Speaker receives 'complaints' about tweeting MPs

The Speaker of the House of Commons has received complaints from the public about MPs using their phones while sat in the Commons chamber.

Sir Alan Haselhurst, himself a former deputy speaker, told MPs today that the public was "beginning to dislike" seeing MPs tapping away at their blackberries and iPhones.

The public "believe Members should not have their heads down in these devices when they are listening to a debate" he said.

He said John Bercow was "getting letters on that subject" as was Sheffield Brightside MP David Blunkett.

Sir Alan, now the chair of the Commons administration committee, was speaking during a debate on parliamentary reform.

Jumping to the defence of the practise of using hand held devices to access Twitter Labour MP Chris Bryant tweeted – while sat in the debate:

"A Haselhurst MP arguing public hate MPs tweeting from chamber and Speaker may rule on this soon. Please write/tweet in support of tweet mps."

While Conservative Douglas Carswell intervened to say that his tweets and blogs helped him engage with his constituents more effectively.

He also tweeted from the Westminster Hall debate:

"People are starting to notice twitter" suggests MP, when suggesting it be banned from Commons chamber. Gosh."

Last month panic spread among web-savvy MPs after deputy speaker Lindsay Hoyle appeared to ban MPs from using Twitterin the chamber – it later turned out to be a joke.

The Commons procedure committeeintends to look into the use of electronic devices in the chamber.

Have your say...

Please enter your comments below.

Name

Your e-mail address

Listen to audio version

Please type in the letters or numbers shown above (case sensitive)