Oral Answers to Questions — Government Departments. – in the House of Commons at on 5 December 1939.
Mr Thomas Harvey
, Combined English Universities
asked the Secretary of State for War whether the arrangements for the permission of personal communications through an approved official channel, with individuals residing in territory controlled by Germany, have yet been completed; and whether he can give particulars of these arrangements?
Mr Leslie Hore-Belisha
, Plymouth, Devonport
It is hoped that these arrangements will be brought into force early in January. I am not in a position to give particulars at present. There will be notices in the Press when the arrangements are completed.
The political party system in the English-speaking world evolved in the 17th century, during the fight over the ascension of James the Second to the Throne. James was a Catholic and a Stuart. Those who argued for Parliamentary supremacy were called Whigs, after a Scottish word whiggamore, meaning "horse-driver," applied to Protestant rebels. It was meant as an insult.
They were opposed by Tories, from the Irish word toraidhe (literally, "pursuer," but commonly applied to highwaymen and cow thieves). It was used — obviously derisively — to refer to those who supported the Crown.
By the mid 1700s, the words Tory and Whig were commonly used to describe two political groupings. Tories supported the Church of England, the Crown, and the country gentry, while Whigs supported the rights of religious dissent and the rising industrial bourgeoisie. In the 19th century, Whigs became Liberals; Tories became Conservatives.
Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.
