These steps are for you as an MP, rather than your staff.
Steps
- Either at the beginning of the debate or once the MP moving the motion has finished their speech, the Speaker will announce whether any amendments have been selected. If your amendment has been selected, when you are called to speak, you move the amendment at the start of your speech by saying, “I beg to move the amendment in my name.” If you aren’t there, another MP can move it for you.
- When you’ve finished your speech, the Speaker will propose the amendment to the House by saying, “Amendment proposed as on the Order Paper.” The debate then becomes a debate on your amendment (and any other amendments, including amendments to your amendment, that the Speaker has selected), rather than on the motion, though in practice the motion is discussed too.
- Sometimes a Business of the House motion will allow amendments to be moved formally at the end of the debate, in which case you speak to your amendment but don’t move it formally. If you’re not sure whether this applies in your case, you can ask the Table Office.