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MPs banned from using Blackberrys in Commons
Earpieces out or get thrown out

By Jo Best

Published: Friday 11 February 2005

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin has declared that anyone using a Blackberry or other "electronic devices" in the chamber can be thrown out.

The decision comes shortly after Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell used his Blackberry to send a profanity-laden tirade to BBC flagship programme Newsnight believing he had sent it to a Labour PR agency.

The Speaker also revealed that some MPs were found to be using the devices during debates. UK politicians have also been banned from wearing earpieces that could allow them to communicate with the outside world when the House is in session.

The previous Speaker, Betty Boothroyd, first outlawed entering the House with mobiles unless the devices are switched to silent. MPs who interrupt the session with text message noises or ringtones can expect to be admonished by the Leader of the House.

Martin said that the use of mobiles and PDAs as silent prompts remained acceptable.

"But I am not prepared to accept the use of electronic devices to communicate outside the chamber, nor to act as an aide memoire by a member participating in proceedings," he told the House.

The UK parliament isn't the only executive that has had trouble with wayward politicians and their handhelds.

A Norwegian MP was censured by the Scandinavians' parliament after he was found playing war games on his PDA during a discussion on military action in Afghanistan.