Leading Article: Alarm calls in the chamber
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Alarm calls in the chamber
It's time for the Speaker to arrive in the Nineties. She has ruled that MPs cannot use bleeper messages sent by researchers to facilitate clever questions during parliamentary debates. How absurd. If those peachy keen advisers had sent their remarks in on old-fashioned note-paper, Betty Boothroyd would not have batted an eye-lid.
She made one wise concession. MPs can receive messages on pagers in the chamber so long as they are switched to vibrate and not to bleep. So next time a snoring backbencher fizzes to life, we will know what is shuddering in his pocket. The Speaker is not the only one to need waking up now and again.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments