Unparliamentary language

Parliaments and legislative bodies around the world impose certain rules and standards during debates. Tradition has evolved that there are words or phrases that are deemed inappropriate for use in the legislature whilst it is in session. In a Westminster system, this is called unparliamentary language and there are similar rules in other kinds of legislative systems. This includes, but is not limited to, the suggestion of dishonesty or the use of profanity. Most unacceptable is any insinuation that another member is dishonourable. So, for example, in the British House of Commons any direct reference to a member as lying is unacceptable.[1] A conventional alternative, when necessary, is to complain of a "terminological inexactitude".

Exactly what constitutes unparliamentary language is generally left to the discretion of the Speaker of the House. Part of the speaker's job is to enforce the assembly's debating rules, one of which is that members may not use "unparliamentary" language. That is, their words must not offend the dignity of the assembly. In addition, legislators in some places are protected from prosecution and civil actions by parliamentary immunity which generally stipulates that they cannot be sued or otherwise prosecuted for anything spoken in the legislature. Consequently, they are expected to avoid using words or phrases that might be seen as abusing that immunity.

Like other rules that have changed with the times, speakers' rulings on unparliamentary language reflect the tastes of the period. The Table, the annual journal of the Society of Clerks-at-the-Table in Commonwealth Parliaments, includes a list of expressions ruled unparliamentary that year in the national and regional assemblies of its members.[2]

Partial list, by country

Australia

In the Australian Senate, the words "liar" and "dumbo" were ordered to be withdrawn and deemed unparliamentary during a session in 1997.[3]

Belgium

In Belgium there is no such thing as unparliamentary language. A member of parliament is allowed to say anything he or she wishes when inside parliament. This is considered necessary in Belgium to be able to speak of a democratic state and is a constitutional right. Nevertheless, on 27 March 2014, Laurent Louis called the Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo a pedophile. The other members of parliament left the room in protest.[4] This immunity that manifests itself in an absolute freedom of speech when in parliament does not exist when outside of parliament. In that case prosecution is possible when and if the majority of parliament decides so.

Canada

These are some of the words and phrases that speakers through the years have ruled "unparliamentary" in the Parliament of Canada, the Legislative Assembly of Alberta, and the National Assembly of Québec:

Hong Kong

The President of the Legislative Council ordered out for using the following phrases:

  • 臭罌出臭草 (foul grass grows out of a foul ditch), when referring to some of the members (1996).[10]

The following phrases have been deemed unparliamentary by the President of the Legislative Council:

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

India

In 2012, the Indian Parliament published a book of words and phrases that were considered to be unparliamentary:[11]

Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, bad man, badmashi, bandicoot, blackmail, blind, deaf and dumb, bluffing, bribe, bucket of shit, communist, confused mind, dacoit, darling (said to a female MP), deceive, double-minded, double-talk, downtrodden, goonda, lazy, liar, loudmouth, lousy, nuisance, racketeer, radical extremist, rat, ringmaster, scumbag, thief, thumbprint (to an illiterate MP)

Ireland

In Dáil Éireann, the lower house of the Oireachtas (Irish parliament), the chair (Ceann Comhairle or replacement) rules in accordance with standing orders on disorderly conduct, including prohibited words, expressions, and insinuations.[12] If the chair rules that an utterance is out of order, then typically the member withdraws the remark and no further action occurs.[13] The relevant words are retained in the Official Report transcription despite being formally withdrawn.[14] The chair cannot rule if they did not hear the words alleged to be unparliamentary.[15] A member who refuses to withdraw a remark may be suspended and must leave the chamber.[16] A periodically updated document, Salient Rulings of the Chair, lists past rulings, ordered by topic, with reference to the Official Report.[12][17][18] Rulings superseded by subsequent changes to standing orders are omitted.[12] It is disorderly for one Teachta Dála (TD; deputy) to "call another Deputy names",[19] specifically including:[20]

brat, buffoon, chancer, communist, corner boy, coward, fascist, gurrier, guttersnipe, hypocrite, rat, scumbag, scurrilous speaker, or yahoo;

or to insinuate that a TD is lying[21] or drunk.[22] The word "handbagging" is unparliamentary "particularly with reference to a lady member of the House".[23] Allegations of criminal or dishonourable conduct against a member can only be made by a formal motion.[24] Conduct specifically ruled on includes selling one's vote, violation of cabinet confidentiality,[25] and doctoring the Official Report.[26] Charges against a member's political party are allowed; the chair decides whether an allegation is "personal" or "political".[27] Members may not refer to the Dáil or its proceedings as a:[28]

circus, farce, slander machine.

During a December 2009 debate, Paul Gogarty said, "With all due respect, in the most unparliamentary language, fuck you Deputy [Emmet] Stagg."[29][17] He immediately apologised and withdrew the remark.[29][17] The debate's temporary chairman at the time lacked the Ceann Comhairle's power to suspend disorderly members;[30] in any case, once Gogarty withdrew the remark he was not out of order, although his words led to general disorder in the chamber.[31] Gogarty's apology noted ("rather tenuously"[32]) that the word fuck was not explicitly listed in the Salient Rulings.[33][34] Ensuing calls for tougher sanctions led the Dáil Committee on Procedure and Privileges (CPP) to refer the matter to a subcommittee,[34][35] which said the correct response was for the CPP to issue a formal rebuke, as had in fact been done to Gogarty.[36]

After heated interruptions to a November 2012 debate, Ceann Comhairle Seán Barrett said "This is not a shouting match, like gurriers on a street shouting at each other."[37] A spokesperson said gurriers was not out of order since it was not addressed at an individual.[15]

Italy

In Italian history, the unparliamentarian language was the only limit to free speech of a deputy. So it was claimed by Giacomo Matteotti in his last discourse in the Chamber of Deputies:

I ask to speak not prudently, nor imprudently, but parliamentarianly

— Giacomo Matteotti[38]

In addition, during the Republic, the use of foul language in Parliament produced jurisprudence by the constitutional court, which has implemented the libel suits.[39]

New Zealand

The Parliament of New Zealand maintains a list of words, and particularly phrases, that the Speaker has ruled are unbecoming, insulting, or otherwise unparliamentary. These include:[40]

  • idle vapourings of a mind diseased (1946)
  • his brains could revolve inside a peanut shell for a thousand years without touching the sides (1949)
  • energy of a tired snail returning home from a funeral (1963)

The Parliament also maintains a list of language that has been uttered in the House, and has been found not to be unparliamentary; this includes:

  • commo (meaning communist, 1969)
  • scuttles for his political funk hole (1974)

Norway

In 2009, a member of the Progress Party was interrupted during question period by the Speaker for calling a minister a "highway bandit".

United Kingdom

In the House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the following words have been deemed unparliamentary over time: bastard,[41] blackguard, coward, deceptive,[42] dodgy,[43] drunk, falsehoods,[44] git, guttersnipe, hooligan, hypocrite, idiot, ignoramus, liar, pipsqueak, rat, slimy, sod, squirt,[45] stoolpigeon, swine, tart, traitor,[46] wart.

In addition, accusations of 'crooked deals' or insinuation of the use of banned substances by a member are considered unparliamentary language (all attributable to Dennis Skinner).[47] An accusation that an MP's presence in the house has "been bought" is also unparliamentary.[48]

The word 'dodgy' when used by Ed Miliband, was not however, found to be unparliamentary.[49]

In 2019, in the run up to the Conservative leadership election, SNP leader Ian Blackford accused Boris Johnson of being a racist. Asked to withdraw the term by the speaker, Blackford confirmed that he had informed Johnson about his intention to use it and qualified his statement. The speaker then allowed it to stand.[50] In the following week he accused Johnson of being a liar ("has made a career out of lying"). No request was made by the speaker to withdraw this statement.[51]

Northern Ireland

The Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, William Hay, gave a ruling in the chamber on 24 November 2009 on unparliamentary language.[52] In essence rather than making judgements on the basis of particular words or phrases that have been ruled to be unparliamentary in the Assembly or elsewhere the Speaker said that he would judge members' remarks against standards of courtesy, good temper and moderation which he considered to be the standards of parliamentary debate. He went on to say that in making his judgement he would consider the nature of members' remarks and the context in which they were made. In 2013, Hay ruled that insinuation of MLAs being members of proscribed organizations was unparliamentary language.[53]

Wales

In the National Assembly for Wales the Presiding Officer has intervened when the term "lying" has been used. In December 2004, the Presiding Officer notably sent Leanne Wood out of the chamber for referring to Queen Elizabeth II as 'Mrs Windsor'.[54]

United States

In the US, representatives were censured for using unparliamentary language in the House of Representatives throughout its history. Other levels of government have similar disciplinary procedures dealing with inappropriate words spoken in the legislature.

Avoiding unparliamentary language

It is a point of pride among some British MPs to be able to insult their opponents in the House without use of unparliamentary language. Several MPs, notably Sir Winston Churchill, have been considered masters of this game.

Some terms which have evaded the Speaker's rules are:

Clare Short implicitly accused the Employment minister Alan Clark of being drunk at the dispatch box shortly after her election in 1983, but avoided using the word, saying that Clark was "incapable". Clark's colleagues on the Conservative benches in turn accused Short of using unparliamentary language and the Speaker asked her to withdraw her accusation. Clark later admitted in his diaries that Short had been correct in her assessment. In 1991, Speaker Bernard Weatherill adjudged that usage of the word "jerk" by Opposition leader Neil Kinnock was not unparliamentary language.[55]

Notes


Citations
  1. Colin Pilkington (1999). The Politics Today Companion to the British Constitution. pp. 157–158. ISBN 978-0-7190-5303-0.
  2. "Publications; The Table". Society of the Clerks-at-the-Table in Commonwealth Parliaments (SCAT). Retrieved 19 June 2020.
  3. "Senate Official Hansard: Thirty-eight parliament first session—fourth period" (PDF). Parliament of Australia. 16 June 1997. p. 38. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 June 2011.
  4. "Laurent Louis traite Elio Di Rupo de "pédophile", incident à la Chambre" [Laurent Louis calls Elio Di Rupo a "pedophile", incident in parliament] (in French). RTBF. 27 March 2014.
  5. Colombo, Fascinating Canada: A Book of Questions and Answers (2011). Fascinating Canada: A Book of Questions and Answers. Dundurn. pp. 232–233. ISBN 1-4597-0028-7.
  6. "The Role of the Speaker of the House of Commons". Parliament of Canada. 25 October 2001. Archived from the original on 26 March 2005.
  7. Lytwyn, Dan (18 November 2016). "A brief review of unparliamentary language in Canada". BBC News. British Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 23 November 2018.
  8. "NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh booted from Commons for calling Bloc MP a racist - CBC News". CBC. 25 March 2020. Retrieved 23 January 2021.
  9. "Uproar as Justin Trudeau hurls four-letter obscenity at Peter Kent in House of Commons". The National Post. Postmedia Network Inc. 14 December 2011. Retrieved 23 December 2018.
  10. "Official record of proceedings; Wednesday, 13 November 1996". Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. 13 November 1996. p. 121.
  11. "Know your 'unparliamentary' — What MPs cannot say in the House". The Indian Express. 8 February 2020. Retrieved 12 May 2020.
  12. Dáil Éireann 2011, "Introduction to Fourth Edition"
  13. Dáil Éireann 2011, §§272, 275; Dáil CPP 2010 p.8 §14
  14. "What parliamentary reporters do". Dáil100. Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  15. Brennan, Michael (8 November 2012). "Ceann Comhairle refuses to apologise for calling TDs 'gurriers'". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 November 2012.
  16. Dáil Éireann 2011, §§283(b), 286
  17. Marie O'Halloran (14 December 2009). "Changes expected to Dáil code after use of 'f-word'". The Irish Times. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  18. "Dáil Debate Vol. 697 No. 5 "Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages." Personal Apology by Deputy". Houses of the Oireachtas. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  19. Dáil Éireann 2011, §427
  20. Dáil Éireann 2011, §428
  21. Dáil Éireann 2011, §§421,425
  22. Dáil Éireann 2011, §426
  23. Dáil Éireann 2011, §429; "Dáil code: 'handbagging' not allowed". The Irish Times. 12 December 2009. Archived from the original on 25 October 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2009.
  24. Dáil Éireann 2011, §414
  25. Dáil Éireann 2011, §419
  26. Dáil Éireann 2011, §418
  27. Dáil Éireann 2011, §431
  28. Dáil Éireann 2011, §444
  29. Gogarty, Paul (11 December 2009). Social Welfare and Pensions (No. 2) Bill 2009: Committee and Remaining Stages. Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil) debates. 258. Oireachtas. No.2 p.351. Retrieved 17 June 2020.; Dáil CPP 2010 p.13
  30. Dáil CPP 2010 p.17
  31. Dáil CPP 2010 p.8 §§14–15
  32. Minihan, Mary (2015). "F**k you Deputy Stagg". A Deal With The Devil: The Green party in Government. Maverick House. ISBN 978-1-908518-08-8. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  33. Gogarty, Paul (11 December 2009). "Personal Apology by Deputy". Dáil Éireann (30th Dáil) debates. Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 June 2020.; Dáil CPP 2010 p.9 §16
  34. "Irish MP's F-word outburst sparks parliament review". BBC News. 15 December 2009. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
  35. Dáil CPP 2010 §§1(1), 2(7–9 [recte 1–3])
  36. Dáil CPP 2010 §§9, 11, 21, 22, 24
  37. Barrett, Seán (7 November 2012). "Leaders' Questions". Dáil Éireann (31st Dáil) debates. Oireachtas. Retrieved 17 June 2020.
  38. Speech of 30 May 1924 the last speech of Matteotti, from it.wikisource
  39. See Giampiero Buonomo, Lo scudo di cartone, Rubbettino Editore, 2015, p. 25 , ISBN 9788849844405; see also ((https://www.academia.edu/12695276/Autorecensione_02_dello_Scudo)).
  40. "Special topics: unparliamentary language", Parliament of New Zealand website, dated 28 July 2006, retrieved 16 April 2016.
  41. "[2nd day]: 1 Feb 2017: House of Commons debates - TheyWorkForYou".
  42. "Nigel Dodds expelled from Commons chamber". BBC. 10 July 2013.
  43. "Dennis Skinner Was Kicked Out of the Commons For Calling The PM "Dodgy Dave"".
  44. thatcheritescot (28 July 2013). "Betty Boothroyd Suspends Ian Paisley" – via YouTube.
  45. King, Oliver (20 April 2006). "Skinner thrown out of the Commons - again". The Guardian.
  46. "Unparliamentary language", BBC News website, 31 October 2008, retrieved 3 April 2009
  47. MacDonald, Alistair (19 June 2009). "Parliament Finally Sees Some Beauty in Britain's Beast of Bolsover". Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 13 November 2009.
  48. UK Parliament (21 February 2018), Prime Minister's Questions: 21 February 2018, retrieved 22 February 2018
  49. "TheyWorkForYou". www.theyworkforyou.com. Retrieved 28 April 2016.
  50. "SNP MP Ian Blackford brands Boris Johnson 'racist' at PMQs". BBC News. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  51. "SNP's Ian Blackford says Boris Johnson "has made a career out of lying", saying Conservatives are faced with a choice between him and "the most incompetent health secretary in our history" as their next leader". BBC Politics. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  52. "Official Report: Assembly Business - Speaker's Ruling: Unparliamentary Language". Northern Ireland Assembly. 24 November 2009. Archived from the original on 13 June 2011.
  53. "Assembly Speaker William Hay says three MLAs 'used offensive remarks'". BBC News. 19 November 2013.
  54. "AM expelled for 'Mrs Windsor' jibe". BBC News. 1 December 2004.
  55. "European Community (Intergovernmental Conferences)". theyworkforyou.com.

Sources
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