This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-26238837
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Curb 'yobbish' MPs, Speaker Bercow tells party leaders | Curb 'yobbish' MPs, Speaker Bercow tells party leaders |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has written to party leaders, urging them to clamp down on "yobbery and public school twittishness" at Prime Minister's Questions. | House of Commons Speaker John Bercow has written to party leaders, urging them to clamp down on "yobbery and public school twittishness" at Prime Minister's Questions. |
| He told David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg that the tone of debate was putting off the public, the Independent newspaper reported. | He told David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg that the tone of debate was putting off the public, the Independent newspaper reported. |
| Mr Bercow frequently has to intervene to prevent barracking by MPs. | Mr Bercow frequently has to intervene to prevent barracking by MPs. |
| But he said he did not want to appear "prissy" about the issue. | But he said he did not want to appear "prissy" about the issue. |
| During the weekly half-hour Prime Minister's Questions session, Mr Cameron is quizzed by Labour leader Mr Miliband on whatever issues the opposition leader chooses before taking questions from backbench MPs. | During the weekly half-hour Prime Minister's Questions session, Mr Cameron is quizzed by Labour leader Mr Miliband on whatever issues the opposition leader chooses before taking questions from backbench MPs. |
| It has always been a noisy event, with government and opposition MPs bellowing across the Commons chamber at each other and shouting insults. | It has always been a noisy event, with government and opposition MPs bellowing across the Commons chamber at each other and shouting insults. |
| The party leaders also trade barbs which can add to the decibel levels, although David Cameron and Ed Miliband have both said at various times they want to calm the sessions down as it does not present a positive image of politics to the public. | The party leaders also trade barbs which can add to the decibel levels, although David Cameron and Ed Miliband have both said at various times they want to calm the sessions down as it does not present a positive image of politics to the public. |
| 'Pointless' | 'Pointless' |
| In recent months, Mr Bercow has appeared to grow increasingly impatient at co-ordinated heckling on both sides and has singled out those he feels have misbehaved. | In recent months, Mr Bercow has appeared to grow increasingly impatient at co-ordinated heckling on both sides and has singled out those he feels have misbehaved. |
| Earlier this month, Education Secretary Michael Gove was told: "You need to write out a thousand times, 'I will behave myself at Prime Minister's Questions.'" | Earlier this month, Education Secretary Michael Gove was told: "You need to write out a thousand times, 'I will behave myself at Prime Minister's Questions.'" |
| Mr Bercow also told Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop: "Be quiet. Calm yourself. Take up yoga." | Mr Bercow also told Labour MP Tom Blenkinsop: "Be quiet. Calm yourself. Take up yoga." |
| Research by the Hansard Society, which campaigns for parliamentary reform, has found the most common descriptions by the public of Prime Minister's Questions are "noisy", "childish", "over-the-top" and pointless. | Research by the Hansard Society, which campaigns for parliamentary reform, has found the most common descriptions by the public of Prime Minister's Questions are "noisy", "childish", "over-the-top" and pointless. |
| Focus groups were asked whether there was "too much party political point-scoring instead of answering the question" and two-thirds of those taking part agreed. | Focus groups were asked whether there was "too much party political point-scoring instead of answering the question" and two-thirds of those taking part agreed. |
| Almost half said it was "too noisy and aggressive" and just 12% said weekly events made them "proud of our Parliament". | Almost half said it was "too noisy and aggressive" and just 12% said weekly events made them "proud of our Parliament". |
| Mr Bercow told the Independent: "There are people who think culturally the atmosphere is very male, very testosterone-fuelled and, in the worst cases, of yobbery and public school twittishness. | Mr Bercow told the Independent: "There are people who think culturally the atmosphere is very male, very testosterone-fuelled and, in the worst cases, of yobbery and public school twittishness. |
| "I don't think we should be prissy about this, but I am not sure we're setting a good example to the next generation of voters." | "I don't think we should be prissy about this, but I am not sure we're setting a good example to the next generation of voters." |
| Mr Bercow, who has described the chamber during PMQs as louder than a performance by rock band Deep Purple, promised to listen to the party leaders' views before considering whether to set up a commission to look into behaviour in the Commons. | |
| Ruth Fox, director and head of research at the Hansard Society, said: "The public think the conduct of MPs is childish and wouldn't be tolerated in other work places." | Ruth Fox, director and head of research at the Hansard Society, said: "The public think the conduct of MPs is childish and wouldn't be tolerated in other work places." |
| She added: "Reform is overdue if PMQs is to move from being an inward-looking and self-referential event towards its proper role of scrutiny and accountability." | She added: "Reform is overdue if PMQs is to move from being an inward-looking and self-referential event towards its proper role of scrutiny and accountability." |
| The Hansard Society has recommended setting up a "sin bin" for errant MPs and that Prime Minister's Questions be moved from midday on Wednesdays to a peak-time television slot to encourage more interest. | The Hansard Society has recommended setting up a "sin bin" for errant MPs and that Prime Minister's Questions be moved from midday on Wednesdays to a peak-time television slot to encourage more interest. |