Part of Oral Answers to Questions — Culture, Media and Sport – in the House of Commons at 2:30 pm on 1 March 2010.
Ben Bradshaw
The Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
2:30,
1 March 2010
The hon. Gentleman accuses me of asking the Conservative party questions, but, a few weeks before a General Election, I think that both the House and the public have some entitlement to know what his party stands for. Its policies are totally confused across the entire responsibilities of this Department, just as they are nationally. Not only his leader, but Opposition Front Benchers wibble and wobble all over the place on policy. [ Interruption. ] Exactly as my hon. Friends say, their policy changes every day. I simply say to the hon. Gentleman, who, I know, likes taking orders from Sky and Rupert Murdoch, as does his party, that he should be-
In a general election, each constituency chooses an MP to represent it by process of election. The party who wins the most seats in parliament is in power, with its leader becoming Prime Minister and its Ministers/Shadow Ministers making up the new Cabinet. If no party has a majority, this is known as a hung Parliament. The next general election will take place on or before 3rd June 2010.
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".
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Michael Bourne
Posted on 4 Mar 2010 1:25 pm (Report this annotation)
In reply, all that Mr Bradshaw could come up with, when he got round to it and after a lot of dithering and fidgeting about at the crease, was what he thought many honourable members thought. No opinion of his own, whatsoever; no mention of lottery money and/or Sky money.
A response of consummate ineptitude, added to which, a pathetic accusation directed at the very independently minded Mr Bone. What evidence is there of Mr Bone taking orders from Sky Television?
An explanation of what is meant by 'community cricket' would have been useful, together with some hard facts and figures to support the claim that the impact has been exaggerated.
In all, the public deserves better, no matter on which side its members stand vis-à-vis terrestrial television and the Ashes. Mr Bradshaw should remember that DCMS Secretaries of State do not last all that long these days.