Identified for many years as ‘historical past’s ear’, Hansard has been the official report of Parliamentary proceedings since 1909.
This cornerstone of our democracy is essential for holding MPs to account, however recently Hansard reporters have been omitting gaffes and blunders made by Labour MPs, notably in relation to Israel and Gaza.
For instance, David Lammy — Labour’s Shadow Overseas Secretary — referred within the Commons to ‘the bombing of the al-Ahli mosque in Gaza’.
His phrases have been met by a refrain of groans from his parliamentary colleagues, for the missile he was referring to didn’t hit a mosque, however a hospital run by the Anglican Church.
Not content material with one egregious error, Lammy blundered once more, just for quite a lot of MPs to loudly appropriate him, crying: ‘Hospital!’
However you’ll by no means know this from Hansard’s transcript of his speech, which refers each occasions to the hospital fairly than — as Lammy did — a mosque. The official report additionally ignores the interjections from horrified MPs.
Then there’s Florence Eshalomi, Labour’s Cupboard Workplace spokeswoman, who known as within the Commons ‘for a right away humanitarian ceasefire’, which isn’t Labour’s celebration line — although an rising variety of Labour frontbenchers assume it needs to be.
Curiously, the official transcript was edited to say ‘fast humanitarian hall’, which is in step with Starmer’s coverage.
Eshalomi has subsequently damaged ranks and is asking for a ceasefire.
When did it turn into Hansard’s job to place phrases within the mouths of MPs or spare Labour’s blushes?
