Speaker’s Assistant Trainbearer's reply21 Sep 2023 10:47
I complained to The Speaker about $unak's cowardly announcement which he waited to make until the House had risen when he knows that significant policy announcements should be made in The House of Commons. The reply came back promptly from the 'Speaker’s Assistant Trainbearer"
'Thus, while Mr Speaker shares your frustration with policy announcements being made to the press before they are brought to Parliament, he has no authority to enforce or make amendments to the Ministerial Code. He is, however, working hard to remedy the situation. As you have pointed out, the Speaker has raised the issue in the Chamber several times and he regularly reminds the Government of the need for big announcements to be made to the House in the first instance. Mr Speaker has also held meetings with the Leader of the House, the Chancellor and the Party Whips and will continue to press for improvements.
Under Standing Order 13, the Speaker does not have the authority to recall the House during a Recess – this is a matter for the Government. However, the Speaker wrote to the Prime Minster yesterday to express in the strongest terms that if he did possess that authority, he would ask for a recall of the House immediately. The Speaker has further condemned the actions of the Prime Minister in a statement issued last night:
‘This is a major policy shift, and it should have been announced when the House was sitting. Members with very different views on this issue have expressed their disquiet on the way this has been handled, especially as the Commons rose early last night, so there was plenty of time for this statement to be made. Instead, the unelected House of Lords will have the opportunity to scrutinise this change in direction this afternoon, when it hears the Government’s response to a private notice question on this issue. This is not the way to do business. Ministers are answerable to MPs – we do not have a presidential system here. The House of Commons is where laws are made, national debates are had – and where statements should be made.’
The Speaker takes all comments from members of the public very seriously and would like to reassure you that one of his principal concerns is to ensure that the highest standards of debate are maintained in the House of Commons. He always does his utmost to encourage Members to conduct themselves in a dignified and productive manner in the Chamber, and to remind them of the views of the public on this matter. He is aware that there is much to be done in this regard and will continue to press for improvements.
I hope that the above information is helpful. Thank you for taking the time to write and please accept our best wishes.'
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