Part of Opposition Day — [4th Allotted Day-First Part] – in the House of Commons at 10:10 pm on 1 March 2010.
John Bercow
Speaker of the House of Commons, Chair, Members Estimate Committee, Chair, Speaker's Committee for the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, Chair, Speaker's Committee on the Electoral Commission
10:10,
1 March 2010
Order. The hon. Lady is displaying an imaginative interpretation of the terms of the motion-some might even go so far as to use the word "liberal", although I do not in any way wish to cast an aspersion on her- [ Interruption. ] Order. The sedentary contribution from Mr. Pelling probably will not assist matters even if it might be amusing. I know the hon. Lady will now wish to focus her remarks on the terms of the motion. Just to emphasise the point, the motion does not permit her to dilate on the subject of the Bill as a whole, but on the matters of overview and scrutiny, with particular reference-and reference only-to money.
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".
