Before we come to decision time, I would like to make the following brief statement. Further to my ruling this morning on Lord Foulkes’s interventions during general questions, I inform the chamber that I have written to the member stating that I consider such behaviour to be disrespectful and discourteous, and that any future repetition will result in expulsion from the chamber. I take this opportunity to remind all members that, although I fully appreciate that in the run-up to an election exchanges may become heated, I will not tolerate members behaving in a disrespectful and discourteous manner in the chamber.
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. I have sent you a reply explaining the meaning of the word that I used, which was “charlatan”. I consider the word to be neither disrespectful nor discourteous.
That is not a point of order.
I am explaining that I have written to you explaining the meaning of the word that I used. All of us will watch carefully to ensure that members from other parties are dealt with in a similar way.
I have no need to explain my decision, but I will do so. As has happened previously in the chamber, I find discourteous not the word that was used but the manner in which it was used. That is the way in which I have ruled.
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