Dawn Butler ordered to leave Commons after accusing Boris Johnson of repeatedly lying


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A Labour MP has been ordered to leave the House of Commons after refusing to withdraw claims that Boris Johnson has

lied to the House and the country over and over again.

Dawn Butler (Brent Central) was told to withdraw from the chamber by temporary deputy speaker Judith Cummins following her remarks in a Commons debate. It is not considered within the boundaries of parliamentary etiquette to call another member a liar.

Butler had said:

Poor people in our country have paid with their lives because the Prime Minister has spent the last 18 months misleading this House and the country over and over again.

Read on...

She highlighted disputed claims made by the prime minister, including that the link between Covid-19 infection and serious disease and death had been severed.

She added:

It’s dangerous to lie in a pandemic.

I am disappointed the Prime Minister has not come to the House to correct the record and correct the fact that he has lied to the House and the country over and over again.

Cummins intervened and said: “Order! Order! I’m sure that the member will reflect on her words she’s saying and perhaps correct the record.”

Butler replied:

What would you rather – a weakened leg or a severed leg?

Boris Johnson
Boris Johnson (Yui Mok/PA)

At the end of the day the Prime Minister has lied to this House time and time again.

It’s funny that we get in trouble in this place for calling out the lie rather than the person lying.

Cummins intervened again and urged Ms Butler to “reflect” on her words and withdraw them.

Butler replied:

I’ve reflected on my words and somebody needs to tell the truth in this House that the Prime Minister has lied.

Cummins then read out a statement in which she ordered Ms Butler to “withdraw immediately from the House for the remainder of the day’s sitting”. Butler left her seat and exited the chamber.

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  • Show Comments

    1. It’s good to see that some Labour MPs are trying to act as a real opposition. Odd MPs aren’t allowed to point out a demonstrable truth. Is it the “l-word” or the sentiment that’s forbidden? Maybe she should have used the euphemism “economical with the truth”? Would that have got her expelled from the House I wonder?

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      1. Calling someone a liar or claiming they tell lies is not permitted, it is specifically banned.
        “Maybe she should have used the euphemism “economical with the truth”?” Correct.
        “Would that have got her expelled from the House I wonder?” No, the phrase and similar are frequently used.
        Exactly the same happens with, for example, with BBC HYS.

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    2. A representative house lead by and full of aristocrats, in a feudal capitalist monarchy system isn’t really a place of hope, since forever kakistocracy continues…

      “Truth does not mind being questioned”
      “A lie does not like being challenged”.

      Erroneous is still a lie…..

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          1. Not at all. “A representative house lead by and full of aristocrats”. Note the :full of” bit? Thought not. We get hammered enough without using incorrect English.
            Sajid Javid just got hammered for the incorrect use of cower, and quite rightly so. Ever heard of hypocrisy? Obviously not.

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    3. Only on planet tory where meanings are twisted to suit agendas could a reference to a house full of aristocrats be allowed to mean one thing only.

      Incorrect English? Pffft whuteva.

      As for this monomaniacal thing you have with people being hammered, I don’t like the sound of that at all.

      And yeah I’ve heard of hypocrisy, it’s another word for tory, innit?

      PS You’re not clever, you’re still unfunny, and my previous estimation of your level of irritation was way off.

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