The 'Goons'
The SNP's new MPs have been clued 'goons' for shaking up the ways of the House of Commons and their dastardly deeds include occupying a particular place on the green baize benches which Labour's Dennis Skinner seems to think belongs to him just because he's been there an awful long time.
Now I don't think that's a very socialist or grown-up attitude on the part of 83-year old Dennis or his Labour chum Sir Gerald Kaufman who maybe thinks he should have a reserved seat as well possible because he's a knight of the realm.
Because the truth is that if these two Labour octogenarians can't stand the heat in the kitchen, maybe they should just get out and make room for some new blood which isn't so hidebound and stuck in its way.
SNP MPs branded ‘goons’ by Sir Gerald Kaufman
Father of the House of Commons, Sir Gerald Kaufman, has hit out at the SNP MPs. Picture: PA
By Tom Peterkin - The Scotsman
The 56-strong group of SNP MPs have been described as “goons” by the Father of the House of Commons Sir Gerald Kaufman.
The veteran Labour MP has criticised the Nationalist politicians following their attempts to take over the Commons seat occupied by his colleague Dennis Skinner for the last 45 years.
In an interview with the Guardian newspaper, Sir Gerald said: “I think that their conduct is infantile. I don’t know what they’re trying to prove.
“It’s all very well for them to try to sit in a block, but to move one of the longest-serving members of parliament out of a seat that he’s occupied for decades, it’s stupid.”
The conduct of the SNP group, which has been bolstered with the election of 50 new MPs, has been criticised. SNP MPs have been reprimanded by parliamentary staff for taking selfies, which breaks the Palace of Westminster’s strict no-photography rules, and for applauding in the Commons chamber.
“On the date of the convening of parliament and on the date of the swearing in, some of them actually sat on the opposition front bench,” said Sir Gerald.
“They’re goons and if they go on like this instead of using their undoubted mandate from the Scottish people to be serious about issues on behalf of Scotland – which is what they’ve been elected to do – if they’re going to play these infantile games, they will devalue themselves.”
