# UK Dopers: Yelling in the House of Commons? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 18, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266 "2003-03-18T14:39:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 16\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![oceans\_11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b2d939/32.png) [@oceans\_11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oceans_11)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 2:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/1 "2003-03-18T14:39:55Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![Mangetout](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mangetout/32/19_2.png) [@Mangetout](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mangetout)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/2 "2003-03-18T14:46:31Z")
Muuuuaaaaaaeeeeerrrrr, usually, sort of like the noise that a sheep makes when distressed. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/3 "2003-03-18T14:49:36Z")
Yes a sardonic baaaahhh!, means dissent. Here, Here! means agreement. ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/4 "2003-03-18T15:00:39Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by MC Master of Cermonies \* > \*\*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”. ---
**Author:** ![Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Tapioca\_Dextrin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tapioca_Dextrin)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/5 "2003-03-18T15:57:39Z")
You can look up a trancsipt in [Hansard](http://www.parliament.uk/hansard/hansard.cfm) for everything everybody said in every debate. ---
**Author:** ![CC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f1d935/32.png) [@CC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CC)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/6 "2003-03-18T16:09:04Z")
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. ---
**Author:** ![oceans\_11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b2d939/32.png) [@oceans\_11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oceans_11)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 5:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/7 "2003-03-18T17:28:04Z")
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”? ---
**Author:** ![jjimm](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba8739/32.png) [@jjimm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jjimm)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 5:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/8 "2003-03-18T17:39:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by oceans\_11 \* > \*\*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. ---
**Author:** ![ElvisL1ves](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@ElvisL1ves](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ElvisL1ves)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/9 "2003-03-18T17:51:50Z")
Is that like the first syllable of “Bollocks”, but they can’t remember the whole word? ---
**Author:** ![oceans\_11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b2d939/32.png) [@oceans\_11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oceans_11)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 6:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/10 "2003-03-18T18:30:32Z")
> [@](#): > > And honestly, this isn’t a whoosh, it really happens. 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”. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![everton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/ecb155/32.png) [@everton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/everton)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 6:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/11 "2003-03-18T18:38:27Z")
That should do it. Otherwise wave your Order Paper in his face and say sh-_aaaaaaa_-me. ---
**Author:** ![chiefgnome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chiefgnome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiefgnome)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/12 "2003-03-18T18:44:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Tapioca Dextrin \* > \*\*You can look up a trancsipt in [Hansard](http://www.parliament.uk/hansard/hansard.cfm) for everything everybody said in every debate. \*\* Sadly not the “Muuuuaaaaahhh”'s. In Hansard they are either ignored or described as Hon.Members: [interruption] ---
**Author:** ![oceans\_11](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b2d939/32.png) [@oceans\_11](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/oceans_11)\ **Post date:** [March 18, 2003, 6:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/13 "2003-03-18T18:51:29Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![Theom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a9a28c/32.png) [@Theom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Theom)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/14 "2003-03-19T17:05:49Z")
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… ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 5:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/15 "2003-03-19T17:14:16Z")
Ayes to the right, noes to the left. ---
**Author:** ![chiefgnome](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/8e8cbc/32.png) [@chiefgnome](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chiefgnome)\ **Post date:** [March 19, 2003, 5:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/uk-dopers-yelling-in-the-house-of-commons/162266/16 "2003-03-19T17:36:54Z")
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.