Unparliamentary Language

It is expected that the proceedings of Parliament will be conducted in a courteous and polite manner. It is part of the Speaker's role to ensure that MPs do not:

• accuse each other of lying,
• suggest another MP has false motives,
• use insulting or rude language,
• misrepresent another MP's words.

If an MP uses unparliamentary language during debates, the Speaker will ask the member concerned to withdraw what has been said. Refusal to withdraw a comment may lead to an MP being disciplined (See Naming of a Member).

However, MPs often use a high degree of inventiveness to get around the rules; for example Winston Churchill famously used the phrase "terminological inexactitude" to mean "lie".