For the first time in decades yesterday the Speaker of the House of Commons permitted one member to describe another as a liar without the claim being corrected or a demand for it to be withdrawn being made.
Ian Blackford, leader of the SNP in the Commons, made the suggestion in a speech when introducing a debate on breaches of the sixth commandment of public life as established by the Nolan principles, published in 1995. That principle says:
This is what Ian Blackford had to say:
https://youtu.be/ZS0ndvph4fM
With this on parliamentary record, uncorrected, the suggestion that Boris Johnson is a liar now has perpetual authority, as if the facts had not already supplied it.
But what was notable was that this must have been agreed in advance with the Speaker, and the Speaker decided there were no grounds to intervene. Honesty required that this be said.
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Maybe the speaker has read Peter Oborne’s book ‘The Assault on Truth’ at long last – Oborne promises to send it to him in that very book.
It’s a pity though that Dawn Butler was sent from the chamber when she said the same – a BAME/female MP. Will the Speaker apologise to her I wonder?
The video by Stefanivic showing half a dozen lies by Johnson, was given to the Speaker by the leaders of the Opposition parties, except Labour, and I thought the Speaker had ducked it. Perhaps he hasn’t.
A positive development for UK governance, and while I try to applaud politicians doing the right thing something won’t let me enjoy this properly. Here is the SNP’s Ian Blackford performing a necessary service for the UK. Not a bad thing. It’s just that he seems so comfortable as a UK parliamentary servant.
For the record, I am pro Scottish independence, but an equal opportunities cynic. And worrier.
Thanks for posting this Richard. It’s great to see the Speaker finally lose patience with the Johnson’s lies, and let Ian Blackford, a doughty campaigner if ever there was one, state what everybody except Johnson’s most craven supporters knows to be the truth.
An antidote to yesterday’s depressing news about the government’s cynical attempt to bankrupt The Good Law Project by it’s wholly dishonest trick of massively inflating its own legal costs in the case the Project has brought against it re the appointment of Harding to head the Track and Trace fiasco.
Didn’t see that on the six o clock news. Are the BBC letting us down?
Yes
“The PM has demonstrated himself to be a Liar” rather than “the PM is a Liar”. Is that what saved him from sanction?
Maybe…
I have an imperfect memory of a Laboour stalwart (Dennis Skinner?) stating
‘Half the party opposite are liars’
When asked to withdraw that he agreed and stated
‘Half the party opposite aren’t liars’
There are ways of phrasing things!
Unfortunately the story is apocryphal
What a pity!
I don’t think that this is apocryphal as I seem to remember seeing it on TV.
When, ChrisK? And can you provide any evidence (TV clip, Hansard, newspaper report, etc.)?
While you are looking:
* https://youtube.com/watch?v=bLxWrp-rEeg (including “Dodgy Dave”)
* https://quoteinvestigator.com/2014/04/19/half-fools/
* https://clioseyeroll.wordpress.com/2016/12/03/dennis-skinner-did-not-call-half-the-tories-crooks-and-how-to-verify-other-quotes-from-parliament/
Dennis Skinner did have to leave though when he refused to withdraw from calling David Cameron “Dodgy Dave”.
But he was right, wasn’t he?
As Peter Oborne points out, Johnson has got away with so many scandals and untruths that he thinks he is untouchable, probably a trait inherited from his father. It will be interesting to see what the voters of Bexley and Old Sicup think in the by-election tomorrow.
I can really recommend his book
Peter Oborne,Ian Blackford calls Boris a liar,I don’t know the laws regarding defamation of character but it is obvious Boris will not sue as he knows he is a liar.
I have read the book by PO and my Granddaughter gave me another one.
Unofficial
The Secret Diary of Boris Johnson…age 13 and a1/4 Lucien Young
worth a read
Well, as the Deputy Speaker (the Conservative MP, Dame Eleanor Laing) made clear at the start of the debate:
“… this debate is on a substantive motion directly relating to the conduct of the right hon. Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson).
In this debate, because it is on a substantive motion of this kind, arguments intended to criticise or defend that conduct are in order. Therefore things may be said that the Chair would not normally permit in other proceedings. However, those speaking in favour of the motion should set out their arguments clearly. Intemperate abuse is as out of order on this motion as much as on any other.”
https://hansard.parliament.uk/commons/2021-11-30/debates/DA41937F-F795-4A37-8C9E-9940192FBC64/ConductOfTheRightHonMemberForUxbridgeAndSouthRuislip
Later on, Dawn Butler commented that “Unfortunately, they [i.e. government ministers] are led by the Prime Minister, who is the chief liar in charge.”
There is even a point of order toward the end of the debate, where Paul Holmes asks “Is it acceptable in the House to use the word “liar”, and to accuse a Member of lying?” and is told by another Deputy Speaker (in that case the Labour MP, Dame Rosie Winterton), in this debate, yes.
Thank you