American Reacts to UK MPs Behaving Badly

Dennis Skinner's best quote in HoP, "Half of the Tories opposite are crooks" The speaker: "Please retract. Dennis: "OK, half the Tories opposite aren't crooks

"Dodgy" isn't a bad word in the UK. But it's too close to accusing someone of being a liar, and so not allowed in Parliament.

Yes you cannot call an MP a liar. A former MP, Winston Churchill said that"The right honourable member is guilty of a gross inexactitude".

One important rule of decency in parliament is never to call anyone a liar. There are tactful ways to make the same point.

The MP asked to leave was Dennis Skinner who at the time I think was the longest serving MP , he was the MP for a town called Bolsover in Derbyshire were they speak their minds regardless who they are talking to . He always spoke up for the working person and never gave up until he won , he was known throughout parliament and the UK as the Beast of Bolsover

If you can, look on the floor for two lines. These are a swords width apart. You should always stay behind the line - keeping the opposition parties “safe” from each other. This is where the phrase “crossing the line” or “overstepping the mark” comes from.

A speaker is basically a chat mod. You'll also notice the mentality can sometimes be that of a chat room 🤣

By calling him "dodgy" he is accusing him of lying, which is against parliamentary rules.

Dennis Skinner was certainly outspoken and always spoke as he saw things. To call the then Prime Minister "Dodgy Dave " is a real insult but humourous as well. He was getting close towards the end of his long career as an MP at that point and he retired in 2019. I believe he's still alive and now in his 90's. The Beast of Bolsover is no longer in Parliament and the oratory lights have dimmed without him 😭

"The House of Commons is like Congress with a 2 drink minimum" Robin Williams 😅😅😅

The golden object picked up is the “mace” which represents the Queen’s authority in the House and its ability to function and and make laws. It is brought into the House of Commons at the beginning of every sitting day and is removed when the House rises at the end of each day. Again a reflection of the monarch’s authority, running throughout British life however constrained.

The two red lines in front of the benches don't mark out the central aisle, they are exactly two sword lengths apart and represent the closest members of the opposite sides can approach each other. This dates back to the time when a gentleman wore a sword and was supposed to stop arguing MPs from killing each other.

When their being rude to one another in the house of commons, it actually helps sway the voting public to their side. Its the British sarcastic humour that we tend to do, all to well. It works as well. They also give us, as good as they get

"Half of the members opposites are crooks" - "You must withdraw that remark" - "I apologise - half the members opposite are not crooks", ^oo^

In the house you must show some amount of respect for the other MP's and especially the Speaker. Calling someone "dodgy" is like saying that he has used underhanded, or "dodgy" tactics. "Dave" in this instance referes to former Prime Minister David Cameron. In the house one must refer to each other as "the Honourable Gentleman/Lady." No one is fefered to by their names in the house. Not even the Speaker of Prime Minister are refered to by their first names. It is always "the Honorurable Prime Minister" or simply "the Prime Minister;" while the Speaker is refered to as simply "Mr Speaker." And so the Speaker did the only thing reasonable, he gave him a chance, TWO chances, and then sent him out of the house. Since the Speaker is in charge of both chairing debates and ensuring that any and all rules and portocol are followed within the house he was well in his right to remove him. Also the mace that the sent out MP grabs is like the Queens symbol of authority within the House of Commons. It is the reminder that, legally at least, Parliament meets upon the Queens authority. Legally speaking the House of Commons can't meet without that mace in place. Basically him picked it up to try and stop the HoC from meeting. Truying to shut it down.

This is standard behaviour on a weekly basis in the House of Commons.

People get kicked out all the time. The problem with the word “dodgy” is that it implies he is lying. MPs can say all sorts of things but they can’t accuse each other of lying

In USA you have speeches not debate, a skilled debater in parliament encourages questions from both sides and uses them. Often to expose the fallacies in that argument. Facts and figures also have to be accurate.

The gold thing is called the Mace and represents both royal authority in the Chamber and without it neither House can meet or pass laws.

This is what I love about British politics. Everyone, from the Prime Minister on down, sits together on benches, and the opposition gets to call out the government leaders to their faces and demand an immediate answer. You will never see that kind of accountability in the US Congress. There, politicians give endless "Green Eggs and Ham" filibuster speeches or run from terrorists trying to take them hostage while His Excellency the President hangs out alone in the presidential mansion. It's often said that "If you're not talking, you're fighting. We don't talk to each other in the US, so we kill each other instead.