Speaker in stand-off with Cameron

[kashifsakhan]

Commons Speaker Michael Martin sparked uproar at prime minister's questions by stopping David Cameron asking Tony Blair who he wanted as "his successor". (contd)...

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6106038.stm

[Filuwaúrdjan]

IMO Mr Speaker is perfectly entitled to do what he did; as someone who grows increasingly sick (week by week) of the charade that is PMQ's I'll go further and say that he was right to do it...

Full exchange here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6106362.stm

[Filuwaúrdjan]

Btw, he's done this (ie; not allowing questions about internal party stuff) to various politicians of other parties quite recently; he did it to Blair a few weeks ago.

[kashifsakhan]

IMO Mr Speaker is perfectly entitled to do what he did; as someone who grows increasingly sick (week by week) of the charade that is PMQ's I'll go further and say that he was right to do it...

Full exchange here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6106362.stm

I agree. i feel discussion in parliment should be limited to the country's affairs not those a particular party.

[afleitch]

IMO Mr Speaker is perfectly entitled to do what he did; as someone who grows increasingly sick (week by week) of the charade that is PMQ's I'll go further and say that he was right to do it...

Full exchange here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6106362.stm

I agree. i feel discussion in parliment should be limited to the country's affairs not those a particular party.

The problem is, it could be argued that Cameron had asked about Blair's successor as PM, not the party leadership (as there is no cast iron guarantee that the next PM will be from Labour! Though it is highly unlikely) Most commentators have said Cameron probably has some case to pursue.

[kashifsakhan]

IMO Mr Speaker is perfectly entitled to do what he did; as someone who grows increasingly sick (week by week) of the charade that is PMQ's I'll go further and say that he was right to do it...

Full exchange here: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6106362.stm

I agree. i feel discussion in parliment should be limited to the country's affairs not those a particular party.

The problem is, it could be argued that Cameron had asked about Blair's successor as PM, not the party leadership (as there is no cast iron guarantee that the next PM will be from Labour! Though it is highly unlikely) Most commentators have said Cameron probably has some case to pursue.

Actually, the first version of the question asked Blair who he wanted as the next leader of the Labour Party. Thats when he was stopped. He later rephrased it as the next PM.

[afleitch]

Actually, the first version of the question asked Blair who he wanted as the next leader of the Labour Party. Thats when he was stopped. He later rephrased it as the next PM.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6106362.stm

The question was phrased as follows

'David Cameron: I know [Tony Blair] doesn't want to talk about the chancellor - he can't even mention his name - but let's just spend a moment on it.  Let me put the question I put to him three weeks ago. Back in January, the prime minister said: 'I'm absolutely happy that Gordon Brown will be my successor.' Now does the prime minister... (interrupted)

Michael Martin: Or-order. Or-order. I have let the Rt Hon Gentleman away with that before, but this matter is not going to be belaboured, because the prime minister is here to talk about business of the government.'

Cameron did not directly mention Labour or the Labour leadership. Infact it was the Speaker himself who referred to the Labour leadership.