Debate in the chambers of parliament can, and should, be heated and intense. But the Speaker of the House must maintain order, and does so by ruling on what language is appropriate. ‘Unparliamentary Language’ means any insults, unbecoming language, or accusations of dishonesty.
Plucked straight from the indexes of Parliamentary Debate, here’s our top 10 examples of Unparliamentary Language:
1912: “Swinging his arms like an inebriated windmill, and screeching like a steam-whistle with a sore throat.”
1930: “I wish I had an X-ray apparatus to enable me to see into the head of the Minister, or of the Acting Prime Minister, to ascertain whether there is anything in it.”
1936: "Booby"
1946: “I would cut the honourable gentleman’s throat if I had the chance.”
1948: "The honorable gentleman’s parents made a mistake once.”
1949: “I would not speak about the Minister’s conscience because I prefer to talk about things which have some existence in fact.”
1963: “He has the energy of a tired snail returning home from a funeral.”
1969: “I wish I had an X-ray apparatus to enable me to see into the head of the Minister, or of the Acting Prime Minister, to ascertain whether there is anything in it.”
1974: “He could go down the Mount Eden sewer and come up cleaner than he went in.”
1977: “Silly old moo.”