Speaker rejects mobile ring fines

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The Commons Speaker Michael Martin has refused an MP's plea to fine colleagues if mobile phones ring in the chamber.

Leeds North West MP Greg Mulholland proposed adopting a local council scheme where all fines go to charity.

He was reacting to a fellow MP's phone ringing twice and interrupting Culture Secretary Andy Burnham while he was answering questions in the Commons.

Although the Speaker said he was "powerless" to fine MPs, Mulholland plans to start an "informal protocol".

During the regular session of Culture, Media and Sport questions in the Commons, Culture Secretary Andy Burnham was repeatedly interrupted by a loud, piercing ringing echoing around the chamber.

Eventually Mr Burnham stopped the answer he was giving and, eyeing the guilty, but nonetheless honourable member, said: "If anybody did that in his committee, Mr Speaker, I'm sure they would receive a stern rebuke from the chair."

The comment was aimed at John Whittingdale the chair of the culture, media and sport select committee.

Mr Whittingdale's Blackberry had gone off and, as he did not use it as a phone, was unaware at first of how to turn the device off.

It later became apparent that the person calling had the wrong number.

Charity call

Calling a point of order minutes later, Mr Mulholland, a former Leeds city councillor raised the subject of the interruption.

He said: "Whilst accepting that we're all fallible in terms of the potential to leave our mobile phones on, may I recommend to the House a scheme in Leeds City Council whereby the Lord Mayor of Leeds fines a member of council who has his or her phone ring?"

He added: "And may I suggest that the Speaker considers a suitable charity and introduces a similar scheme in this House?"

I was talking about an informal protocol, not a serious thing Greg Mulholland MPLiberal Democrat

To laughter in the Commons chamber, the Speaker responded: "I've no powers to fine honourable gentlemen or ladies for that matter".

Leeds City Council have run the fining system for around five years and the current Lord Mayor Frank Robinson has chosen Andrea's Gift, a brain tumour research and support charity, to receive the donations.

So far this year one person has been caught out by leaving their mobile phone on during a meeting and swiftly donated £20 to the charity as a result.

Lord Mayor Robinson told the BBC he thought the idea should be implemented.

He said: "If MPs can't be bothered to switch off their mobile phones, then they deserve to have a penalty made on them.

"Obviously you can't legislate against it - but on the other hand I don't think any MP would want to be shamed by the speaker saying he or she hadn't accepted the practice."

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Mulholland accepted that the Speaker clearly cannot budge on the matter, but said "I was talking about an informal protocol, not a serious thing".

He added: "If I get caught out I will pay money to a charity - and if the speaker doesn't want to nominate one, I will find someone who will. It seems a particularly good natured way of dealing with this."

However he faces opposition to his plans.

Mr Whittingdale told the BBC that he would not support such a system, saying: "The speaker is quite capable of controlling his chamber without the need of fines."