Exclusion

I wasn't in the Chamber when James Kelly, the Labour Member for Rutherglen, was escorted out this afternoon but I watched the event on video later ( hence the blip from my office).

I think this is the first need for the security staff to be actively engaged in this way though one or two other members have been barred for a period ex post facto,

Members have to accept the Presiding Officer's authority otherwise the place would be chaotic given the passions (and egos ) which are often involved. Refusing to sit down when told ( again and again) was provocative and foolish and was bound to end in only one way.

James Kelly ( who is a member of the Parliamentary Bureau , which organises business ) knew that so politics rather than principle was most probably in play.