Commons Speaker praises work of new SNP MPs at Westminster

The Speaker in the House of Commons has said the SNP’s 56 MPs are “already proving to be very good parliamentarians”.

John Bercow said the new members deserved respect for the way they turned up in large numbers to support each other in the chamber.

However, he also said he did not believe the party had yet changed the Parliament.

Mr Bercow was speaking at an Edinburgh Festival Fringe event organised by Edinburgh University’s business school.

Asked how the Nationalists who now form the third-largest party in the Commons have changed the parliament, the Speaker said: “The significant thing is not how the SNP have changed parliament, because I don’t think yet that they have.

“I think the significant thing is that, whatever you think of the SNP, their parliamentary party has said something very significant by its behaviour since May about group solidarity.”

In a wide-ranging discussion, Mr Bercow also indicated the House could change its stance on applause within the chamber if MPs so wished.

SNP MPs have been reprimanded for clapping.