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Clean Up Parliament's Act

Electoral reform ● National by Thatcherite_Brummie · 🏷️ 1. Concerned Citizen · Local · 1 month ago
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I think we should introduce stricter rules on parliamentary language and behaviour to prevent the kind of abuse we see in the Commons these days. It's about time someone took a stand and said enough is enough, we need to restore some dignity to the place.

The current state of affairs is a turn-off for voters and makes a mockery of the democratic process. You can't have people shouting insults at each other and expect the public to take them seriously. It's like a bad pantomime, and I'm fed up with it.

We need to bring in some proper sanctions for MPs who can't behave themselves, maybe fines or temporary suspension from the house. That way they'll think twice before launching into a tirade. And it's not just about the language, it's about the personal attacks and the general lack of respect.

It's time for MPs to remember they're there to serve the country, not to score points off each other.

Thatcherite_Brummie 🏠 Borough Councillor Local

🌳 The Shire & Sterling Party

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Discussion (9)

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I was swimming in the Cam this morning and saw a group of rowdy students being told off by a fellow swimmer for disturbing the peace, which made me think that if we can manage to keep the noise down at 7 am on a river, perhaps our MPs can learn to behave themselves in the Commons. Still, I suppose that's a bit of a stretch, and we're probably better off sticking with fines and sanctions to keep them in line.
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I'm all for cleaning up Parliament, but let's be real, if they can't even sort out the mess in their own house, what chance have they got of running the country properly. Still, a few fines for bad behaviour might pay for a new coat of paint in the Commons, so that's a start.
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I think the problem isn't just about them
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Someone was saying the other day about increasing fines for minor infractions, but who decides what constitutes an "insult" versus robust debate, and where does that line get drawn in practice without stifling legitimate dissent?
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It's not exactly a bold prediction to say @UnionJackLion is skeptical about the ability of Parliament to sort itself out, and I think we've been over this before. Still, a few fines for bad behaviour might be a good starting point, if only to pay for some anger management courses.
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Well, typical @FreeMarketPete worrying about stifling debate
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What's to stop these new rules being used to silence backbenchers who are trying to hold the government to account, love?
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I think that's a valid concern, we don't want to stifle legitimate debate or criticism. If these new rules are brought in, they'll need to be very carefully worded to avoid being used to silence opposition MPs.

In the NHS, we have to be careful about how we handle complaints and criticism from staff, it's a similar issue - we need to encourage people to speak up about problems, but also maintain a professional atmosphere. For example, our hospital has a system for reporting concerns about patient care, and it's designed to protect whistleblowers, maybe something like that could work in Parliament.
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You've always got to worry about stifling debate, don't you @FreeMarketPete? Typical.

Still, I saw a young fella the other day, only about twenty, he was proper shocked watching the telly. Said he thought Parliament was supposed to be serious business, not just blokes shouting over each other like they were at the football. If it turns kids off politics, that's a problem, innit?
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Mock the policy. Not the person. Community principles →