Speaker rebukes MPs over BlackBerry use
MPs face being thrown out of the chamber if they use BlackBerry devices during debates, warned House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin yesterday.
BlackBerry devices have been popping up all over Westminster in recent months as they allow MPs to keep in touch with their email, office documents and telephone calls wherever they are.
Mr Martin yesterday told MPs that using such devices – or indeed ear pieces while in the chamber – could result in expulsion.
This is the second publicity coup for the device within a week as on Tuesday Alistair Campbell used his BlackBerry to mistakenly send an expletive filled email to a journalist.
Mr Martin told MPs that he had “no objection” to instruments that provide a silent prompt to MPs: “But I am not prepared to accept the use of electronic devices to communicate outside the Chamber nor to act as an aide-memoire by a Member participating in proceedings.”
To laughter from MPs present, he added: “This also applies to the wearing of earpieces used to receive messages.”
Threatening sanctions, Mr Martin said: “In future, the chair will order a Member seen to be using such an electronic device while speaking to resume his or her seat immediately. That ruling will be applied in Westminster Hall and in Standing Committee. Seated Members who disregard my ruling and use devices actively to communicate outside the chamber will be asked to leave the chamber forthwith”.
His warning to MPs follows in the footsteps of his predecessor Betty Boothroyd’s 1997 rebuke to Labour MPs whose pagers could be heard bleeping in the chamber.
Any audible electronic sound is liable to earn the MP in question a sharp rebuke from the chair.
