Contributions
129 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)My right hon. Friend makes a very good point. There was a time at the end of last week when the list was rather long and included—I will say this openly—senior civil servants, but…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)I rather hope that the assurances and the terms of the motion would prove to be entirely identical. I see no reason why not, and such documents that have been revealed so far do…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)If I may say this to my right hon. Friend, I think not. I think that the terms of the motion cannot be abandoned unless the House wishes to abandon them. I cannot believe, on the…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)I understand my right hon. Friend’s point. That was a matter that exercised me very much before I decided to table this motion, but against that, we have to face up to another…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)The right hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. If I may say so, had the House more time I would not have tabled that part of the motion. We could have waited, sensibly, to see but…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)I would, but I also emphasise—and that is why I emphasise it—that these are allegations, and in an ideal world, I would have preferred not to make allegations, even within the…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)Not at all! Absolutely not at all! They are entitled, correctly, to say, “I have been asked by the House of Commons in a motion under a Humble Address to Her Majesty the Queen to…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)I am afraid this classically illustrates the problem that we now have: these extraordinary utterances —pronouncements—from No. 10 Downing Street that bear absolutely no…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)These are Government employees. In the course of their work it is their duty to observe the civil service code and to comply with its requirements, including, I respectfully…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)I wish to conclude. Unless a Member has something very special to say, I would like to get this done.09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)And beyond that—09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)I am afraid I have to disagree politely with my right hon. and learned Friend the Attorney General. The issue is clearly defined: it relates to the Prorogation of Parliament. That…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)I beg to move, That this House has considered the matter of prorogation with the imminence of an exit from the European Union and accordingly resolves— That an Humble Address be…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)I will give way to my right hon. and learned Friend in a moment. In addition, it is a question about what this House requests. I am perfectly aware that sometimes I may say that…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)No, I want to finish. For all those reasons, I believe that, while I am the first to recognise that any attempt at a motion of this kind will have a degree of bluntness that is…09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)I give way to my right hon. Friend, whose points will always be serious.09 Sept 2019HANSARDProrogation (Disclosure of Communications)No, I will continue. [Interruption.]09 Sept 2019HANSARDEngagementsIn the light of the Prime Minister’s answer to my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Hertfordshire (Mr Gauke), could the Prime Minister please explain why it has proved…04 Sept 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal)It is a pleasure to follow the right hon. Member for Broxtowe (Anna Soubry). I also listened carefully to what my right hon. Friend the Member for North Somerset (Dr Fox) had to…03 Sept 2019HANSARD European Union (Withdrawal)My right hon. Friend says that the House’s role is one of scrutiny, and I agree, yet does he not see that there is an incompatibility between that scrutiny and in fact taking…03 Sept 2019