister Theresa May a "stupid woman," while Corbyn insists he muttered the words "stupid people" to describe the government's recent handling of the Brexit debate.






Tags | Margaret Beckett | John Bercow | Jeremy Corbyn | Vicky Ford | Andrea Leadsom | Rachel Maclean | Patrick McLoughlin | Barry Sheerman | Anna Soubry | Desmond Swayne