Lucy Powell: To ask the Leader of the House if she will give us the forthcoming business.
Lucy Powell: First, may I congratulate Vaughan Gething on his election as First Minister of Wales? Vaughan has made history as the first black leader of any European country, which is something I am sure the whole House can be proud of—we certainly are. Following my question last week, it is good to see that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill has now been timetabled, although it looks like the Government will...
Lucy Powell: To ask the Leader of the House if she will give us the forthcoming business.
Lucy Powell: First, may I congratulate Vaughan Gething on his election as First Minister of Wales? Vaughan has made history as the first black leader of any European country, which is something I am sure the whole House can be proud of—we certainly are. Following my question last week, it is good to see that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill has now been timetabled, although it looks like the Government will...
Lucy Powell: To ask the Leader of the House if she will give us the forthcoming business.
Lucy Powell: First, may I congratulate Vaughan Gething on his election as First Minister of Wales? Vaughan has made history as the first black leader of any European country, which is something I am sure the whole House can be proud of—we certainly are. Following my question last week, it is good to see that the Tobacco and Vapes Bill has now been timetabled, although it looks like the Government will...
Lucy Powell: Will the Leader of the House give us the forthcoming business?
Lucy Powell: First, I pay tribute to Tommy McAvoy, the former Member for Rutherglen. Tommy was a legend of the Labour Whips Office, and the longest ever serving Government Whip. He was highly respected and revered. My thoughts are with his family and friends. Despite the King’s Speech being only a few months ago, the Government seem to be running scared from their own legislative programme. Where have...
Lucy Powell: To ask the Leader of the House, with reference to paragraphs 7.16 and 7.17 of the Ministerial Code, on how many occasions she has informed the Law Officers that she is the defendant in a libel action in (a) her personal capacity, (b) her official position and (c) both since 19 December 2019.
Lucy Powell: Will the Leader of the House give us the forthcoming business?
Lucy Powell: This week, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology made a grovelling apology and retracted baseless allegations she made against a member of her own advisory body on her personal Twitter account—allegations that were based on a dodgy dossier produced by a Conservative think-tank. Remarkably, the damages paid out came from taxpayers’ money from her Department. This is...
Lucy Powell: I am just bored by it.
Lucy Powell: Will the Leader of the House give us the forthcoming business?
Lucy Powell: I start by paying tribute to Ronnie Campbell and Sir Patrick Cormack. Ronnie was a larger than life character, proudly and staunchly representing his community and his roots. Although Sir Patrick was an MP before my time, I have read the glowing tributes which all describe him as incredibly kind. I am also incredibly saddened by the news, just announced, that Dave Myers, one of the Hairy...
Lucy Powell: I ask the Leader of the House for the forthcoming business.
Lucy Powell: Yesterday was a very difficult day in the House of Commons, and for Mr Speaker personally, as he did his utmost to do what he thought was in the best interests of the House. We should all reflect on how we got to where we got to and accept our part in it. I welcome Mr Speaker’s desire to resolve these matters in discussions with us and others across the House, and I am sure that the vast...
Lucy Powell: As you say, Madam Deputy Speaker, it really is not a good look. No one could have foreseen what happened. As it was, with the Scottish National party indicating that it would vote for our amendment, along with many Conservative Members, it was right that it should be put. The Government made an extraordinary decision to withdraw from the debate, raising a number of questions. However, let us...
Lucy Powell: On a point of order, Mr Speaker. The amendment in the name of the Leader of the Opposition was this evening passed unanimously, and therefore—[Interruption.] Yes, it was. [Interruption.] And therefore—[Interruption.]
Lucy Powell: Further to that point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Obviously, I did not have advance notice of the point of order from the Leader of the House, so I am responding in terms. Of course, we support what Mr Speaker was intending to do today—[Interruption.] Hang on a minute. [Interruption.] Hang on a minute. We support—[Interruption.]
Lucy Powell: Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. Last time I looked, those on the Government Benches had a majority in this House. If they do not like the amendments before them, they could vote this evening to defeat them. [Interruption.] But they have now decided, I understand, not to vote on them, so perhaps we have to ask whether they do still command a majority in this House and whether they are trying...