The Speaker of the UK's House of Commons in the Parliament has rejected a request from a Member of the Parliament to start imposing fines on other MPs who let their mobile phone ring inside the debating chamber.
Greg Mulholland MP, the member for Leeds North West was motivated by a phone ringing during a debate on culture and the arts and proposed an informal system where the Speaker could impose a voluntary fine with the proceeds going to charity.
During the regular session of Culture, Media and Sport questions in the Commons, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham was repeatedly interrupted by the ringing from the BlackBerry owned by John Whittingdale MP, who is also the chair of the culture, media and sport select committee.
As he only used the BlackBerry for emails, he was unaware of how to turn off the ringtone - and it later transpired that the person calling the BlackBerry had dialed a wrong number.
Calling a point of order minutes later, Mr Mulholland said "On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. While I accept that we are all fallible in terms of the potential to leave on our mobile phones, may I recommend to the House a scheme in operation at Leeds city council, whereby the lord mayor of Leeds fines a council member when his or her phone rings? May I suggest that you, Mr. Speaker, consider a suitable charity and introduce a similar scheme in this House?"
To laughter in the Commons chamber, the Speaker responded: "I've no powers to fine honourable gentlemen or ladies for that matter".
Mr Whittingdale later told the BBC that he would not support such a proposal, saying: "The speaker is quite capable of controlling his chamber without the need of fines."
On the web: Hansard
Posted to the site on 11th November 2008
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