Uproar in Commons

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 32846, 21 February 1972, Page 19

Uproar in Commons

(N.Z Press Assn. —Copyright) i LONDON, Feb. 20. | I There was an uproar in thei House of Commons when a Labour member referred to Prince Charles as “this young twerp.” Mr William Hamilton, a severe critic of the monarchial system, was introducing a private bill which would nationalise Crown lands and the Duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall. Recently, he described Princess Margaret as “this expensive. kept woman.” Yesterday, in his reference to Prince Charles, Mr Hamilton said: “It is indefensible that two miners would have Ito work 50 years underi ground to earn as much as Iwe give this young twerp in a year.” I Mr Norman St John 'Stevas, a Conservative member, thereupon complained ■to the Speaker (Mr Selwyn 'Lloyd): “It cannot be in orjder in this House to refer Ito their Heir to the Throne in that manner.”

I At the direction of the [Speaker, Mr Hamilton withdrew his remark, but went on: “If the Monarchy is such |a uniting force in our society, Het this young man who has | trained in the Air Force, and iis now training in the Navy, go and spend the next three months in the coalmines.” Mr Hamilton was refused leave to introduce his bill by 233 votes to 104.