Former MP for Ebbw Vale
With all respect to you, Mr. Speaker, there was an altercation in the House. The point of order was raised by my hon. Friend the Member for Brixton (Mr. Lipton), and you then said, "This is not a point of order. It does not concern me." You then immediately called the Prime Minister, who did not respond—
That is not true. Therefore, in my respectful submission, a point of Privilege can be raised now, or not at all.
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. In view of the circumstances in which this whole matter has been raised, and of the fact that no opportunity has been given either to the House or to you for proper reflection, may I call your attention to a variety of precedents where Mr. Speaker has asked that he might be allowed to consider the whole matter, without prejudice, and report upon it...
But, with all respect, is it not a very remarkable fact that, first of all, the fragment was produced, and you said that you must have the whole of the newspaper; that the whole of the newspaper was then provided to you, and without, as it seems to me—apart from divine inspiration—any opportunity at all for reflecting on it, you then decided that no mater of Privilege arose? May I...
How can we expect the President of France to take unilateral action that we ourselves refuse to take?
Why does the Prime Minister not answer my question? Is not it a fact that the United Nations is anxious that France should not proceed with this nuclear test? How can we or the United Nations expect France to take action that we ourselves refuse to take?
Is the Foreign Secretary aware that we on this side of the House appreciate the intense enthusiasm with which this statement has been received by hon. Members sitting behind him? Does he also realise that we appreciate the modest way in which he has made his statement, that we are very glad indeed that diplomatic relations, even in this modest way, have been established with Egypt, and we...
Is the right hon. and learned Gentleman aware that it is precisely about the future that we now have apprehensions? If the right hon. and learned Gentleman and his hon. Friends behind him consider that the verdict of the General Election was an endorsement of what happened at Suez, are we now to expect a repetition of the same folly? Is it not desirable that all the facts should now be...
