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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Speaker in stand-off with Cameron | Speaker in stand-off with Cameron |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Commons Speaker Michael Martin sparked uproar at prime minister's questions by stopping David Cameron asking Tony Blair who he wanted as "his successor". | Commons Speaker Michael Martin sparked uproar at prime minister's questions by stopping David Cameron asking Tony Blair who he wanted as "his successor". |
| In an almost unprecedented move, Mr Martin told the Tory leader he could not ask about the Labour leadership. | In an almost unprecedented move, Mr Martin told the Tory leader he could not ask about the Labour leadership. |
| Mr Cameron hit back saying: "Mr Speaker are you honestly saying we cannot ask the prime minister of the country..." before being interrupted by Mr Martin. | Mr Cameron hit back saying: "Mr Speaker are you honestly saying we cannot ask the prime minister of the country..." before being interrupted by Mr Martin. |
| Amid rowdy scenes with MPs shouting he then threatened to suspend the sitting. | Amid rowdy scenes with MPs shouting he then threatened to suspend the sitting. |
| Struggling to be heard above the noise, Mr Martin then attempted to explain the ruling. | Struggling to be heard above the noise, Mr Martin then attempted to explain the ruling. |
| I have let the right hon Gentleman away with that before... Michael Martin Exchange in full | I have let the right hon Gentleman away with that before... Michael Martin Exchange in full |
| "He has no right to ask at the floor of this house at Prime Minister's Question Time who the prime minister is supporting for an office within the Labour Party," he explained. | "He has no right to ask at the floor of this house at Prime Minister's Question Time who the prime minister is supporting for an office within the Labour Party," he explained. |
| 'Bizarre' | 'Bizarre' |
| Mr Cameron, whose original, interrupted, question had not mentioned the Labour Party, replied: "Perhaps I could just with my last question, ask the prime minister who he would like to see as the next prime minister of this country?" | Mr Cameron, whose original, interrupted, question had not mentioned the Labour Party, replied: "Perhaps I could just with my last question, ask the prime minister who he would like to see as the next prime minister of this country?" |
| Speaker Martin must be politically neutral | |
| Shouting "Order! Order!" as the House once more erupted, Mr Martin told the Tory leader: "I'll allow that. That's in order." | Shouting "Order! Order!" as the House once more erupted, Mr Martin told the Tory leader: "I'll allow that. That's in order." |
| Mr Blair then heaped praise on the Chancellor for delivering the lowest inflation, lowest unemployment and lowest interest rates in the country's history. | Mr Blair then heaped praise on the Chancellor for delivering the lowest inflation, lowest unemployment and lowest interest rates in the country's history. |
| Mr Cameron's spokesman said he would be taking the matter up with the opposition Whips' office. | Mr Cameron's spokesman said he would be taking the matter up with the opposition Whips' office. |
| He described Mr Martin's intervention as "bizarre and extraordinary". | He described Mr Martin's intervention as "bizarre and extraordinary". |
| Neutral | Neutral |
| But Conservative sources said it was "unlikely" that an official challenge would be mounted to the Speaker's ruling. | But Conservative sources said it was "unlikely" that an official challenge would be mounted to the Speaker's ruling. |
| The Speaker has the job of presiding over debates in the commons and has also rebuked Mr Blair in recent weeks for quizzing Mr Cameron over his policies. | The Speaker has the job of presiding over debates in the commons and has also rebuked Mr Blair in recent weeks for quizzing Mr Cameron over his policies. |
| Mr Martin, who was elected as a Labour MP but whose role requires him to be politically neutral, became Speaker in 2000. | Mr Martin, who was elected as a Labour MP but whose role requires him to be politically neutral, became Speaker in 2000. |
| The Glaswegian former sheet metal worker's election broke convention as its saw Labour retain the speakership for a second time. | The Glaswegian former sheet metal worker's election broke convention as its saw Labour retain the speakership for a second time. |