Another example of our "Out of Touch" Political system?

Scania

Scania

Scania

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8339223.stm

A Conservative MP has been told to stop reading aloud from a Blackberry-type gadget - during a House of Commons debate on anti-social behaviour.

Alistair Burt, who represents North East Bedfordshire, read out the text of a letter he had received on the device about Criminal Records Bureau checks.

But he was asked to desist by Deputy Speaker Sir Michael Lord, who said the practice was "to be discouraged".

The MP did so, but argued it was simply a "letter to me in a different form".

MPs are allowed to check and send e-mails from electronic devices in the Commons chamber, and are allowed to give speeches from written notes.

During the debate, Sir Michael spotted Mr Burt's device and asked: "Order. I wasn't actually watching precisely then - were you actually reading from an electronic device."

Mr Burt replied: "I am, which I think I'm allowed to do in the chamber."

But Sir Michael said: "I think that is to be discouraged. I won't say any more at this point, but I'd like to refer to it. I think that is to be discouraged. You can continue with your speech."

Mr Burt replied: "Thank you Mr Deputy Speaker. It was a letter to me in a different form."

But Sir Michael hit back: "Order. The use of an electronic device for reading from during a speech, I think - I'm not sure that's a good idea."
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Seems to me that the MP was embracing modern technology and putting it to good use yet the Speaker seems to not approve.

I can't think why, surely, in this I.T. driven age, its something that'll become increasingly common?

Blackberrys are good enough for President Obama yet not for the Speaker of the house of commons it seems......

Thoughts? :)
 
I wish the MP's wouldn't act like a bunch of 5 year old children when they have their "debates" with all that ****ing jeering and shouting they do.

It makes this country look like a complete joke. Someone should walk in there and shoot the lot of them the next time they act like that.
 
Chimerical said:
I wish the MP's wouldn't act like a bunch of 5 year old children when they have their "debates" with all that ****ing jeering and shouting they do.

It makes this country look like a complete joke. Someone should walk in there and shoot the lot of them the next time they act like that.
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/facepalm
 
Chimerical said:
I wish the MP's wouldn't act like a bunch of 5 year old children when they have their "debates" with all that ****ing jeering and shouting they do.

It makes this country look like a complete joke. Someone should walk in there and shoot the lot of them the next time they act like that.
Click to expand...

Not quite the level of debate that I was expecting tbh.
 
I can't really see a problem with it. If they can write emails in the Commons during debates, I can't see why they cannot read them out from a PDA-type device. I suppose in future they will have to print the letters out, wasting time, paper and costing taxpayers more... :rolleyes:
 
That's all a bit daft, there allowed to use them but not to read from them? It's a bit typical of half the silly laws/rules that we have these days.
 
It can be open to abuse and debate could be directed or sidelined from outside the house, cash for questions comes to mind. A bit like a debate on a forum with some people with an agenda using msn to direct there posts on the forum.
 
I don't agree with using tech in the house of commons at all.
He or other MPs could be getting back handers for advertising a gadget. And knowing our MPs they are ;)

"Alistair Burt on my new Blackberry with the new strawberry addon at £30 reading about vat on Tech goods and hows it not right"

See what I mean :)
 
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Meh... Nothing wrong in my oppinion,

As for what "Deuse" said, i kind of see what you mean, but i am sure companies can now advertise within actual programs such as corrie and enders, so to give it to get an MP to advertise it would be a waste as i suspect fewer people watch BBC parliment

Edit... Just reading back through the thread, it is a very "Eco-Friendly" thing to do saving paper etc...
 
I suspect fewer still would be "omg Gordon brown used an apple iphone 6780!! I want one now"

Although i could see some company pay an unpopular MP to use their competitors product! :D
 
I could be wrong but I'd imagine if they're reading from something a copy can be requested there and then by the speaker
 
I gotta admit with the guy that said the jeering is stupid. when I hear them jeer and scoff and dribble. I really do question the state of parliament. You can call that statement immature or what ever but shaking paper in the air? making a load of noises I would more likely hear in southpark? it reminds me of a pack of monkeys.

and to top it off, when the human race is meant to be pushing towards a greener, more organised and advanced society, we have a guy at the forefront of the decision making saying "I don't think it's right" - clearly he doesn't have a clue on what he is saying otherwise he would give a definitive answer. What is the difference between propaganda being given on a pda and it being done before it gets printed on a piece of paper. both methods are equally susceptible to propaganda and to say that is enough reason to stop the use of reading from technology is stupid. Isn't the whole OLED electronic paper designed for such a situation?

 
I'm in agreement with the OP, MPs are out of touch and need to engage with the younger generation.

I suggest that the current Chamber be decked out like the one from Star Wars and have floating pods where MPs can debate.

They could put their pet dogs in one of them and pass them off as Wookies.

The Speaker can be sprayed blue and have Viking horns stuck to the side of his head.

Gordon Brown is quite jowly so all you need to do is paste his face with talc and give him a hooded cloak to wear and hey presto, he can be the Emporer. The Queen can be fitted with huge earphones sprayed brown and her face painted white and she can be Queen Amidala.

The House of Lords can then be decked out like the Jedi Temple.

Watch the younglings then flock to politics.
 
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