Downing Street Says » Speaker of the House of Commons

» Thursday, December 4, 2008

Speaker of the House of Commons

Asked if the Prime Minister had confidence in the Speaker of the House of Commons, the PMS said yes.

Asked why, the PMS replied that the Prime Minister believed that we should support the Speaker s decision to review the rules so that MPs could continue to do their job, while ensuring that no one was above the law.

Asked if the Prime Minister accepted that there was some urgency in getting a review of the rules underway as soon as possible, the PMS said that we needed to balance the desire for an investigation by the committee with the requirement not to interfere in an ongoing police investigation. We had taken legal advice in regards to the motion establishing the committee, when it should report and the implications that the operation of that committee potentially had for an ongoing investigation. This was reflected in the language in the motion that was drawn up by the Government as per the Speaker s request yesterday.

Put that the committee that investigated honours had carried on their work while the police investigation had been ongoing, the PMS said that yesterday s motion had been drawn up on the basis of legal advice.

Asked if the Prime Minister had confidence in the Sergeant of Arms, the PMS said that that was not a question for the Prime Minister; it was for the House of Commons authorities and the Speaker.

1 Comment »

He is about the only one who has confidence in the speaker then
Comment by revinkevin — 5 Dec 2008 on 4:21 pm | Link

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