The Times March 29, 2006
Warning: may contain irony
By Will Pavia
An early day motion written by Roger McGough to celebrate Liverpool fell foul of parliamentary rules
PARLIAMENTARY officials have stopped an early day motion that was feared to contain irony.
The motion, tabled yesterday by George Howarth, Labour MP for Knowsley North & Sefton East, referred to Liverpool’s status as the European Capital of Culture 2008. It began: “That this House congratulates the people of Liverpool.”
That was perfectly acceptable; all such motions must begin with ‘That’, and cannot criticise judges, members of the Royal Family, or members of either House except as the main subject of the motion.
However, the remainder of the motion had been written by the poet Roger McGough on a commission from Liverpool City Council.
In 14 lines of rhyming couplets, the poet described the “purpose and pride” that now gripped the city as it prepared for 2008. At the Table Office, Roger Sands, Clerk to the House of Commons and adviser to the Speaker on parliamentary procedure, detected a note of irony, however.
Irony which could, if left unchecked, break House rules and ultimately undermine the very legislature on which British democracy is founded.
McGough had written: “For Scousers, as you all know/ Aren’t given to boasting or making a show/ Stiff upper lip, that’s our motto/ When we speak it’s voce sotto.”
A spokesman for the Liverpool Culture Company, charged with organising the 2008 celebrations, said: “Strict parliamentary rules prohibit the use of irony in EDMs. The line about Scousers not being given to boasting or making a show may have been too much for the House authorities.”
Even if parliamentary officials could overlook McGough’s portrait of quiet, sober Liverpudlians, they could not allow the couplet describing the transformation being wrought on tracksuit-wearing denizens of the city.
“So it’s off with the trackies and on with the Armanis/ Out with the champagne and the caviar sarnies,” he wrote.
A spokesperson from the Liverpool City Council said the office “apparently objected to the word ‘sarnies’, which they ruled out of order as unacceptable slang. It was too late to change the words of the poem.”
McGough, 68, was particularly disappointed that “sar-nies” was the stumbling block. “I thought it was a smashing rhyme with Armanis,” he said. “What I can’t understand is that they objected to ‘sarnies’ but never raised an eyebrow over ‘trackies’. I’m confused.”
He had “written from the heart” with “a light-hearted slant” on Liverpool. “It appears the Clerk to the Commons does not share our sense of humour. It’s a pity but perhaps the poem will have its own place in the records for its rejection.”
Mr Howarth said he was appealing for the ban to be lifted. A Commons spokesman said the Table Office was not prepared to comment. Yesterday McGough was philosophical. “It is often the same with poems,” he said. “They always seem to get you into trouble.”
That this House congratulates the people of Liverpool
For Scousers, as you all know
Aren’t given to boasting or making a show
Stiff upper lip, that’s our motto
When we speak it’s voce sotto
But the city has something to celebrate
European Capital of Culture, two thousand and eight.
So it’s off with the trackies and on with the Armanis
Out with the champagne and the caviar sarnies
The chance to invest in what it does best,
Dance, drama, music and the rest.
‘The Town of the Talk’, more sinned against than sinning
If not a new Jerusalem, at least a new beginning.
That this House shares the sense of pride,
Of purpose and spirit, on Merseyside.
thetimesonline.co.uk
Warning: may contain irony
By Will Pavia
An early day motion written by Roger McGough to celebrate Liverpool fell foul of parliamentary rules
PARLIAMENTARY officials have stopped an early day motion that was feared to contain irony.
The motion, tabled yesterday by George Howarth, Labour MP for Knowsley North & Sefton East, referred to Liverpool’s status as the European Capital of Culture 2008. It began: “That this House congratulates the people of Liverpool.”
That was perfectly acceptable; all such motions must begin with ‘That’, and cannot criticise judges, members of the Royal Family, or members of either House except as the main subject of the motion.
However, the remainder of the motion had been written by the poet Roger McGough on a commission from Liverpool City Council.
In 14 lines of rhyming couplets, the poet described the “purpose and pride” that now gripped the city as it prepared for 2008. At the Table Office, Roger Sands, Clerk to the House of Commons and adviser to the Speaker on parliamentary procedure, detected a note of irony, however.
Irony which could, if left unchecked, break House rules and ultimately undermine the very legislature on which British democracy is founded.
McGough had written: “For Scousers, as you all know/ Aren’t given to boasting or making a show/ Stiff upper lip, that’s our motto/ When we speak it’s voce sotto.”
A spokesman for the Liverpool Culture Company, charged with organising the 2008 celebrations, said: “Strict parliamentary rules prohibit the use of irony in EDMs. The line about Scousers not being given to boasting or making a show may have been too much for the House authorities.”
Even if parliamentary officials could overlook McGough’s portrait of quiet, sober Liverpudlians, they could not allow the couplet describing the transformation being wrought on tracksuit-wearing denizens of the city.
“So it’s off with the trackies and on with the Armanis/ Out with the champagne and the caviar sarnies,” he wrote.
A spokesperson from the Liverpool City Council said the office “apparently objected to the word ‘sarnies’, which they ruled out of order as unacceptable slang. It was too late to change the words of the poem.”
McGough, 68, was particularly disappointed that “sar-nies” was the stumbling block. “I thought it was a smashing rhyme with Armanis,” he said. “What I can’t understand is that they objected to ‘sarnies’ but never raised an eyebrow over ‘trackies’. I’m confused.”
He had “written from the heart” with “a light-hearted slant” on Liverpool. “It appears the Clerk to the Commons does not share our sense of humour. It’s a pity but perhaps the poem will have its own place in the records for its rejection.”
Mr Howarth said he was appealing for the ban to be lifted. A Commons spokesman said the Table Office was not prepared to comment. Yesterday McGough was philosophical. “It is often the same with poems,” he said. “They always seem to get you into trouble.”
That this House congratulates the people of Liverpool
For Scousers, as you all know
Aren’t given to boasting or making a show
Stiff upper lip, that’s our motto
When we speak it’s voce sotto
But the city has something to celebrate
European Capital of Culture, two thousand and eight.
So it’s off with the trackies and on with the Armanis
Out with the champagne and the caviar sarnies
The chance to invest in what it does best,
Dance, drama, music and the rest.
‘The Town of the Talk’, more sinned against than sinning
If not a new Jerusalem, at least a new beginning.
That this House shares the sense of pride,
Of purpose and spirit, on Merseyside.
thetimesonline.co.uk