Quite a stramash concerning parliamentary procedure at Prime Minister's Questions today.
Ian Blackford, the SNP's MP for Ross, Skye and Lochaber - and the SNP’s Westminster leader - asked for the House of Commons to sit in private which, among other things, would mean that TV proceedings would be cut.
Mr. Speaker opted, with advice from parliamentary counsel, to hear the issue at the end of PMQs. That appears to accord with the requirement that the related Motion be put ‘forthwith’.
Wishing an immediate hearing, Mr. Blackford pressed the matter and was asked to leave the chamber by the Speaker.
This resulted in all SNP MPs leaving with Mr. Backford - all vacated the Commons chamber.
This may, inadvertently, have allowed Mr. Speaker to avoid the confrontation postponed to the end of PMQs.
This heated event followed on from debate on retained powers being curtailed in yesterday's parliamentary schedule.
Interestingly, before the discussion of the Lords amendments arose as the latest stage of the Commons Brexit debate yesterday, a Ten Minute Rule Bill was presented by Fiona Bruce, Conservative MP for Congleton Commons relating to minimum alcohol pricing in England and Wales.
Legislation on that has just been implemented north of the border so Westminster, it seems, has followed Holyrood's lead on that particular matter (albeit through the vehicle of a Ten Minute Rule Bill.
However the introduction of the bill on minimum alcohol pricing was muted by the hubbub of excited conversation across the Commons that preceded the opening of the Brexit debate.
Mr. Speaker, on that occasion, did not, discernibly, call for order.
From these two instances it could be argued that Westminster is according Holyrood mixed levels of attention.
Whether or not the SNP's vacating proceedings en masse proves effective remains to be seen.
While the Prime Minister is attempting to sail her government through choppy political waters, Mr. Speaker seems to be subject to his own challenges in the Parliamentary engine room.
Motions that the House Sit in Private:
https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201415/cmselect/cmproced/753/753.pdf
Ten Minute Rule Bills explained:
https://www.parliament.uk/site-information/glossary/ten-minute-rule-bill/
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They think it’s Bolsover
Following shortly on the events in today's PMQs, Dennis Skinner, Labour MP for Bolsover, helpfully offered his expert view on being thrown out of the Commons in a Point of Order.
With a twinkle in his eye the esteemed parliamentary poacher provided the gamekeeper some insight into the matter of being asked to leave the House based on his own redoubtable experience.