Filibustering

Time is a precious commodity in Parliament and if time runs out for adequate discussion of Bills or motions then they cannot be voted on and will not be able to progress further.

The Speaker often warns Members who are trying to filibuster to come to the point, and she has the power under Standing Orders ultimately to require a Member behaving in this way to stop speaking.

In 1983 John Golding MP (Lab, Newcastle-Under- Lyme) talked for over eleven hours during an all-night sitting at the committee stage of the British Telecommunications Bill.