Tory MP 'not a doormat' but sorry for swearing

A CONSERVATIVE MP who swore at Speaker John Bercow has said he does not regret "making a stand" for his constituents after being prevented from asking a question on their behalf in the House of Commons.

Mark Pritchard said that he regretted swearing, but was not prepared to be treated as "a doormat".

The clash behind the scenes in the Commons yesterday came after Mr Bercow refused to allow the MP for The Wrekin to ask a question in the House on the grounds that he had not been in the chamber at the start of proceedings.

Mr Pritchard protested that he had been present at the start, but had popped out for a few minutes for a toilet break, and went to the Speaker's office to hand in a letter of complaint.

On the way back, he encountered the Speaker in a corridor.

According to witnesses, Mr Bercow pointed at him, declaring: "The courtesy of the House is that honourable members should stand aside when the Speaker passes by."

Mr Pritchard reportedly responded: "Mr Speaker, don't point at me. I am not here to be abused by you." When Mr Bercow told him to "obey the courtesies of the House", the MP snapped back: "You are not f****** royalty, Mr Speaker."

Interviewed on BBC radio yesterday, Mr Pritchard said: "I am one of a long list of people in Parliament - not only parliamentarians, but other members as well - who have been at the receiving end of Mr Speaker's impoliteness.

"It was me yesterday. I hope not, but perhaps it might be somebody else tomorrow."

He added: "I regret the incident, but I was in the chamber to ask a question on behalf of my constituents.

"I was following the rules and I wasn't called.

"I was within my rights to write a letter to complain to the Speaker, albeit politely, in the letter.

"He passed me in the corridor, went past me then turned back, looked back in anger and was very rude to me.

"I am not a doormat, my constituents know that I am not a doormat and I am not going to be spoken to in those terms.

"I regret the colourful language I used, but I don't regret making a stand both for me personally and for my constituents."