Pair join dubious historical roll of honour

Speaker Margaret Wilson's ejection of both the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition from Parliament on Tuesday for breaking the rules on interjections was not a historic first.

The double eviction of the two major party leaders on the same day has occurred before - not once, but twice in the same parliamentary session in the 1980s.

Then Labour Prime Minister David Lange and National leader Jim Bolger were ejected within minutes of one another on two occasions by Speaker Gerry Wall, - in July 1986 and again the following February.

On the latter occasion, Mr Lange had the dubious honour of being the first MP that year to get his marching orders.