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1,092 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventThe advice that I would always offer as a Law Officer, as I did as a barrister in practice, is to be fair to all sides. That includes listening to evidence, collating evidence…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventI would say to the hon. Lady that she is fond of making unsubstantiated accusations that are devoid of evidence, and she should wait for the due course of events before doing so.…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventWe will await the result of the investigation.11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventThe Prime Minister focuses on the primary purpose of running this country, which is to deliver on the manifesto promises of this Government. The primary purpose of the…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventI can say only that the Prime Minister has asked that the inquiry be swift and I have no indications other than that.11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventI am not going to presuppose any conclusions of the inquiry. It is taking place and even the Leader of the Opposition has said that we should let the inquiry play out and see what…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventMy hon. Friend is right to mention that in the governance of this country, and in the performance of the Executive in delivering for the people of this country, both in dealing…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventIf I may say so, the hon. Lady has an excellent reputation in this House for, among other things, fairness. I know that she would want a fair investigation to take place before…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventThe Prime Minister did ask for the investigation to be conducted swiftly, and I think that is on the record. As to how long it lasts, I do not know, because we have not stipulated…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventIt is not for me to pass judgment or pass sentence. The natural order of justice, as I am sure the right hon. Gentleman knows, is that a fair and impartial investigation takes…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventThe Prime Minister will be here tomorrow, at Prime Minister’s questions, in the normal course of events; that is more frequent than almost any other Minister answers departmental…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventI thank my right hon. Friend for her question. In fact, she is agreeing with the Leader of the Opposition, I think, because it was he who said: “Let’s let the inquiry play out,…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventI do not accept the characterisation that the right hon. Gentleman makes. In this country, it is clear that the same rules apply to everyone. That is why an investigation is in…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventIt is an entirely hypothetical position. The Prime Minister is going nowhere. The right hon. Gentleman seeks to draw me into making a supposition about the result of any inquiry,…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventWe each of us, in this House and no doubt everywhere else, live our lives in the best way that we can. Those of us in positions of responsibility acknowledge that responsibility.…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventThe right hon. Lady’s first point was that the Prime Minister is not here in person. She knows as well as everyone else in this House that it is not routine for the Prime Minister…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventThe Prime Minister has asked for an investigation to take place, and the terms of reference for the investigations that are under way have already been published and deposited in…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventBoth the Prime Minister and I came before the House in December to set out the details of the investigation being led by the Cabinet Office into the allegations of gatherings in…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventMy hon. Friend makes a good point. The reality is that we have a number of dates that have come out at different times. That will presumably have the effect of delaying matters,…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Garden EventNo one is hiding. The fact is that the Prime Minister will be before the House for Prime Minister’s questions in the normal course of events, so tomorrow, at this time, he will be…11 Jan 2022