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Point of Order

Volume 494: debated on Tuesday 16 June 2009

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should advise the House that I have notified the hon. Member to whom my point of order refers. I know that you take a dim view of the practice of one MP visiting another MP’s constituency without the courtesy of giving advance notification, Mr. Speaker, so you can imagine my surprise on opening the Stockport Express recently to discover that the hon. Member for Chipping Barnet (Mrs. Villiers) had made a campaign visit to my constituency. Can you reaffirm that clear protocols for such visits exist, that they cover Front-Bench Members and that we are all expected to abide by them?

May I say to the hon. Gentleman that it is a convention? Courtesy should always be foremost in every hon. Member’s mind when they go to another constituency, but I have to be careful, because there are official visits and there are private Conservative or Labour party meetings, which are a wee bit different. However, if there was an official visit to the hon. Gentleman’s constituency, I would urge all those on the Front Bench in all parts of the House to observe the convention. That is the best that I can do in this matter.