Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 5 Rhagfyr 1973.
Now, at length, I come to my ruling on the matter of privilege.
Yesterday the right hon. Member for Leeds, West (Mr. C. Pannell) drew attention to a speech made by the Lord Chancellor at the Junior Carlton Club on Monday last. The right hon. Gentleman based his complaint on a Press handout from the Lord Chancellor's Office, House of Lords, and a report of the speech in The Times, together with a judicial process signed and witnessed by the Lord Chancellor.
I have carefully considered all these documents and the other points made in the submission to the House yesterday. It is, of course, the duty of the House to deal with reflections upon the Chair or upon Members which may tend to undermine public respect for the House as an institution. It is my duty as Speaker, after considering the precedents, to decide whether I should give the matter priority over the Orders of the Day to allow an immediate debate this afternoon.
I have looked at those precedents very carefully, and, in particular, I have considered the case raised on 23rd March 1964, on which the Committee of Privileges reported on 16th June of the same year. It is my view that I would not be justified, on those precedents, in giving priority to a debate this afternoon.
Having said that, I in no way wish to prejudice or prejudge an further action the right hon. Gentleman may want to take.