Contributions
1,699 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThe reality is that if a new Administration is formed on Monday, it will take some time to get that Administration into place. As I said yesterday, there are no plans to change…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI absolutely welcome many of the Conservative hon. and right hon. Gentlemen who are present, because we do not often see them in this place. Mr Speaker, it tells you something…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThe right hon. Gentleman was a very distinguished Chief Whip, but I fear that he is looking back at when he served in that role with rose-tinted spectacles. I remember both what…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThe right hon. Gentleman—who, again, was a very distinguished Chief Whip—might well agree with the former Chief Whip sitting next to him, but that does not make them right. I am…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseAs I recall, Boris Johnson was appointed before the summer recess, and there was time for him to make a statement. If I am incorrect, I apologise, but I am confident that was the…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI am not sure that it is in the right hon. Lady’s interest for us to debate her time as Chief Whip. I agree that this is unusual, and it is not a decision that has been taken…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThe right hon. Gentleman is a very distinguished Member of this House, but I do think that the Opposition are talking lightly about what is unfolding in the middle east. This…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI am not seeking to usurp that. What I am saying is that I have also been in this place for the past 25 years, to jog the hon. Gentleman’s memory, and it has happened. It does…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI will not get into the disdain that the hon. Gentleman’s Government, of whom he was a firm supporter, showed for this House, because we simply do not have time. As I have said,…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI am sure that when the Prime Minister is in place, he will be coming to this House at the earliest opportunity following recess, and he will set that out. [ Interruption. ] Let…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI am grateful to the right hon. Gentleman for informing those on the Government Benches what the other topic was going to be for the Opposition day debate. [ Interruption. ] I am…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI just point out gently to the hon. Lady that I have already said that the Government will continue during the recess. I expect that decisions and announcements will be made, and…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseAgain, the work of the Government will continue through the recess. The Prime Minister will make a statement to the House at the earliest opportunity. I am sure the right hon.…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI thank the hon. Lady for reminding us what tomorrow was going to be about, because we did not know. [ Interruption. ] Well, we might have known tomorrow, but we certainly did not…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseAs I have said before, and I say again, when the new Prime Minister is in place he will come and make a statement to the House, and set out his plans on those and other matters.…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThat is because on the day the Opposition were suggesting my right hon. Friend should come here and make that statement he will be putting together a new Administration—presumably…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI am slightly alarmed by the constant references to the respect in which I am held. I think today may constitute a seminal moment in that regard. This is not a binary issue. It is…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseThe hon. Gentleman’s first point was that it happened to us, or we did it. I understand, because I would have been angry at the time. I can assure the House that I would have been…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseAs I have said, the new Prime Minister will wish to come to this place, and, on the points that the hon. Lady has raised, he will want to answer questions; but let me give her a…14 Jul 2026HANSARDBusiness of the HouseI do not agree with the hon. Gentleman at all. The work of the Government will continue throughout the recess. What the Government will set out tomorrow is our position on the…14 Jul 2026