Page 2626 - Week 09 - Thursday, 8 August 1991
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MRS GRASSBY: I will withdraw that and call him a charlatan, then, Mr Deputy Speaker.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: Yes, I think that is probably more acceptable.
Mr Stevenson: I am sorry; I did not hear that.
MRS GRASSBY: Charlatan. He came to this place saying that he did not believe in it and now he says that he is going to stay here.
Mr Stevenson: On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker: Is "charlatan" acceptable terminology? We can go through the dictionary, Mr Deputy Speaker.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: We might have to, Mr Stevenson.
Mr Kaine: What about "grandstander"? Is that all right?
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: That is certainly all right. A charlatan is "one who pretends to more knowledge or skill than he possesses; a quack". I think I will allow that. Remember that, members; you can use the word "charlatan".
Mr Stevenson: Good. We can use that one any time we like.
MR DEPUTY SPEAKER: You certainly can, Mr Stevenson. Carry on, Mrs Grassby.
MRS GRASSBY: He came into this house when he did not have to. A member from Northern Ireland was elected to the British Parliament, and he said that he did not believe in it, so he never sat there. Mr Stevenson does not have to sit here. It is absolutely nonsense that he does. If he does not believe in it, he should not be here. He goes for only things that are going to get him publicity. If it has anything to do with sex, pornography or drunkenness, or anything like that, which the papers will love, he goes on about it. I never hear him talking about the poor, the unemployed or human rights. I have never heard of him doing anything about these people, and he has never done anything about them.
All he is interested in is sensationalist headlines, because he really should be on the stage; he is a ham of an actor, and that is where he belongs. He certainly does not belong in this place. He uses excuse after excuse. He is the biggest excuse I have ever met. He is here only to get publicity, not like the rest of us, who believe in why we are here, because we believe that we can help the people outside, that we can do something for them. He is here to get headlines, every day of the week if he can, but never headlines on things that are serious - - -
Mr Stevenson: From someone who pays for ads out of community money.
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