why do mps stand up

MPs usually stand up in the House of Commons to show they want to speak or to raise a formal procedural point, rather than just randomly moving around.

Main reason they stand

In most TV clips of Prime Minister’s Questions, MPs “bob” up and down to catch the Speaker’s eye. Standing signals that they want to ask a question, often an unscripted supplementary question that isn’t written on the official order paper.

How it works in PMQs

• MPs can put their name on the Order Paper in advance if they want a guaranteed question.

• Others stand repeatedly (“bobbing”) so the Speaker sees them and may call them if time allows.

• The Speaker chooses who speaks and alternates between different sides of the House.

Other times MPs stand

Sometimes an MP will stand to make a “point of order” if they think rules or procedure have been broken. MPs may also have to stand because there are more MPs than actual seats in the chamber during big debates. In all these cases, standing is a formal signal to the Speaker, not just casual movement.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.