Paul Foster
Main Page: Paul Foster (Labour - South Ribble)
Madam Deputy Speaker (Ms Nusrat Ghani)
I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving notice of her point of order. The Chair is not responsible for Members’ comments on social media, but I am sure the Table Office will be able to advise on how to pursue the matter further.
Mr Paul Foster (South Ribble) (Lab)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Yesterday in Westminster Hall the debate on the Northern Ireland veterans petition took place. Given that this is an exceptionally sensitive and emotive issue, Westminster Hall was at full capacity, and many veterans were in attendance and many more were watching online, do you feel that it is appropriate conduct for the shadow Secretary of State for Defence, the hon. Member for South Suffolk (James Cartlidge) to shout across the floor that I, a military veteran discussing emotive and exceptionally challenging veteran issues, should “show some courage”, in a way that was clearly audible for all to hear? Given the nature and importance of the issue we were attempting to debate, that the remark was shouted from a sedentary position, that the hon. Member is the shadow Secretary of State for Defence and that I and many colleagues found it to be wholly inappropriate and insulting to infer that I lack courage, do you feel that that is acceptable parliamentary language?
Madam Deputy Speaker
I am grateful to the hon. Member for giving notice of his point of order and, I believe, for confirming that he notified the hon. Member for South Suffolk. The remarks he refers to were not recorded in Hansard. None the less, I remind all hon. Members that good temper and moderation are the characteristics of parliamentary language and that heckling from a sedentary position from either side of the House does nothing to enhance the quality of debate.
Bill Presented
Diego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory
Presentation and First Reading (Standing Order No. 57)
Secretary David Lammy, supported by the Prime Minister, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Pat McFadden, Secretary John Healey, Stephen Doughty, and Luke Pollard presented a Bill to give effect to, and make provision in connection with, an agreement between the governments of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Mauritius concerning the Chagos Archipelago.
Bill read the first time; to be read a Second time tomorrow, and to be printed (Bill 285) with explanatory notes (Bill 285-EN).