Part of Opposition Day – in the House of Commons at 10:31 pm on 24 January 2001.
Michael Martin
Speaker of the House of Commons
10:31,
24 January 2001
Order. It is out of order that those who are leaving the Chamber should walk in front of the hon. Member who has the Floor.
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".
