Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 20 October 1949.
Lieut-Colonel Sir Thomas Moore
, Ayr District of Burghs
12:00,
20 October 1949
As the Government have taken at least a month to make up their minds on what the cuts should be, surely it would be wiser and fairer to give the Opposition and the country more than two days to appreciate what those cuts will involve?
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
