'Show some respect!' Furious Speaker Bercow rebukes new Scots Nats MPS for breaking strict Commons protocol by clapping during the Queen's Speech debate

  • SNP MPs clapped at least three times during party leader's speech today
  • Clapping is allowed in the Scottish Parliament but not in the Commons 
  • The scenes forced Commons Speaker John Bercow to issue stern warning
  • He said: 'It would be appreciated if members would show some respect'

Scottish National MPs were this afternoon warned to 'show some respect' after continuously breaking into applause in the Commons – breaking strict Parliamentary protocol.

The party's MPs clapped on at least three occasions as their Westminster leader Angus Robertson delivered his response to the Queen's Speech.

The scenes forced the Commons Speaker John Bercow to step in – rebuking the MPs for their un-Parliamentary behaviour. 

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Commons Speaker John Bercow warned Scottish National MPs to 'show some respect' after continuously breaking into applause in the Commons

The party's MPs clapped on at least three occasions as their Westminster leader Angus Robertson delivered his response to the Queen's Speech

The party's MPs clapped on at least three occasions as their Westminster leader Angus Robertson delivered his response to the Queen's Speech

Mr Bercow said: 'Can I say at the start of the Parliament that the convention that we don't clap in this chamber is very, very, very long-established and widely respected? And it would be appreciated if members would show some respect for that convention.'

The Speaker said he would show them respect by inviting them to speak before adding: 'I would invite them to show some respect for the traditions of this chamber of the House of Commons.'

MPs on all sides cheered in support of Mr Bercow's intervention.

It came after David Cameron fired a warning at the SNP after their stunning landslide win at the election that he would go after them in the Commons.

The Prime Minister said the nationalists had got away without enough scrutiny in the past but would not be able to carry on escaping criticism in Westminster.

After unveiling a raft of powers for the Scottish Parliament, Mr Cameron said the party could no longer whinge about decisions in Westminster.

David Cameron this afternoon fired a warning at the SNP MPs - including its former leader Alex Salmond - after their stunning landslide win at the election that he would go after them in the Commons

David Cameron this afternoon fired a warning at the SNP MPs - including its former leader Alex Salmond - after their stunning landslide win at the election that he would go after them in the Commons

Mhairi Black MP walks with her SNP colleagues through the members lobby of the House of Commons during the State Opening of Parliament today

Mhairi Black MP walks with her SNP colleagues through the members lobby of the House of Commons during the State Opening of Parliament today

Mr Cameron claimed new powers for Holyrood - including control over tax, spending and welfare - would make it 'one of the most powerful parliaments in the world'.

He said it was time for the nationalist to 'stop talking and start acting'.

'THE WHITE ROSE OF SCOTLAND' 

The Scottish National Party's 56 MPs attended the state opening of Parliament wearing a distinctive white rose.

SNP MPs and its members of the Scottish Parliament have made a tradition of wearing the floral button hole at all Westminster and Holyrood parliament openings.

Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid (pictured)

Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid (pictured)

The flower was made famous by Scottish poet Hugh MacDiarmid in 'The Little White Rose of Scotland'.

The poem reads:

'The rose of all the world is not for me

'I want for my part

'Only the little white rose of Scotland

'That smells sharp and sweet - and breaks the heart.'

However, the Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon this afternoon demanded 'substantial' further powers for Scotland – on top of what was contained in the Queen's Speech.

Ms Sturgeon said the general election, in which the SNP won an unprecedented 56 of the 59 Scottish seats, provided a 'mandate for substantial further powers' beyond those already recommended by the Smith Commission.

The Scottish First Minister said: 'The Scotland Bill must deliver the Smith proposals in full, but that must not be portrayed by the UK Government as some kind of concession - delivering Smith would only be fulfilling the pledge they have already signed up to and the promise they have made to the people of Scotland.

'In addition, we believe the massively changed political circumstances in Scotland provides a mandate for substantial further powers beyond those recommended by the Smith process and we will continue to make a strong case to the UK Government for those powers to be delivered.'

Mr Cameron said the Scotland Bill will make Holyrood responsible for raising about 40% of taxes, according to the UK Government, with powers to set the thresholds and rates of income tax included in the legislation - and with all the money this brings in staying north of the border.

It also proposes giving Holyrood some money from VAT revenues, devolving responsibility for air passenger duty and give MSPs about GBP2.5 billion worth of new powers over welfare, according to Westminster.

Mr Cameron said: ''Devolution isn't just about getting new powers, it is also about the responsibility of how those powers are used.

''I would say to the SNP, if you are not happy with decisions made here at Westminster, if you want more taxes, more spending and more borrowing, you can now introduce those measures in Scotland.'

SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and Labour MP Dianne Abbott (c) leave through the central lobby with fellow members after the State Opening of Parliament

SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and Labour MP Dianne Abbott (c) leave through the central lobby with fellow members after the State Opening of Parliament

The Scotland Bill is one of 17 in the Queen's Speech which will apply in Scotland, either fully or in part.

Scottish Secretary David Mundell said: 'Scotland's future is on a better footing thanks to the government's ambitious programme with measures to create jobs and support working people at the heart of our plan.

'We are delivering quickly on further devolution by giving the Scottish Parliament wide-ranging new powers.

'That means Scotland will have a huge amount of flexibility to make its own decisions while keeping the many advantages of being part of the UK.

'The Scottish Government must now be clear on how it intends to use both these and its existing powers in the interests of Scotland.'

But Ms Sturgeon said the package of measures made it 'abundantly clear that the priorities this UK Government have outlined in the Queen's Speech are not the priorities of the Scottish Government'.

The SNP leader said: 'At a time when people are suffering the impact of austerity, with the most serious effects falling on some of the most vulnerable in society, we believe it is quite wrong to continue with an economic policy which involves more savage cuts to welfare provision.'

Clapping is allowed in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood (pictured) but not in the Commons

Clapping is allowed in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood (pictured) but not in the Commons

With the legislative programme including a Bill on an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the European Union by the end of 2017, Ms Sturgeon said her party would make a 'powerful and positive case for Scotland and the UK's continued membership'.

She wants to see a 'double-lock mechanism' in the legislation which would 'require majorities in all four home UK nations before any withdrawal from the EU'.

After 16 and 17-year-olds voted in last year's independence referendum, Ms Sturgeon said her party would 'push for a referendum that is fair to all, by giving the right to vote to 16 and 17-year-olds, and to the citizens of all EU countries who are resident here'.

While Mr Cameron omitted legislation to scrap the Human Rights Act (HRA) from the Queen's Speech, he said the Government would bring forward proposals for a British Bill of Rights to replace it, with legislation expected following consultation later in the parliament.

The First Minister said the Scottish Government would continue to oppose any such move.

'While the proposals on the Human Rights Act appear to have been delayed, today's Queen's Speech makes clear the UK Government is still committed to its repeal,' she said.

'We believe that is wrong and deeply misguided, given the protection the Act affords to ordinary citizens in a whole range of areas.'