– in the House of Commons at 3:27 pm on 23 November 1989.
Dennis Skinner
Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee
3:27,
23 November 1989
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Yes, Mr. Skinner.
Dennis Skinner
Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee
God knows, Mr. Speaker, you have a difficult job having to select hon. Members to speak. I noticed on Tuesday during the debate on the Loyal Address that you called the Prime Minister and that later that night you called the hon. Member for Clwyd, North-West (Sir A. Meyer). You must have shown a degree of perception—
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Order. I know that the hon. Gentleman—
Dennis Skinner
Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee
This is trying to be helpful.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
I know that the hon. Gentleman always tries to be helpful to the Chair, but will he come to the point of order for me?
Dennis Skinner
Member, Labour Party National Executive Committee
What is worrying some hon. Members is whether you will maintain that fair balance. When the Prime Minister is called, now that there is to be a contest, will you ensure that the stalking horse is called on every occasion in order to get a proper balance? We are seeking equality, that is all.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
The hon. Gentleman has also been chairman of an assembly that has its problems—like mine —and I am sure that if I emulate his example I shall be on the right lines. I shall continue to keep a fair balance.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
As the House knows, I do not have to give my reasons for these things.
David Winnick
, Walsall North
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Order. Is it a proper point of order?
David Winnick
, Walsall North
Yes. The Minister of State, Department of Energy—the right hon. Member for City of Chester (Mr. Morrison)—is reported in today's newspapers "as advising all Tory Constituency chairmen"—
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
Order. What hon. Members say outside the House is not a matter for me.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
No, it is not a point of order. I shall take Mr. Field, because I think that his may be a point of order.
Mr Barry Field
, Isle of Wight
May I continue with the definition in the Oxford English Dictionary of the word "concur"? There is an illustration of its use, which says:
They can never accord but are ever snarling and concurring as dogs together by the ears among themselves.
That exactly illustrates the message from the other place. In the terms of Norman French, the word "concur" cannot be allowed to stay in the message from the other place, and we should not have received it this afternoon. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, it does not mean that we are in sympathy with the other place.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
I shall study carefully what was in the message. I have not had an opportunity to consider the derivation of the word "concur", but as soon as I leave the Chair I shall do so.
Mr Dale Campbell-Savours
, Workington
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I did give you notice of it. You will remember that, earlier this year, I asked you about the position of Privy Councillors and their right to be called in debates in the House. We are elected equal, yet when we have been elected we find that certain Members have special privileges in so far as they can be called early in debates. Will you reconsider that practice, which I understand has been the practice of successive Speakers? Many hon. Members believe that it is quite unfair, and while we appreciate that you try to spread Privy Councillors among the general membership of the House we believe that they should not take precedence in the future.
Mr Bernard Weatherill
, Croydon North East
The hon. Gentleman does not know everything that goes on in my office. If he were to see some of the sad letters written to me by Privy Councillors regretting that they have not been called he would realise that they do not all think that they are getting their due precedence.
The Speaker is an MP who has been elected to act as Chairman during debates in the House of Commons. He or she is responsible for ensuring that the rules laid down by the House for the carrying out of its business are observed. It is the Speaker who calls MPs to speak, and maintains order in the House. He or she acts as the House's representative in its relations with outside bodies and the other elements of Parliament such as the Lords and the Monarch. The Speaker is also responsible for protecting the interests of minorities in the House. He or she must ensure that the holders of an opinion, however unpopular, are allowed to put across their view without undue obstruction. It is also the Speaker who reprimands, on behalf of the House, an MP brought to the Bar of the House. In the case of disobedience the Speaker can 'name' an MP which results in their suspension from the House for a period. The Speaker must be impartial in all matters. He or she is elected by MPs in the House of Commons but then ceases to be involved in party politics. All sides in the House rely on the Speaker's disinterest. Even after retirement a former Speaker will not take part in political issues. Taking on the office means losing close contact with old colleagues and keeping apart from all groups and interests, even avoiding using the House of Commons dining rooms or bars. The Speaker continues as a Member of Parliament dealing with constituent's letters and problems. By tradition other candidates from the major parties do not contest the Speaker's seat at a General Election. The Speakership dates back to 1377 when Sir Thomas Hungerford was appointed to the role. The title Speaker comes from the fact that the Speaker was the official spokesman of the House of Commons to the Monarch. In the early years of the office, several Speakers suffered violent deaths when they presented unwelcome news to the King. Further information can be obtained from factsheet M2 on the UK Parliament website.
As a bill passes through Parliament, MPs and peers may suggest amendments - or changes - which they believe will improve the quality of the legislation.
Many hundreds of amendments are proposed by members to major bills as they pass through committee stage, report stage and third reading in both Houses of Parliament.
In the end only a handful of amendments will be incorporated into any bill.
The Speaker - or the chairman in the case of standing committees - has the power to select which amendments should be debated.
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.
Ministers make up the Government and almost all are members of the House of Lords or the House of Commons. There are three main types of Minister. Departmental Ministers are in charge of Government Departments. The Government is divided into different Departments which have responsibilities for different areas. For example the Treasury is in charge of Government spending. Departmental Ministers in the Cabinet are generally called 'Secretary of State' but some have special titles such as Chancellor of the Exchequer. Ministers of State and Junior Ministers assist the ministers in charge of the department. They normally have responsibility for a particular area within the department and are sometimes given a title that reflects this - for example Minister of Transport.
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
The House of Lords. When used in the House of Lords, this phrase refers to the House of Commons.
Edward Leigh
, Gainsborough and Horncastle