Clause 30
Greater London Authority Bill
11:45 am
Stephen Pound (PPS (Rt Hon Hazel Blears, Minister without Portfolio), Cabinet Office; Ealing North, Labour)
The hon. Gentleman is almost entering the Doug Rougvie phase of his defence in which he tends to play the man rather than the ball. He is almost becoming a John McMaster in that respect.
May I urge the hon. Gentleman against over-egging the rather elegant confection that he is creating for the Committee by bringing in extraneous matters such as visits made to the United States by the Deputy Prime Minister? Those comments were not a means of discussing the issues of the day. He is making a powerful point, but he demeans it by over-personalising matters. I mean that not as a criticism, but as a friendly, helpful comment.