When David Cameron entered the House of Lords to become foreign secretary, MPs were concerned he would not be held to account by the elected House of Commons. Now MPs could use an arcane mechanism to force Cameron to answer questions before the chamber.
The New Statesman understands the Procedure Committee will recommend Cameron be called to the Bar of the House in a report due to be published in the coming weeks. This would be an extraordinary move by MPs. The Bar of the House is an archaic means by which non-members or “strangers” can be called to the Commons to be questioned by MPs. The name refers to the white line on the floor of the Chamber opposite the Speaker’s chair which non-members cannot cross. This is where Cameron would take questions, as the Duke of Wellington did in 1814, should the House decide to accept the committee’s recommendation.
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