Personal statement

Occasionally, the Speaker will permit a member to make a personal statement to the House.

This is normally taken after questions and before the start of public business.

Personal statements are most often made when a minister resigns from office or when they wish to answer an accusation or set the record straight.

Some personal statements have themselves become of some political significance, such as the one made by Sir Geoffrey Howe in 1990.

The member concerned should give notice to the Speaker of their intention and (except in cases of ministerial resignation) the wording of the speech should be submitted to the Speaker for approval.

This must be the text that is delivered in the chamber.

By convention, personal statements are heard in silence, not interrupted, and not subsequently debated or questioned.