Commons debates: some rules and conventions
Detailed guidance for participating in a House of Commons debate is provided in the MPs Guide to Procedure and in the Speaker’s guide to Rules of behaviour and courtesies in the House . However, it may be helpful for anyone viewing a debate in the Commons to be aware of the following general principles.
First, MPs may only speak in a debate if called to do so by the Speaker (or other occupant of the Chair). MPs wishing to take part in a particular debate are advised to write to the Speaker’s office beforehand to increase their chances of being called.
MPs stand up to speak (if they are able) and remain seated at other times. An MP who is speaking must sit down immediately if the Speaker stands up to speak.
Frontbenchers make their speeches at the despatch boxes on either side of the Table, while other MPs stand up in their places, wherever they have been sitting in the chamber, to speak.
If another MP wishes to interject briefly while a speech is being made, they must first ask the person speaking if they will give way. MPs can choose whether or not to allow interventions from other MPs while they are speaking.
As each speech comes to an end, MPs who wish to be called to speak in the debate will rise in their places in the hope of ‘catching the Speaker’s eye’.
An MP will only be called to speak once during a debate (unless the House is sitting as a committee).
MPs may use hand-held devices, such as a mobile phone, instead of notes on paper to assist them during a debate. These devices may not be used to take photographs or recordings of any type in the Chamber.
Content of speeches
MPs must address their speech to the Chair and refer to other MPs only in the third person, such as ‘the honourable member for [constituency]’, ‘the honourable member opposite’ or ‘my honourable friend’. This is to discourage exchanges between MPs from becoming personal.
Certain terms and expressions have been classified as ‘unparliamentary language’; the Speaker will insist that an MP withdraws a comment they have made if it is disorderly.
MPs must avoid referring to cases that are active before the courts unless given specific licence by the Speaker.
When speaking, MPs must restrict their comments to the topic being debated: if a speech strays beyond the scope of the motion for that debate, the MP will be called to order by the Speaker.
If, ahead of the debate, an MP wishes to broaden the scope of the motion, or change its focus in some way, they may suggest a change to the wording of the motion by tabling an amendment to it. If the Speaker decides to select the amendment, MPs can refer to it in their speeches. Not all motions may be amended, however, and not all amendments are selected by the Speaker.
More about tabling amendments to motions for debate can be seen in the MPs’ Guide to Procedure at: Substantive motions - MPs' Guide to Procedure - UK Parliament.
More general information about the customs and traditions that are peculiar to the UK Parliament can be found at: Rules and traditions of Parliament - UK Parliament.