The SNP’s Drew Hendry received a dressing-down in the Commons yesterday after “beetling” out of the chamber before MPs had finished discussing a topic he raised.
Spotting he was no longer present, eagle-eyed Speaker John Bercow remarked on the Inverness MP’s “quite extraordinary behaviour”.
He said he appreciated Mr Hendry was a new member, but insisted he “must learn”.
Afterwards, the former Highland Council leader told the Press and Journal he had left the chamber to vote in a deferred division.
He also said he had already been back into the chamber to speak to Mr Bercow.
The speaker’s interruption came during international development questions, during which Mr Hendry was the first MP to participate.
He asked International Development Secretary Justine Greening about her department’s preparations for the UN world humanitarian summit.
But he then left the chamber before exchanges on the topic were completed, prompting Mr Bercow to inquire: “Where is Mr Hendry?
“The fella has just asked a question and he’s beetled out of the chamber.
“We’ve still got exchanges on that question. I know he’s a new member but he must learn.
“A member must not ask a question and then leave. There are continuing exchanges upon that matter and I’m sure the honourable gentleman is at least as interested in the opinions of others as he is in his own opinions.
“Quite extraordinary behaviour.”
Speaking outside the chamber, Mr Hendry said: “It was just an unfortunate coincidence.
“The problem at Westminster is you have often got to go and do two things at once.”
Instead of holding divisions immediately at the end of a debate, MPs can vote on certain types of legislation using ballot papers at a convenient time, currently on Wednesdays.
Some MPs are opposed to deferred divisions – as they are known – due to the separation of the vote from the debate itself.
According to yesterday’s Commons order paper, MPs had a 11.30am-2pm slot to take part in the deferred divisions in the No lobby.