Strangers (Parliament of the United Kingdom)
Encyclopedia
The term stranger is the traditional way of referring to someone physically present in the Palace of Westminster
who is neither a member of parliament
nor a parliamentary official. In 2004, a motion was approved implementing the recommendation of the Modernisation Committee that the term stranger no longer be used and be replaced with either member of the public or the public.
Nowadays, visitors can watch debates, and can sit in the Strangers' Gallery. Historically, visitors were not allowed in at all. Parliament still has the right to debate in private, and any visitor causing a disturbance can be ejected, or even taken into custody by the Serjeant at Arms. The House of Commons rarely goes into private session (the last occasion being on 4 December 2001 when it was
debating the Anti Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill), and although much routine business is handled by Select Committees, Second Reading and Third Reading and usually attracts little attention, most main debates are public. Although BBC Parliament
now broadcasts from the main debating chamber
s of both the House of Commons and House of Lords
, as well as from important committees which may meet outside the chambers, it must turn off sound transmission during division
s.
Attempts to exclude visitors are usually employed simply to disrupt or delay the House's proceedings, a kind of filibustering. An MP wishing to interrupt used to shout "I spy strangers". The Speaker
must then immediately put the motion "That strangers do now withdraw", as a point of order
. If the motion was carried, the public galleries were cleared — this could (but rarely did) include the press gallery
and Hansard; broadcast television and radio stops, and business continues in private. This was Standing Order No. 163 of the House. It has been amended as part of modernisation of Commons business, but the principle remains much the same.
In the 1880s an Irish Nationalist MP, Mr. Biggar, caused the then Prince of Wales
(later Edward VII) to be removed using this method.
During the English Civil War
William Lenthall
, the Speaker, essentially recognized the King
only as a stranger, and not entitled to be in the chamber. He said, on being interrogated in the Commons by the king:
To this day, the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom is not allowed entry to the House of Commons. At the State Opening of Parliament
the monarch, through his or her servant Black Rod
, summons the members of the House of Commons to the House of Lords. The same tradition is preserved in New Zealand, where members of the House of Representatives
are summoned to the chamber of the Legislative Council
at the State Opening of Parliament by the Governor General, although the Legislative Council abolished itself in 1951.
Palace of Westminster
The Palace of Westminster, also known as the Houses of Parliament or Westminster Palace, is the meeting place of the two houses of the Parliament of the United Kingdom—the House of Lords and the House of Commons...
who is neither a member of parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
nor a parliamentary official. In 2004, a motion was approved implementing the recommendation of the Modernisation Committee that the term stranger no longer be used and be replaced with either member of the public or the public.
Nowadays, visitors can watch debates, and can sit in the Strangers' Gallery. Historically, visitors were not allowed in at all. Parliament still has the right to debate in private, and any visitor causing a disturbance can be ejected, or even taken into custody by the Serjeant at Arms. The House of Commons rarely goes into private session (the last occasion being on 4 December 2001 when it was
debating the Anti Terrorism, Crime and Security Bill), and although much routine business is handled by Select Committees, Second Reading and Third Reading and usually attracts little attention, most main debates are public. Although BBC Parliament
BBC Parliament
BBC Parliament is a British television channel from the BBC. Its remit is to make accessible to all the work of the parliamentary and legislative bodies of the United Kingdom and the European Parliament...
now broadcasts from the main debating chamber
Floor (legislative)
The floor of a legislature or chamber is the place where members sit and make speeches. When a person is speaking there formally, they are said to have the floor. The House of Commons of the United Kingdom, the U.S. House of Representatives and the U.S...
s of both the House of Commons and House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
, as well as from important committees which may meet outside the chambers, it must turn off sound transmission during division
Division (vote)
In parliamentary procedure, a division of the assembly is a voting method in which the members of the assembly take a rising vote or go to different parts of the chamber, literally dividing into groups indicating a vote in favour of or in opposition to a motion on the floor...
s.
Attempts to exclude visitors are usually employed simply to disrupt or delay the House's proceedings, a kind of filibustering. An MP wishing to interrupt used to shout "I spy strangers". The Speaker
Speaker of the British House of Commons
The Speaker of the House of Commons is the presiding officer of the House of Commons, the United Kingdom's lower chamber of Parliament. The current Speaker is John Bercow, who was elected on 22 June 2009, following the resignation of Michael Martin...
must then immediately put the motion "That strangers do now withdraw", as a point of order
Point of order
A point of order is a matter raised during consideration of a motion concerning the rules of parliamentary procedure.-Explanation and uses:A point of order may be raised if the rules appear to have been broken. This may interrupt a speaker during debate, or anything else if the breach of the rules...
. If the motion was carried, the public galleries were cleared — this could (but rarely did) include the press gallery
Fourth Estate
The concept of the Fourth Estate is a societal or political force or institution whose influence is not consistently or officially recognized. The Fourth Estate now most commonly refers to the news media; especially print journalism, referred to hereon as "The Press"...
and Hansard; broadcast television and radio stops, and business continues in private. This was Standing Order No. 163 of the House. It has been amended as part of modernisation of Commons business, but the principle remains much the same.
In the 1880s an Irish Nationalist MP, Mr. Biggar, caused the then Prince of Wales
Edward VII of the United Kingdom
Edward VII was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions and Emperor of India from 22 January 1901 until his death in 1910...
(later Edward VII) to be removed using this method.
During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
William Lenthall
William Lenthall
William Lenthall was an English politician of the Civil War period. He served as Speaker of the House of Commons.-Early life:...
, the Speaker, essentially recognized the King
Charles I of England
Charles I was King of England, King of Scotland, and King of Ireland from 27 March 1625 until his execution in 1649. Charles engaged in a struggle for power with the Parliament of England, attempting to obtain royal revenue whilst Parliament sought to curb his Royal prerogative which Charles...
only as a stranger, and not entitled to be in the chamber. He said, on being interrogated in the Commons by the king:
To this day, the reigning monarch of the United Kingdom is not allowed entry to the House of Commons. At the State Opening of Parliament
State Opening of Parliament
In the United Kingdom, the State Opening of Parliament is an annual event that marks the commencement of a session of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It is held in the House of Lords Chamber, usually in November or December or, in a general election year, when the new Parliament first assembles...
the monarch, through his or her servant Black Rod
Black Rod
The Gentleman Usher of the Black Rod, generally shortened to just Black Rod, is an official in the parliaments of several Commonwealth countries. The position originates in the House of Lords of the Parliament of the United Kingdom...
, summons the members of the House of Commons to the House of Lords. The same tradition is preserved in New Zealand, where members of the House of Representatives
New Zealand House of Representatives
The New Zealand House of Representatives is the sole chamber of the legislature of New Zealand. The House and the Queen of New Zealand form the New Zealand Parliament....
are summoned to the chamber of the Legislative Council
New Zealand Legislative Council
The Legislative Council of New Zealand was the upper house of the New Zealand Parliament from 1853 until 1951. Unlike the lower house, the New Zealand House of Representatives, the Legislative Council was appointed.-Role:...
at the State Opening of Parliament by the Governor General, although the Legislative Council abolished itself in 1951.