– in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 12 February 1954.
Mr James Hudson
, Ealing North
I was engaged last week in discussing the demerits of this Measure and I wish to continue my speech today. I hope that I shall be able to do that without there being any undue accusation against me attempting to talk out the Bill. I have observed that there appears to be a growing view that there is something immoral in being involved in such a process; but it depends upon the nature of the Opposition and of the Bill with which we are dealing.
If anybody thinks that I am willing to see any further splashing about of this poison, alcohol, I hope that by now they realise that I shall have something to say whenever an attempt is made to introduce a Measure such as this. Although no speeches have been made in support of the Bill, at any rate those who sponsor it share none of the defects, if defects they were, of my hon. Friend the Member for Liverpool, Exchange (Mrs. Braddock). They did not advance a single argument about this absolute invasion into the rights—
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".
