Speaker of the Commons criticised for not making Brown answer questions put to him

Britannist · 06-02-2008, 01:02 PM

I have just watched 'The Daily Politics' on BBC 2 Television and report the following:

Speaker Michael Martin (elected as a Labour MP) is being criticised for not making Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown answer the actual questions put to him at Prime Minister's Question Time, according to a report on The Daily Politics programme on BBC 2 Television today at 12.35 pm. Pro-EU Brown is being accused of asking as many questions as the number put to him at Prime Minister's Question Time.

Lord Tebbit, the anti-EU former Conservative Party Chairman, said in response to a question on the Daily Politics programme about what his view of The Speaker of the House of Commons was "I can't really say - I haven't sat in the Commons with him as Speaker. But from what I have seen of him he doesn't seem to have the authority and independence. George Thomas was the best Speaker of the Commons in my point of view. The way he dealt with the House was very good."

George Thomas (later Lord Tonypandy) became a campaigner against the EU. Sadly, he died a few years ago.

Nick Robinson, the BBC political correspondent, said "MPs want to criticise him (Speaker Michael Martin) but he has the power to call who to speak in the Commons (i.e. he could, in theory, choose not to call his critics to speak in Commons debates as often as they would like). He can do grave damage to those who criticise him - he remembers his critics."

Some involved in politics have dubbed Speaker Michael Martin "Gorbals Mick" - he represents a constituency including the Gorbals district of Glasgow.

rjt · 06-02-2008, 01:50 PM

George Thomas was indeed a fine campainer against the EU and tried desperatley to get a Referndum on Masstricht. Intrestingly Lord Weatherill who died last year was heavily involved with BOO. Lady Bothroyd too has expressed concerns over closer intergration.

The position of Speaker allows the incumbant to witness who Parliement works more closely than anyone, the see the real truth and so it is harldy suprising they know that our democracy which they are supposed to champion is being eroded.

Britannist · 06-02-2008, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjt

George Thomas was indeed a fine campaigner against the EU and tried desperately to get a referendum on Maastricht. Interestingly Lord Weatherill who died last year was heavily involved with BOO. Lady Boothroyd too has expressed concerns over closer integration.

Yes, Lady Boothroyd has just done a brief live interview on 'The Daily Politics' (a programme which I understand is now repeated in the evening on BBC News 24 Television).

Interesting that many Speakers of the House of Commons come to see very clearly (if they were not aware of it at the time they got the job) the threat from the EU to our nation; our Parliament and to our democracy.

A shame that Lord Weatherill has died. He used to sit next to Lady Thatcher in the House of Lords.

Sadly, there is no chance that Michael Martin will go eurosceptic when he is no longer Speaker - the man is so evidently a europhile.

rjt · 06-02-2008, 02:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britannist

Yes, Lady Boothroyd has just done a brief live interview on 'The Daily Politics' (a programme which I understand is now repeated in the evening on BBC News 24 Television).

Interesting that many Speakers of the House of Commons come to see very clearly (if they were not aware of it at the time they got the job) the threat from the EU to our nation; our Parliament and to our democracy.

A shame that Lord Weatherill has died. He used to sit next to Lady Thatcher in the House of Lords.

Sadly, there is no chance that Michael Martin will go eurosceptic when he is no longer Speaker - the man is so evidently a europhile.

I read he intends to go on at the next election, that could leave him in the chair until 2014/15 far too long for any speaker.

Britannist · 06-02-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjt

I read he intends to go on at the next election - that could leave him in the chair until 2014/15 far too long for any Speaker.

Who would you like to see as Speaker of the Commons, RJT?

Roland · 06-02-2008, 03:41 PM

The accusations against the speaker is true he dose not have a lot of authority
over the house. In short he is a bit of a drip.

The accusations against PM is also true he never answers question unless it's from his own side of the house.

It's quite obvious when you watch him in parliament he dose not answer the questions because he has not put the question to him self and no one in the cabinet has raised the question.

I hate to use the man as a reference but this is a good point. Adolf Hitler said a good leader should never be wrong because they should have asked them selves and answered the questions that would be put to them. Gordon Brown dose not have the ability to scrutinize his own out look on life.

See it for your self.

Prime Minister's Questions

mkpdavies · 06-02-2008, 08:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britannist

Who would you like to see as Speaker of the Commons, RJT?

Jermey Paxman.

rjt · 07-02-2008, 07:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Britannist

Who would you like to see as Speaker of the Commons, RJT?

I was in favour of either Gwynnth Dunwoody or Richard Sheperd getting it last time, either would be really good.

Bluemerle · 07-02-2008, 11:21 AM

Speaker Martin is not up to the mark. His union past keeps getting in the way of the job. He is supposed to be impartial.

kernow · 07-02-2008, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bluemerle

Speaker Martin is not up to the mark. His union past keeps getting in the way of the job. He is supposed to be impartial.

Never truer words written!

06-02-2008, 01:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
Britannist Uber Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: London Posts: 22,896	Speaker of the Commons criticised for not making Brown answer questions put to him I have just watched 'The Daily Politics' on BBC 2 Television and report the following: Speaker Michael Martin (elected as a Labour MP) is being criticised for not making Labour Prime Minister Gordon Brown answer the actual questions put to him at Prime Minister's Question Time, according to a report on The Daily Politics programme on BBC 2 Television today at 12.35 pm. Pro-EU Brown is being accused of asking as many questions as the number put to him at Prime Minister's Question Time. Lord Tebbit, the anti-EU former Conservative Party Chairman, said in response to a question on the Daily Politics programme about what his view of The Speaker of the House of Commons was "I can't really say - I haven't sat in the Commons with him as Speaker. But from what I have seen of him he doesn't seem to have the authority and independence. George Thomas was the best Speaker of the Commons in my point of view. The way he dealt with the House was very good." George Thomas (later Lord Tonypandy) became a campaigner against the EU. Sadly, he died a few years ago. Nick Robinson, the BBC political correspondent, said "MPs want to criticise him (Speaker Michael Martin) but he has the power to call who to speak in the Commons (i.e. he could, in theory, choose not to call his critics to speak in Commons debates as often as they would like). He can do grave damage to those who criticise him - he remembers his critics." Some involved in politics have dubbed Speaker Michael Martin "Gorbals Mick" - he represents a constituency including the Gorbals district of Glasgow. Last edited by Britannist; 06-02-2008 at 01:08 PM.

06-02-2008, 01:50 PM	#2 (permalink)
rjt Uber Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Aldershot Posts: 5,479	George Thomas was indeed a fine campainer against the EU and tried desperatley to get a Referndum on Masstricht. Intrestingly Lord Weatherill who died last year was heavily involved with BOO. Lady Bothroyd too has expressed concerns over closer intergration. The position of Speaker allows the incumbant to witness who Parliement works more closely than anyone, the see the real truth and so it is harldy suprising they know that our democracy which they are supposed to champion is being eroded. __________________ Mr Delors said that he wanted the European Parliament to be the democratic body of the community, The Commission to be The Executive and The Council Of Ministers The Senate. NO! NO! NO! (Margaret Thatcher 30 Oct 1990) Ignore List: The Prophets of ST Al the Unelectable.

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06-02-2008, 03:41 PM	#6 (permalink)
Roland Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2007 Posts: 859	The accusations against the speaker is true he dose not have a lot of authority over the house. In short he is a bit of a drip. The accusations against PM is also true he never answers question unless it's from his own side of the house. It's quite obvious when you watch him in parliament he dose not answer the questions because he has not put the question to him self and no one in the cabinet has raised the question. I hate to use the man as a reference but this is a good point. Adolf Hitler said a good leader should never be wrong because they should have asked them selves and answered the questions that would be put to them. Gordon Brown dose not have the ability to scrutinize his own out look on life. See it for your self. Prime Minister's Questions

07-02-2008, 11:21 AM	#9 (permalink)
Bluemerle Uber Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Dorset. Posts: 3,252	Speaker Martin is not up to the mark. His union past keeps getting in the way of the job. He is supposed to be impartial.