Surf Wiki
Save to docs
geography/united-kingdom

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

Suspension from the UK parliament

Parliamentary discipline

Summary

Parliamentary discipline

In the Parliament of the United Kingdom, Members of Parliament (MPs) can be suspended from sitting in the House of Commons by the Speaker for "disorderly conduct". The Speaker can order an MP removed from the house until the end of the day. The speaker more often "names" an MP.

When an MP is named, a vote is held in the house in the same way as a normal vote on legislation. If the vote is successful, the MP named is suspended for five days for a first offence and 20 days for a second offence. During this time they cannot take part in either votes or debates in Parliament. They also have their pay suspended.

Short exclusions are typically given for conduct within the chamber, including conduct intended as forms of protest. Several short suspensions listed below involve interfering with the ceremonial mace. The Commons Select Committee on Standards and the Independent Expert Panel are empowered to investigate more serious misconduct and can recommend suspensions. Such suspensions of at least 10 sitting days and/or 14 calendar days trigger recall petitions under the provisions of the Recall of MPs Act 2015.

Members of the House of Lords can also be suspended. Since 1642, this occurred for the first time in May 2009 when Labour peers Lord Truscott and Lord Taylor of Blackburn were suspended after a newspaper accused them of offering to change laws for cash. It was followed by the suspension of three more peers in October 2010, when Baroness Uddin, Lord Paul and Lord Bhatia were suspended following the Parliamentary expenses scandal.

List of MPs suspended from parliament

DateMember of ParliamentPolitical partyDurationReason
2 July 1931John McGovernIndependent Labour PartyRemainder of the sessionDisregarding ruling of the chair and requiring force to be removed when initially ordered to withdraw.
27 May 1976Michael HeseltineConservative...Seizing the ceremonial mace.
1984Dennis SkinnerLabour...Unparliamentary language – referring to David Owen as a "pompous sod", and then only withdrawing the word "pompous" when instructed by the Speaker to withdraw the remark.
1985Brian SedgemoreLabour...Accusing Nigel Lawson of "perverting the course of justice".
15 March 1988Alex SalmondScottish National Party5 daysDisorderly conduct.
20 April 1988Ron BrownLabour20 daysDamaging the ceremonial mace by throwing it to the floor. He had agreed to read a pre-written apology but proceeded to add comments of his own, saying that he was "grovelling".
2 July 1992Dennis SkinnerLabour...Unparliamentary language – referring to Minister for Agriculture John Gummer as a "little squirt of a minister"
29 November 1993Ian PaisleyDemocratic Unionist5 daysUnparliamentary language – refusing to withdraw use of the word "falsehoods" after being instructed to do so by the Speaker, and then refusing to withdraw from the house after being instructed to by the speaker.
9 May 1995Dennis SkinnerLabour...Unparliamentary language — accusing the government of a "crooked deal".
3 March 1998Ronnie CampbellLabour...Unparliamentary language, calling Conservative Shadow Agriculture Minister Michael Jack a "hypocrite".
1 March 2000Teresa GormanConservative4 weeksFailing to disclose on the Register of Members Interests between 1987 and 1994 three rented properties in south London and for her failure to register two rented-out Portuguese properties from 1987 to 1999. The Commons' Standards and Privileges committee also found she should not have introduced a Ten Minute Rule Bill in 1990 proposing the repeal of the Rent Acts without registering and declaring a financial interest.
31 October 2001Geoffrey RobinsonLabour3 weeksFailing to declare receipt of £200,000 from outside interest Hollis/Lock in payment for "management services" he provided in 1990.
13 February 2002Keith VazLabour1 monthGiving misleading information to the Standards and Privileges Committee.
14 February 2003Michael TrendConservative2 weeksObstructing an investigation into his financial affairs.
11 September 2003Clive BettsLabour1 weekAgreeing to copy a doctored document for his parliamentary assistant as part of an immigration bid
3 February 2005Jonathan SayeedConservative2 weeksUsing tours of Parliament to promote a travel business.
8 December 2005Dennis SkinnerLabour...Accused the Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne of taking cocaine as a student.
20 April 2006Dennis SkinnerLabour...Unparliamentary language – accusing Deputy Speaker Sir Alan Haselhurst of leniency towards opposition frontbencher Theresa May "because she's a Tory".
23 July 2007George GallowayRespect18 daysQuestioning the integrity of MPs investigating whether Galloway took money from Iraq.
31 January 2008Derek ConwayConservative10 daysEmploying family members in breach of rules on payments.
15 January 2009John McDonnellLabour5 daysRemoving the ceremonial mace.
11 May 2011David LawsLiberal Democrat7 daysPaying rent from his MP's allowance to his partner.
18 September 2012Paul FlynnLabour5 daysAccusing Defence Secretary Philip Hammond of lying to the House of Commons
10 July 2013Nigel DoddsDemocratic Unionist Party...Unparliamentary language – describing answers given by Secretary of State for Northern Ireland Theresa Villiers to questions about her powers as being "deliberately deceptive".
11 April 2016Dennis SkinnerLabour...Unparliamentary language – referring to Prime Minister David Cameron as 'Dodgy Dave' and refusing to withdraw the remark.
10 October 2016Justin TomlinsonConservative2 daysleaked a parliamentary report to a Wonga.com employee
13 June 2018Ian BlackfordScottish National Party...Not returning to his seat and causing a scene.
24 July 2018Ian Paisley JrDemocratic Unionist Party30 daysFailing to declare two family holidays paid for by the Sri Lankan Government. Triggered the 2018 North Antrim recall petition
10 December 2018Lloyd Russell-MoyleLabour...Removing the ceremonial mace.
31 October 2019Keith VazLabour6 monthsExpressed willingness to purchase cocaine for sex workers.
11 May 2020Conor BurnsConservative7 daysIntimidating a member of the public.
16 December 2020Drew HendryScottish National PartyNot returning to his seat against the Speaker's instruction and removing the ceremonial mace.
27 May 2021Rob RobertsConservative6 weeksBreach of Parliament's sexual misconduct policy.
22 July 2021Dawn ButlerLabourUnparliamentary language - Stating the Prime Minister had 'lied' and refusing to withdraw the remark.
31 January 2022Ian BlackfordScottish National PartyAccusing Boris Johnson of "wilfully misleading parliament" about the parties held at Downing Street during Covid-19 restrictions and refusing Speaker's request to withdraw his comment by responding "It's not my fault if the prime minister can't be trusted to tell the truth".
13 July 2022Neale Hanvey
Kenny MacAskillAlba Party5 daysDisorderly conduct - Protesting for Scottish Independence by obstructing Prime Minister's Questions.
24 May 2023Paul BristowConservativeDisorderly conduct - Interrupting Leader of The Opposition Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister's Questions.
6 June 2023Margaret FerrierIndependent (formerly Scottish National Party)30 days (later recalled by constituents)Breach of Covid lockdown rules. Triggered the 2023 Rutherglen and Hamilton West recall petition.
25 October 2023Peter BoneIndependent (Conservative whip suspended)30 days (later recalled by constituents)Committed bullying and sexual misconduct towards a staff member. Triggered the 2023 Wellingborough recall petition.
28 February 2024Scott BentonIndependent (Conservative whip suspended)35 days (later resigned during recall petition)Suggesting to undercover reporters from The Times that he would be willing to break lobbying rules for money claiming that "he was corrupt and for sale". Triggered the 2024 Blackpool South recall petition{{cite news
21 January 2026Richard HoldenConservativeDisorderly conduct - Asked to leave the Commons by Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle after interrupting Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during Prime Minister's Questions.

References

References

  1. "Standing Orders (2005)". [[His Majesty's Stationery Office.
  2. (21 May 2009). "Britain: 2 Are Suspended From the House of Lords". The New York Times.
  3. Sparrow, Andrew. (14 May 2009). "Two Labour peers, Lord Truscott and Lord Taylor, face suspension for offering to change law for money". The Guardian.
  4. (October 2010). "Three peers suspended from Lords over expenses claims". BBC News.
  5. (2 July 1931). "Glasgow Green (Lay Preachers)".
  6. (9 October 2008). "Mace - Commons". BBC News.
  7. Silvera, Ian. (12 April 2016). "Dennis Skinner's record of rebellion: Veteran Labour MP kicked out of parliament yet again".
  8. thatcheritescot. (28 July 2013). "Betty Boothroyd Suspends Ian Paisley".
  9. (29 November 1993). "Northern Ireland - Hansard - UK Parliament".
  10. (3 March 1998). "Labour MP suspended from Commons". BBC News.
  11. (1 March 2000). "Standards and Privileges". [[Hansard.
  12. (3 May 2001). "Committee on Standards in Public Life Seventh Report 2001". Parliament.
  13. (31 October 2001). "Standards and Privileges".
  14. Russell, Ben. (14 February 2002). "Vaz given one-month Commons suspension". The Independent.
  15. (13 February 2002). "Standards and Privileges".
  16. Woolf, Marie. (14 February 2003). "Senior Tory MP suspended over false expenses claim". The Independent.
  17. (11 September 2003). "MP suspended from Commons". BBC News.
  18. (11 September 2003). "Standards and Privileges".
  19. Hencke, David. (4 February 2005). "Tory MP suspended for offering Westminster tours". The Guardian.
  20. Westminster, Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons. "House of Commons Hansard Debates for 8 Dec 2005 (pt 4)".
  21. King, Oliver. (20 April 2006). "Skinner thrown out of the Commons - again". The Guardian.
  22. (24 July 2007). "Galloway ordered out of Commons".
  23. (23 July 2007). "Standards and Privileges". TheyWorkForYou.
  24. (31 January 2008). "Derek Conway suspended from Commons". Daily Telegraph.
  25. (15 January 2009). "MP suspended after mace protest". BBC News.
  26. (15 January 2009). "Order...". TheyWorkForYou.
  27. Watt, Holly. (11 May 2011). "MPs' expenses: David Laws suspended from House of Commons for seven days". The Telegraph.
  28. (10 July 2013). "Dodds ordered from Commons chamber". BBC News.
  29. (11 April 2016). "Dennis Skinner thrown out of Parliament over 'Dodgy Dave' jibe".
  30. [https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/justin-tomlinson-dwp-disabilities-minister-suspended-parliament-leaking-payday-loan-report-wonga-a7308936.html The Independent]
  31. (13 June 2018). "SNP MPs walk out of PMQs in 'Brexit power grab' protest". [[BBC News Online]].
  32. Buchan, Lizzy. (10 December 2018). "Labour MP suspended from Commons for stealing ceremonial mace in protest at Brexit vote delay".
  33. (31 October 2019). "MP Keith Vaz suspended from Commons after drug and sex inquiry".
  34. "Committee on Standards publishes report on Conor Burns - News from Parliament".
  35. (2021-07-22). "Dawn Butler reprimanded for saying Boris Johnson 'lied'".
  36. (31 January 2022). "Gray report: SNP Westminster leader Blackford ordered out of Commons". [[BBC News Online]].
  37. "'Shut up and get out' - Speaker orders two MPS to leave". BBC News.
  38. "Angry Speaker asks Conservative MP to leave PMQs". Sky News.
  39. "MPs vote to ban Margaret Ferrier from Commons for 30 days". BBC News.
  40. "Peter Bone: Ex-Tory MP accused of sexual misconduct and bullying suspended from Commons for six weeks". Sky News.
Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

parliament-of-the-united-kingdom
Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about Suspension from the UK parliament — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report