Conventions and Evasions
A fiery end to tonight’s Queen’s Speech debate.
The magnificent Sir Patrick Cormack moved a point of order which has landed Labour MPs Alun Michael and Rosemary McKenna in deep water. Michael and Mckenna moved and seconded the Loyal Address (ie opened the debate a fortnight ago), Michael incidentally giving the worst speech in living memory. It is a Convention of the House that the mover and seconder are present at the conclusion of the debate, which was tonight. Neither were, Sir Patrick noticed, the Speaker said he “had a point”. Translation: stay behind after class, Michael and McKenna.
Conventions may seem archaic, but they are important. Refer to Members as Members, not by their first name. Address your remarks through the Speaker. Be present at the opening and closing of a debate in which you take part, and for the speech that follows yours. New Labour has already downgraded Parliament. It’s important to keep what remains, which is little more than common courtesy.
Evasions also tonight. Michael Gove asked John Hutton, DWP secretary, whether he agreed with his “flatmate” Alan Milburn that poverty was now entrenched. Hutton, after already refusingto answer Nadine Dorries’ question on whether he had said the Chancellor was not fit to be PM, flatly denied that Milburn was his flatmate - but refused to say whether he agreed that poverty was now entrenched. Oh, for a straight answer.