SCANDAL IN COMMONS

Hokitika Guardian, 4 September 1930, Page 7

SCANDAL IN COMMONS

M.P. SEIZES THE MACE. TWO SOCIALISTS SUSPENDED. LONDON, July '25. Not since that day 300 or so years ago when Oliver Cromwell marched into the .House of Commons, and pointing to the Mace called out “Take away that fool’s bauble!” have there been such happenings in the House as there were this afternoon.

Two Socialist M.P.’s were suspended -Mr Fenner Brockway, the member for Leyton, and Mr John Beckett, the member for Peckham.

,Mr Brockway’s suspension was for defying the Speaker. Mr Beckett’se was for “gross disorderly conduct.” He seized the Mace—the symbol of Parliament’s authority—and marched wit hit over his shoulder, crying out, “Mr Speaker, Sir, it’s a damned disgrace !”—a reference to the treatement of Mr Brockway. M.P.’s were at first too aghast, too dumbfounded to do anything to stop him. Eventually an attendant seized him and took the Mace from'him. After the, suspension, Mr Brockway and Mr Beckett were escorted from the precincts of the House by a police inspector. Their suspensions will be five , Parliamentary days. Mr Beckett is the M.P. who recently married Miss Kyrle Bellew, the actress, at Gretna Green. HOW THE STORM BROKE. Question time in the House of Commons opened quietly enough, with the usual queries about a hunderd and one things, important and unimportant. Then Clime a minor, storm over the; case of the punishment of a boy of 8 at Chelmsford which led to cries of “Shame!” ■ - ‘ , And'.then came the/great;storm —;a. storm ,the like of which the House has not known-for many years. l,t began with .or A. Fenner Brockasking; ..til6 Prime Minister whether, be given. before the' rechs^ for a discussion mri : the situation 1 orfj India/?. Mr- MacDonald Brockway to a previous reply which he liad'given oh the subject. “May.. £ •■ask/’' persisted Mr Brockway., '/‘^hetiier^'there Inis been, no de* velopniieiit since 1 la/st Monday which? a debate desirable.’’;/; . • Minfstef - replied that any development that had taken place had been ■ in the opposite direction. , Pale-. and tense, Mr Brockway rose again to say: ' ‘May I ask whether in view of the fact that over 5000 men and women are now in prison in India and that'the last hopes of settlement aeejn' to be ‘destroyed, this House is to have no opportunity of discussng the matter before the recess.”

Rebukingly, Air MacDonald answered: “1 should deprecate most strongly any-sort cf statement that the last hop es of a settlement, had been destroyed because as a matter of fact it is not true.” Paler still, but resolute, Mr Brockway rose to put a point ol order. Its for inwas such that M.P.’s looked on in surprise. He asked the Speaker whether there was any means by which back bench members of the House, because of any agreement between the three , party leaders might not have an opportunity to raise questions upon which they felt deeply. “I cannot create new methods,” replied, the Speaker. “The methods of the ordinary procedure are open to all members irrespective of parties. Mr Brockway complained that on the I last occasion when back benchers" wanted to raise the matter of the situation in India they were compelled to use the adjournment, and the question was postponed until the last hour rjf .that debate.

I Ff e a sked if that was a dignified way of dealing with the question. •WILD SCENE DEVELOPS. It was here that the storm began, i The Speaker stood up, and by the rules of the House Mr Brockway should have sat down immediately. He remained standing, however, and cried ,!, I am very sorry, but I cannot possibly be silent in view of this situation.” ' Hubbub broke out on both sides of the. House, but, raising his voice, Mr Brockway spoke so powerfully that every word could be heard. < ! “I .speak with very great respect,” he said many times, The Speaker requested him not to make a demonstration. But Mr Brookway, still on his feet and reiterating that lie spoke with great respect to the Chair, said: “The situation in India is now so serious that we should be failing to do our duty if we did not speak our minds on that matter and if the Front Bench .will not allow ail opportunity, then we must try other means. I speak with very great' respect, hut one cannot be silent.” Above the noise in the House, the roar of “Name him!” was raised, and the Speaker warned Mr Brockway that lie would have to take this course if he did not obey . his ruling. . Defiantly, however, Mr Brockway remained standing, and repeated: 1 I speak with very great respect, but the situation is such that I cannot be silent.”/ The House was now rocking with shouts of protest, but Mr Brockway went on speaking, and at length the Speaker said he must name Mr Brockway, and the Prime Minister accordingly. rose immediately to move that Mr Brockway. be suspended from the service of this House. * ■■ CARRYING OFF THE MACE. Astonishing as things had been up to now, a more astonishing scene followed the conclusion of the division. . As the tellers approached the table to announce the figures of the division

Mr John Beckett, the Socialist member for Pocliam, walked down the gangway, and, before members could fully appreciate his intention, he had dashed towards the table and had seized the Mace, shouting at the same tune, “Mr Speaker, Sir, it’s a damned disgrace !” There were loud protesting cries at tins outrage, but Mr Beckett slung the Mace over his shoulder and stepped down the floor towards the Bar of the House without anyone having the enterprise to impede his progress.

As soon as lie reached the Bar, however, a stalwart attendant made a rush at him, grabbed the Mace, and handed it to Sir Colin Keppel, the Sergeant-at-Arms, who walked up the floor and restored it to its place. | In the excitement of the movement ' the tellers omitted to read out the I figures of the division, hut one of them passed a slip of paper containing them on to the Speaker, who there- ! upon called upon Mr Fenner Brockway to withdraw . MEMBERS SUSPENDED. Meanwhile Mr Beckett had been loitering, Tiis hands in pockets, about the floor of the Chamber in company with Mr W. T, J. Brown, the Socialist Member for Wolverhampton. Silence' was restored for a moment, and all eyes were turned on Mr Brockway to see what he would do, I Turning to the Speaker, he said: “Out of respect for you, Sir, I will ' leave,” There was a sympathetic cheer from some of his associates, nnd then Mr Brockway bowed to the Chair and walked down the gangway and de-i parted, | He was quickly followed by Mr Beckett, Mr W, J, Brown ostentatiously shook hands with Mr Brockway as he was leaving, That incident over, the Speaker rose again, and said, “I wish also to name the hon. member for Peckham for gross disorderly conduct.” There were loud cheers from all parts of the House at that. The Prime Minister then rose and submitted the formal motion suspending Mr Beckett from the service of the House, The motion was received with

loud Conservative cheers, and when it was put to thd House by the Speaker was again greeted with a resounding cry of “Aye” and a rather feeble protesting “No”- from some of Mr Beckett’s colleagues below the gangway.

Mr W. J. Brown and Mr McGovern the new Socialist M.P. for the ShettJestone division of Glasgow) were nominated as tellers for the “Noes.” The division resulted in Mr Beet ett’s suspension being carried by 324 votes to 4. POLICE ESCORT. On leaving the Chamber the two members walked into Palace-yard where they were met by a police inspector.

The inspector accompanied them across Palace-vard until they had passed through the gates which mark the limit of the pre- ; nts of the House. Under the Standing Orders of the House the suspensions continue until the fifth day, which means neither member will he able to sit again until next Thursday. This is the . first time a member has been suspended during this Parliament.