Speaker in no mood for MPs' antics

Lockwood Smith. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Lockwood Smith showed he had no favourites when he put his foot down in the House yesterday.

Speaker Lockwood Smith was remarkably even-handed in question time yesterday - he showed intolerance to almost everyone.

The result was wide cross-party disgruntlement.

Since gaining the job eight months ago, Smith has had mostly praise heaped upon him.

He has introduced a common touch to question time, the most trying part of the parliamentary day. MPs can expect to be treated the way they treat others under Lockwood-law. If an MP asks a politically loaded question, he or she can expect both barrels back.

The new regime has been applied with courtesy, humour and patience - until yesterday. Labour MP Lianne Dalziel can expect an apology today after Smith insisted she had said something she had not while she was attempting to table a document related to the DPB furore.

"If I am wrong I will apologise to the honourable member," Smith said. He would not even hear MPs who tried to tell him he was wrong.

That Mr Speaker was not himself yesterday was evident to Progressive leader Jim Anderton even before the first question had been asked.

Anderton rose to politely question the Speaker's decision to deny Opposition parties the use of a select committee room for their inquiry into banking issues.

He apologised for not having spoken to the issue the previous day when it had been raised by Labour's David Cunliffe but he had been away.

Smith, having had no truck with Cunliffe the day before, was having none yesterday with Anderton, who tried three times to have his say.

Smith said his decision was based on expert advice, not on "just a rush of blood to my head".

His refusal is especially sensitive when rooms such as the legislative council chamber and grand hall in the parliamentary precinct have been used by PR companies for anniversary parties, wine companies for dinners and recently for Smith's own wedding.

No less a being than Leader of the House Gerry Brownlee felt Smith's anger. He was castigated for giving a politically loaded answer about the "fallacy of Labour policy" to a politically loaded question from Labour backbencher Chris Hipkins.

"Question time is not a time to launch into another political party," Smith declared.

Labour could hardly believe its luck that Smith saw Hipkins' direct criticism of National's biofuels policy as a "perfectly fair question".

"The minister has a responsibility to this House and should answer the question rather than just launch into the questioner. That will not be tolerated under my speakership."