Labour's Bid to Sink Hunt

Labour failed in their bid to do for Hunt in the Commons today. Chris Bryant MP, the one whose photo of himself in his underpants was bandied abroad a year or two ago, called Hunt a liar during the debate. Surely this is what we had all been brought up to believe was unparliamentary language necessitating rustication from the House? It was surely because it is unparliamentary language that Churchill attempted unsuccessfully to get around it by using the phrase 'terminological inexactitude'. Why is it therefore that the Speaker did not 'expel' Bryant for his use of the word 'liar' in Parliament today? I must say that Bercow's reasoning for not doing so was incomprehensible to me and I wonder what Bagehot would have made of it. I cannot say Bryant is a particularly sympathetic character (one can't look at him without thinking of that awful photograph) whereas I was surprised how well Hunt responded to Labour's assault on him. Altogether this has been a satisfactory day for the Tories (Cameron definitely bested Miliband at PMQs) and a bad day for Labour, the Lib Dems and Bercow. By not supporting Hunt the Lib Dems have surely shot themselves in the foot since the Tories, or at least the backbenchers, will not now feel it necessary to come to the rescue of any Coalition partner. Indeed the Tories are go to feel they are now free of any obligation towards the Lib Dems. As to John Bercow he has demonstrated by not insisting Bryant withdraw and apologise for the liar claim that he really loves dicing with death. He is already deeply unpopular with most Tories and will have extended that dislike. I do not see him re-elected as Speaker should the Tories win the next election. Quite likely that if I'm right he will switch to join his wife's party in a fit of pique. Good riddance I hear you say!