On TV recently, I watched Foreign Minister Jack Straw making a presentation in the House of Commons (he was making the case for war in Iraq). After various statements- members would yell out something (in unison) that I couldn’t quite make out. What were they saying? Were they agreeing, or dissenting?
Muuuuaaaaaaeeeeerrrrr, usually, sort of like the noise that a sheep makes when distressed.
Yes a sardonic baaaahhh!, means dissent. Here, Here! means agreement.
Not quite. “Hear, hear” means agreement, “here, here” is what you say to a dog that’s making sheep say “muuuuaaaaaaeeeeerrrrr”.
You can look up a trancsipt in Hansard for everything everybody said in every debate.
Watching the question period frequently (particularly with Tony Blair) reminds me of the oabservation that the difference between the US and British forms of government comes down to this: they elect bright, well-educated, articulate members to a parliament that has almost no power; we elect idiots, fools, blowhards, crooks, and bloviators, who have incredible power. Oh, well.
Am I being “whooshed”? Dissenting members really bleat?
(This could explain the logic behind the Ministry of Silly Walks…;))
How exactly do you pronounce “Muuuuaaaaaaeeeeerrrrr”?
To break it down syllabically: “MUH-UH-UH-AA-AA-AA-EE-EE-RR”.
Though personally, I’ve always taken it to be more of a “Baaaaaaauuuuuuuuhhh” than a “Muuuuaaaaaaeeeeerrrrr”.
And honestly, this isn’t a whoosh, it really happens.
Is that like the first syllable of “Bollocks”, but they can’t remember the whole word?
You gotta love the English!
I believe I’ll start implementing this in my life:
Boss: oceans_11, I’d like you to start this new project…
oceans_11: “MUH-UH-UH-AA-AA-AA-EE-EE-RR”. 
That should do it. Otherwise wave your Order Paper in his face and say sh-aaaaaaa-me.
Sadly not the “Muuuuaaaaahhh”'s. In Hansard they are either ignored or described as
Hon.Members: [interruption]
Wait wait wait! I have another one-
A: Knock, knock!
B: Who’s there?
A: Interrupting Member of The House of Commons.
B: Interrupting Member of The House of Commons, wh–
A: MUH-UH-UH-AA-AA-AA-EE-EE-RR!!!
OK, I’m done now…
When they vote don’t they do noses to the left, wigs to the right for the different pov? I may be a lttle confused on the actuality but I am sure it is something to do with noses…
Ayes to the right, noes to the left.
It is because MPs vote by physically walking along a corridor, where each one is ticked off as they pass through.
There are two corridors - the Aye lobby to the right of the chamber, the Noe lobby to the left. Hence ayes to the right, noes to the left.