1 00:00:00,480 --> 00:00:07,799 George Galloway perard such TSH Mr 2 00:00:04,080 --> 00:00:09,040 Speaker This House of Commons continued 3 00:00:07,799 --> 00:00:14,400 its 4 00:00:09,040 --> 00:00:16,920 adversarial bare pit unarmed political 5 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,320 combat throughout the darkest days of 6 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:21,199 the second world 7 00:00:18,320 --> 00:00:23,000 war Mr Churchill didn't ask for 8 00:00:21,199 --> 00:00:25,760 Parliament to be 9 00:00:23,000 --> 00:00:27,720 silenced for confrontations across the 10 00:00:25,760 --> 00:00:31,320 house to be 11 00:00:27,720 --> 00:00:34,000 forbidden when our soldiers were being 12 00:00:31,320 --> 00:00:35,320 laid waste in the Norway debate the 13 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:38,520 House of Commons 14 00:00:35,320 --> 00:00:42,600 Rose perhaps to its 15 00:00:38,520 --> 00:00:44,600 finest 20th century moment nobody said 16 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,960 our armed forces have suffered a 17 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:50,760 disaster the House of Commons cannot 18 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:55,079 meet The Clash of ideas cannot be heard 19 00:00:50,760 --> 00:00:59,160 we must muffle the drums and silence 20 00:00:55,079 --> 00:01:01,079 ourselves at dunck the house clashed 21 00:00:59,160 --> 00:01:06,640 without pause 22 00:01:01,079 --> 00:01:09,520 was real war leaders like Mr Churchill 23 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:13,920 understood that the whole point of us 24 00:01:09,520 --> 00:01:16,720 being here the whole point of democracy 25 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:18,159 the whole point of Elections is that we 26 00:01:16,720 --> 00:01:21,479 do not 27 00:01:18,159 --> 00:01:24,439 suspend normal political activity we 28 00:01:21,479 --> 00:01:26,840 honorable gentlemen give way happily I 29 00:01:24,439 --> 00:01:29,280 have a lot to say and I may take some 30 00:01:26,840 --> 00:01:31,079 time to say it I'm very grateful to The 31 00:01:29,280 --> 00:01:33,280 Honorable Gent he's missed the rather 32 00:01:31,079 --> 00:01:36,520 important point that between 1939 and 33 00:01:33,280 --> 00:01:38,399 1945 general elections were suspended so 34 00:01:36,520 --> 00:01:40,240 democracy was suspended during the war 35 00:01:38,399 --> 00:01:42,960 and his history is 36 00:01:40,240 --> 00:01:45,280 faulty actually there were many 37 00:01:42,960 --> 00:01:48,759 by-elections some of them producing 38 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:51,880 spectacular results as spectacular as 39 00:01:48,759 --> 00:01:56,799 the one in Bradford West just over a 40 00:01:51,880 --> 00:02:00,159 year ago but in any case is anyone 41 00:01:56,799 --> 00:02:03,479 suggesting that an iron Bavon did didn't 42 00:02:00,159 --> 00:02:07,080 stand on these benches 43 00:02:03,479 --> 00:02:09,080 lacerating real war leaders about their 44 00:02:07,080 --> 00:02:12,319 conduct of the 45 00:02:09,080 --> 00:02:15,599 war The Honorable gentleman is a scholar 46 00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:20,760 and a gentleman he knows very well the 47 00:02:15,599 --> 00:02:24,120 words of Mr Amory from his side at that 48 00:02:20,760 --> 00:02:26,319 Darkest Hour in the Norway debate which 49 00:02:24,120 --> 00:02:29,480 brought about the 50 00:02:26,319 --> 00:02:33,599 defenestration of the Prime Minister and 51 00:02:29,480 --> 00:02:38,080 the coming to office of Mr Churchill 52 00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:42,879 about whom more much more later we did 53 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:46,599 not suspend our democracy in our Darkest 54 00:02:42,879 --> 00:02:53,239 Hours why are we suspending it 55 00:02:46,599 --> 00:02:57,239 no it was said from one of the 56 00:02:53,239 --> 00:03:00,360 Ironclad consensus on the front benches 57 00:02:57,239 --> 00:03:03,959 that this was a national funeral 58 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:06,840 I'm sorry but it is not a national 59 00:03:03,959 --> 00:03:09,640 funeral you can only have a national 60 00:03:06,840 --> 00:03:13,400 funeral where there is a national 61 00:03:09,640 --> 00:03:16,040 consensus about the person being buried 62 00:03:13,400 --> 00:03:20,040 and that consensus does not 63 00:03:16,040 --> 00:03:21,360 exist in relation to Mrs thata and no 64 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:24,879 matter how 65 00:03:21,360 --> 00:03:29,159 oft people from the front benches fa 66 00:03:24,879 --> 00:03:31,959 upon her poor honeyed words upon her 67 00:03:29,159 --> 00:03:35,360 even outside of this house of course 68 00:03:31,959 --> 00:03:37,599 tell lies about her and her 69 00:03:35,360 --> 00:03:40,519 record that won't 70 00:03:37,599 --> 00:03:44,319 change and the British establishment is 71 00:03:40,519 --> 00:03:47,480 making a profound misjudgment here in a 72 00:03:44,319 --> 00:03:50,799 and the opposition parties in particular 73 00:03:47,480 --> 00:03:53,879 are making a profound misjudgment if 74 00:03:50,799 --> 00:03:57,000 they imagine that there are not tens of 75 00:03:53,879 --> 00:04:01,879 millions of people in the country all of 76 00:03:57,000 --> 00:04:05,959 whom have votes who are very angry about 77 00:04:01,879 --> 00:04:10,079 a whole range of issues that have 78 00:04:05,959 --> 00:04:13,079 Arisen and I hope to adumbrate some of 79 00:04:10,079 --> 00:04:17,840 them in relation to this motion this 80 00:04:13,079 --> 00:04:19,840 evening Mr Speaker with your permission 81 00:04:17,840 --> 00:04:21,880 if I was to speak shortly it would be 82 00:04:19,840 --> 00:04:24,120 that great New York phrase enough 83 00:04:21,880 --> 00:04:29,000 already we've had enough of this it's 84 00:04:24,120 --> 00:04:32,479 gone on too long and it's gone too far 85 00:04:29,000 --> 00:04:35,880 and this put the tin hat on it the idea 86 00:04:32,479 --> 00:04:39,600 that we should suspend a vital part of 87 00:04:35,880 --> 00:04:43,199 our Democratic process for a party 88 00:04:39,600 --> 00:04:45,759 political and private funeral don't get 89 00:04:43,199 --> 00:04:48,160 me wrong I won't be demonstrating at the 90 00:04:45,759 --> 00:04:50,639 funeral tomorrow I believe it's wrong to 91 00:04:48,160 --> 00:04:54,199 demonstrate at someone's 92 00:04:50,639 --> 00:04:56,960 funeral but I will not agree to suspend 93 00:04:54,199 --> 00:04:59,800 our democracy so that some of the 94 00:04:56,960 --> 00:05:02,080 friends of the deceased have to make a 95 00:04:59,800 --> 00:05:05,880 choice between attending prime 96 00:05:02,080 --> 00:05:08,280 minister's question time or going to the 97 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:10,440 funeral and that's a choice that's up to 98 00:05:08,280 --> 00:05:12,800 them to make and of course it's very 99 00:05:10,440 --> 00:05:15,639 clear that they could do both though 100 00:05:12,800 --> 00:05:17,759 they would have tender sensibilities 101 00:05:15,639 --> 00:05:21,400 though they may have to come into the 102 00:05:17,759 --> 00:05:23,160 Bear Pit immediately on their return to 103 00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:26,600 the house but then that's what they're 104 00:05:23,160 --> 00:05:28,479 here for that's what they were elected 105 00:05:26,600 --> 00:05:30,840 to be here 106 00:05:28,479 --> 00:05:34,160 for Harold 107 00:05:30,840 --> 00:05:38,080 Wilson who won four general 108 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:40,280 elections and didn't receive a 109 00:05:38,080 --> 00:05:43,639 cintilla of the treatment which the 110 00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:47,080 British establishment has rolled out for 111 00:05:43,639 --> 00:05:50,919 the deceased on this occasion said that 112 00:05:47,080 --> 00:05:54,800 our week was a long time in politics and 113 00:05:50,919 --> 00:05:57,280 this week has been a very long 114 00:05:54,800 --> 00:05:57,960 time we were told at the beginning of 115 00:05:57,280 --> 00:06:00,000 the 116 00:05:57,960 --> 00:06:03,880 week that 117 00:06:00,000 --> 00:06:06,120 it was disrespectful to speak of someone 118 00:06:03,880 --> 00:06:09,240 so recently 119 00:06:06,120 --> 00:06:11,680 dead I was told on the BBC yesterday I 120 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:14,000 should hold my peace until Thursday how 121 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:18,199 much National 122 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:22,240 morning without consensus and without 123 00:06:18,199 --> 00:06:24,080 justification are we supposed to 124 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:27,440 observe you 125 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:30,280 know Mr Speaker how much personal 126 00:06:27,440 --> 00:06:33,039 respect I have for you 127 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:35,319 and so I hope you will accept from me 128 00:06:33,039 --> 00:06:39,759 that I mean nothing personal in this 129 00:06:35,319 --> 00:06:40,759 point at all but the decision to muffle 130 00:06:39,759 --> 00:06:45,919 Big 131 00:06:40,759 --> 00:06:49,440 Ben just after the BBC had muffled ding 132 00:06:45,919 --> 00:06:51,639 dong summed the whole thing up it has 133 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:54,400 become 134 00:06:51,639 --> 00:06:57,560 FAL there is no National consensus 135 00:06:54,400 --> 00:07:00,160 around the deceased there was no 136 00:06:57,560 --> 00:07:04,000 justification for muffling 137 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:07,000 Big Ben because that puts the deceased 138 00:07:04,000 --> 00:07:08,360 On a par with Mr Churchill a very 139 00:07:07,000 --> 00:07:10,199 divisive 140 00:07:08,360 --> 00:07:13,639 politician my 141 00:07:10,199 --> 00:07:17,280 grandparents helped overturn his car 142 00:07:13,639 --> 00:07:20,759 after the count in Dandee in the 143 00:07:17,280 --> 00:07:22,800 1930s when he was thrown out of 144 00:07:20,759 --> 00:07:26,639 parliament in the 145 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:31,120 city he vote I will I 146 00:07:26,639 --> 00:07:34,440 will I wish to correct gentlemen Winston 147 00:07:31,120 --> 00:07:37,879 Churchill uh then a liberal MP was 148 00:07:34,440 --> 00:07:39,680 ejected from Dundee in 1922 he served 149 00:07:37,879 --> 00:07:41,639 from 1908 to 150 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:46,960 1922 151 00:07:41,639 --> 00:07:49,639 well it's a very it's a very important 152 00:07:46,960 --> 00:07:51,240 qualification he was can I just say 153 00:07:49,639 --> 00:07:54,879 because I didn't wish The Honorable 154 00:07:51,240 --> 00:07:57,800 gentleman to be led away from the path 155 00:07:54,879 --> 00:08:00,400 of virtue that the point may be of 156 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:02,759 interest to Scholars but it is at best 157 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:05,360 tangental to the sittings of the house 158 00:08:02,759 --> 00:08:07,759 motion Mr George Galloway as would have 159 00:08:05,360 --> 00:08:11,879 been what I was going to say about nedy 160 00:08:07,759 --> 00:08:14,919 scrimger the great Temperance MP a man 161 00:08:11,879 --> 00:08:18,520 who's who was Mr Churchill's partner in 162 00:08:14,919 --> 00:08:21,280 the two constituency a two member 163 00:08:18,520 --> 00:08:24,120 constituency at that time how we could 164 00:08:21,280 --> 00:08:27,360 do with some Temperance in the house 165 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:29,599 today some prohibition uh in the house 166 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:32,200 today at least so far as the honorable 167 00:08:29,599 --> 00:08:35,919 gentleman for Fook is 168 00:08:32,200 --> 00:08:37,919 concerned the I do ask the honorable 169 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:40,440 gentleman I know he's developing his 170 00:08:37,919 --> 00:08:42,039 argument if he would be good enough to 171 00:08:40,440 --> 00:08:44,440 withdraw the reference to an honorable 172 00:08:42,039 --> 00:08:47,240 member who's not present and to continue 173 00:08:44,440 --> 00:08:50,320 with his main speech I happily uh 174 00:08:47,240 --> 00:08:52,959 withdraw it it was unworthy but I do 175 00:08:50,320 --> 00:08:55,640 have some history with the honorable 176 00:08:52,959 --> 00:08:58,079 gentlemen and uh hope you'll forgive me 177 00:08:55,640 --> 00:09:03,200 and the house will forgive me for the 178 00:08:58,079 --> 00:09:06,079 Unworthy Det tour down Dandy way uh but 179 00:09:03,200 --> 00:09:09,480 my point is that Mr Churchill was a 180 00:09:06,079 --> 00:09:11,600 deeply divisive figure man who changed 181 00:09:09,480 --> 00:09:14,399 uh sides ratted 182 00:09:11,600 --> 00:09:15,839 ratted a man who was in Parliament out 183 00:09:14,399 --> 00:09:19,200 of it back 184 00:09:15,839 --> 00:09:22,959 again a man whose conduct of public 185 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:25,920 affairs was very very controversial and 186 00:09:22,959 --> 00:09:30,360 divisive but by the time he 187 00:09:25,920 --> 00:09:34,640 died a tiny percentage of the population 188 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:37,640 were childish enough to imagine that 189 00:09:34,640 --> 00:09:41,200 such a man should not be given the full 190 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:43,880 21 gun treatment the full gun Carriage 191 00:09:41,200 --> 00:09:46,640 treatment because virtually everybody in 192 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:47,880 this country knows that if it were not 193 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:50,079 for Mr 194 00:09:47,880 --> 00:09:53,720 Churchill either this Parliament would 195 00:09:50,079 --> 00:09:56,880 not exist or it might be speaking in 196 00:09:53,720 --> 00:10:01,079 German the very existence of the country 197 00:09:56,880 --> 00:10:04,040 I argue was saved by by Mr chill that 198 00:10:01,079 --> 00:10:06,079 makes him worthy of a national funeral 199 00:10:04,040 --> 00:10:08,279 that's what made him whatever one's 200 00:10:06,079 --> 00:10:11,160 point of view about his domestic 201 00:10:08,279 --> 00:10:14,320 politics deserving of the muffling of 202 00:10:11,160 --> 00:10:17,880 the Chimes of Big Ben deserving of the 203 00:10:14,320 --> 00:10:20,680 cranes being Lord on the tent no such 204 00:10:17,880 --> 00:10:24,600 consensus exists you must know this Mr 205 00:10:20,680 --> 00:10:26,480 Speaker about the deceased in this case 206 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:30,160 in vast 207 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:31,920 tracks of this land the North 208 00:10:30,160 --> 00:10:33,959 Scotland the 209 00:10:31,920 --> 00:10:36,560 Midlands South 210 00:10:33,959 --> 00:10:39,200 Wales the industrial areas of this 211 00:10:36,560 --> 00:10:43,360 country that were reduced to distressed 212 00:10:39,200 --> 00:10:45,920 areas in Mrs ther's term of office have 213 00:10:43,360 --> 00:10:48,399 never forgiven her but they're being 214 00:10:45,920 --> 00:10:50,720 asked to pay for this funeral in fact 215 00:10:48,399 --> 00:10:54,600 they're not being asked they're being 216 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:59,160 told that they must pay for this funeral 217 00:10:54,600 --> 00:11:01,360 now the deceased was a great proponent 218 00:10:59,160 --> 00:11:04,880 of private Enterprise and the great 219 00:11:01,360 --> 00:11:08,600 enemy of public expenditure and the role 220 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:10,959 of the state which she wished to shrink 221 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:14,760 you were once a devotee of these things 222 00:11:10,959 --> 00:11:18,240 yourself Mr Speaker but I think uh age 223 00:11:14,760 --> 00:11:19,600 has brought wisdom in some respects to 224 00:11:18,240 --> 00:11:24,480 all of 225 00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:28,040 us but it is an it it is it is an irony 226 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:30,880 is it not it is an I mean as Ken l the 227 00:11:28,040 --> 00:11:32,600 great film director put it surely we 228 00:11:30,880 --> 00:11:36,399 should have put this funeral out to 229 00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:39,240 Tender to the private sector and invited 230 00:11:36,399 --> 00:11:42,279 companies to sponsor it it's what she 231 00:11:39,240 --> 00:11:45,079 would have wanted surely it's what she 232 00:11:42,279 --> 00:11:47,079 would have wanted at that time when our 233 00:11:45,079 --> 00:11:49,720 pensioners are shivering to death 234 00:11:47,079 --> 00:11:53,279 literally in a Long Winter that 235 00:11:49,720 --> 00:11:56,240 stretched now into the spring at a time 236 00:11:53,279 --> 00:11:58,560 where we're virtually nationally 237 00:11:56,240 --> 00:12:01,920 bankrupt is it right that the public 238 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:04,800 should be told not asked but told that 239 00:12:01,920 --> 00:12:08,680 they must pay for a party political 240 00:12:04,800 --> 00:12:12,519 funeral I believe not and the public 241 00:12:08,680 --> 00:12:15,760 have not been consulted about any of 242 00:12:12,519 --> 00:12:18,199 this and if my post bag has any 243 00:12:15,760 --> 00:12:21,680 relationship to anyone else's it must be 244 00:12:18,199 --> 00:12:24,560 obvious that a lot of people are very 245 00:12:21,680 --> 00:12:25,680 unhappy about the and of course they did 246 00:12:24,560 --> 00:12:28,440 have one 247 00:12:25,680 --> 00:12:33,000 chance Mr Speaker I alluded to a moment 248 00:12:28,440 --> 00:12:35,600 or two go they could download ding- dong 249 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:38,639 the song from The Wizard of Oz and they 250 00:12:35,600 --> 00:12:42,440 did in very large numbers and the state 251 00:12:38,639 --> 00:12:44,720 broadcaster which has led the 252 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:47,720 phoning actually 253 00:12:44,720 --> 00:12:51,000 censored the music that the public with 254 00:12:47,720 --> 00:12:53,199 their money in a decision a private 255 00:12:51,000 --> 00:12:56,040 economic decision that they made Mrs sta 256 00:12:53,199 --> 00:12:58,120 was a big fan of those private economic 257 00:12:56,040 --> 00:12:59,600 decision that they made to buy a single 258 00:12:58,120 --> 00:13:02,920 was then sens 259 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:05,240 by the state broadcaster order I was 260 00:13:02,920 --> 00:13:08,600 just awaiting the conclusion of the 261 00:13:05,240 --> 00:13:11,360 honorable gentleman's sentence but I 262 00:13:08,600 --> 00:13:14,440 struggle to see how what he has just 263 00:13:11,360 --> 00:13:16,480 said relates to the terms of the motion 264 00:13:14,440 --> 00:13:19,760 the sittings of the house motion to 265 00:13:16,480 --> 00:13:22,399 which I know it was his intention and is 266 00:13:19,760 --> 00:13:24,839 now his intention immediately to return 267 00:13:22,399 --> 00:13:26,720 Mr George Got Away indeed sir of course 268 00:13:24,839 --> 00:13:28,399 the the backdrop to this cannot be 269 00:13:26,720 --> 00:13:29,959 separated from it there are many people 270 00:13:28,399 --> 00:13:33,519 watching this on the parliament Channel 271 00:13:29,959 --> 00:13:35,680 who know what the backdrop to this well 272 00:13:33,519 --> 00:13:38,880 well honorable gentlemen May honorable 273 00:13:35,680 --> 00:13:40,959 gentlemen May honorable gentlemen May 274 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:43,120 laugh but that's because they're not 275 00:13:40,959 --> 00:13:46,880 used to being watched on the parliament 276 00:13:43,120 --> 00:13:50,480 Channel let me let me let me assure 277 00:13:46,880 --> 00:13:55,040 them let let Perhaps Perhaps just as 278 00:13:50,480 --> 00:13:58,000 well perhap they they can't silence me 279 00:13:55,040 --> 00:14:02,880 Mr Speaker some some members are not for 280 00:13:58,000 --> 00:14:06,040 turning and I am one of them and better 281 00:14:02,880 --> 00:14:08,519 men than those have tried to do so I'm 282 00:14:06,040 --> 00:14:11,480 going to 283 00:14:08,519 --> 00:14:13,880 be I'm going to be 284 00:14:11,480 --> 00:14:19,880 cognizant but when I'm here people 285 00:14:13,880 --> 00:14:21,560 listen unlike unlike unlike some well I 286 00:14:19,880 --> 00:14:23,680 I have a lot of tweets about the 287 00:14:21,560 --> 00:14:26,199 speeches that proceeded preceded this 288 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:29,519 one Mr Speaker they're not at all 289 00:14:26,199 --> 00:14:33,759 complimentary uh let me assure you you 290 00:14:29,519 --> 00:14:37,079 my point is this that the backdrop the 291 00:14:33,759 --> 00:14:39,279 backdrop the backdrop to this is clear 292 00:14:37,079 --> 00:14:42,959 and it's been one thing after another as 293 00:14:39,279 --> 00:14:44,920 Mr McMillan said it's not one damn thing 294 00:14:42,959 --> 00:14:48,000 it's one damn thing after 295 00:14:44,920 --> 00:14:50,839 another it's the state mour that was 296 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:53,720 effectively declared by the state 297 00:14:50,839 --> 00:14:57,240 broadcaster it's the decision that the 298 00:14:53,720 --> 00:14:59,199 government made I understand and the pr 299 00:14:57,240 --> 00:15:02,440 it's even speculated that 300 00:14:59,199 --> 00:15:06,519 your office was not wild about the idea 301 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:09,160 to recall Parliament at a vast public 302 00:15:06,519 --> 00:15:10,959 expense offering members of parliament 303 00:15:09,160 --> 00:15:14,560 up to 304 00:15:10,959 --> 00:15:17,199 £3,700 to fly back from their holidays 305 00:15:14,560 --> 00:15:20,279 to attend what was in effect a state 306 00:15:17,199 --> 00:15:22,880 eulogy for a party political figure then 307 00:15:20,279 --> 00:15:25,800 fly back at public expense to their 308 00:15:22,880 --> 00:15:29,000 holidays and I hope that ipsa will be 309 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:31,920 releasing the figures of who claimed and 310 00:15:29,000 --> 00:15:35,399 what they claimed this was a grotesque 311 00:15:31,920 --> 00:15:37,880 decision totally unnecessary Monday was 312 00:15:35,399 --> 00:15:40,319 the day when Parliament returned Monday 313 00:15:37,880 --> 00:15:43,319 was the day when people could have made 314 00:15:40,319 --> 00:15:45,160 their tributes and paid their tributes 315 00:15:43,319 --> 00:15:47,959 and made the points that they wish to 316 00:15:45,160 --> 00:15:52,639 make that was the second problem the 317 00:15:47,959 --> 00:15:55,240 state M the first the recall unnecessary 318 00:15:52,639 --> 00:15:59,319 recall fantastically expensive recall of 319 00:15:55,240 --> 00:16:02,680 parliament was the second 320 00:15:59,319 --> 00:16:05,720 the muffling of the Chimes of Big Ben 321 00:16:02,680 --> 00:16:09,160 was the third the Banning of dingdong 322 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:13,240 was the fourth and now we have this now 323 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:17,639 we have this the shadow leader of the 324 00:16:13,240 --> 00:16:20,759 House rather politely as is her want 325 00:16:17,639 --> 00:16:22,720 made the point that there's every belief 326 00:16:20,759 --> 00:16:25,440 in this house that this prime minister 327 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:28,639 likes to avoid prime minister's question 328 00:16:25,440 --> 00:16:31,759 time if he avoids it tomorrow he will 329 00:16:28,639 --> 00:16:35,639 avoided it for four weeks four 330 00:16:31,759 --> 00:16:38,839 consecutive weeks no I I'm at every 331 00:16:35,639 --> 00:16:43,199 prime minister's question 332 00:16:38,839 --> 00:16:47,759 so the The Honorable gentlemen I must 333 00:16:43,199 --> 00:16:50,319 call them opposite I caution them again 334 00:16:47,759 --> 00:16:52,120 people are listening to this debate and 335 00:16:50,319 --> 00:16:56,160 cackling like 336 00:16:52,120 --> 00:16:56,160 hyenas this sturite 337 00:16:56,360 --> 00:17:03,519 chorus over there would be better would 338 00:17:00,360 --> 00:17:05,160 be better to show Just a Touch of 339 00:17:03,519 --> 00:17:08,480 sensitivity to the fact that there are 340 00:17:05,160 --> 00:17:12,319 millions of people in this country hate 341 00:17:08,480 --> 00:17:16,319 Margaret Thatcher and those who followed 342 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:19,439 her and the Prime Minister if he Dodges 343 00:17:16,319 --> 00:17:22,160 prime minister's questions tomorrow will 344 00:17:19,439 --> 00:17:24,760 have dodged them for four consecutive 345 00:17:22,160 --> 00:17:27,319 weeks now as Mr Wilson said a week's a 346 00:17:24,760 --> 00:17:29,799 long time in politics four weeks is a 347 00:17:27,319 --> 00:17:33,760 long time to miss prime minister's 348 00:17:29,799 --> 00:17:35,400 question the only Mass audience I'd much 349 00:17:33,760 --> 00:17:37,919 prefer to give way to The Honorable 350 00:17:35,400 --> 00:17:42,600 gentleman than for him to 351 00:17:37,919 --> 00:17:45,919 cackle and wobble his ample G from a 352 00:17:42,600 --> 00:17:49,000 sedentary position I'd much prefer to 353 00:17:45,919 --> 00:17:51,880 give way to him point of order point of 354 00:17:49,000 --> 00:17:55,520 order M Jacob Reese MOG if you would 355 00:17:51,880 --> 00:17:57,600 rule whether such terms of phrase are 356 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:59,039 Parliamentary the short answer to the 357 00:17:57,600 --> 00:18:01,640 honorable gentleman is that what has 358 00:17:59,039 --> 00:18:04,679 just been said was distasteful but it 359 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:08,720 was not disorderly it does not seem to 360 00:18:04,679 --> 00:18:11,240 have evoked any great display of misery 361 00:18:08,720 --> 00:18:13,159 on the part of the honorable gentleman 362 00:18:11,240 --> 00:18:16,000 but I know that the honorable member for 363 00:18:13,159 --> 00:18:21,960 Bradford West when he comes to speak 364 00:18:16,000 --> 00:18:25,080 will do so with a degree of calm and 365 00:18:21,960 --> 00:18:27,679 measurement of words for which I know in 366 00:18:25,080 --> 00:18:30,720 future years he will want of course to 367 00:18:27,679 --> 00:18:32,640 be Ned Mr Alex 368 00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:33,760 shellbrook thank you very much Mr 369 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker and there was I under the 370 00:18:33,760 --> 00:18:37,919 impression that The Honorable gentleman 371 00:18:35,320 --> 00:18:40,640 was a great aitor I'm sure the honorable 372 00:18:37,919 --> 00:18:43,039 gentleman in re in context to his last 373 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:44,760 comments will agree and and congratulate 374 00:18:43,039 --> 00:18:46,640 this prime minister for making sure that 375 00:18:44,760 --> 00:18:48,159 Parliament isn't gone for four months 376 00:18:46,640 --> 00:18:50,080 and indeed bringing the house back in 377 00:18:48,159 --> 00:18:51,760 September so that he can do those two 378 00:18:50,080 --> 00:18:55,280 sessions of primary's questions which up 379 00:18:51,760 --> 00:18:58,360 until recently um just didn't 380 00:18:55,280 --> 00:19:00,280 happen that's that's actually the best 381 00:18:58,360 --> 00:19:03,480 point that The Honorable gentleman has 382 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:06,640 made all evening it just goes to show 383 00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:10,280 that points that points made from one's 384 00:19:06,640 --> 00:19:14,440 feet are usually better than points made 385 00:19:10,280 --> 00:19:17,320 from a sedentary indeed relaxed 386 00:19:14,440 --> 00:19:19,760 position it is a fair point that 387 00:19:17,320 --> 00:19:22,919 Parliament does not retire for the 388 00:19:19,760 --> 00:19:25,640 summer for as long as it did in our long 389 00:19:22,919 --> 00:19:28,840 period together Mr Speaker in the House 390 00:19:25,640 --> 00:19:31,760 of Commons but facts are CHS that WI a 391 00:19:28,840 --> 00:19:34,520 ding as we say in Scotland every 392 00:19:31,760 --> 00:19:36,960 Wednesday the Prime Minister should 393 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:39,960 stand at the dispatch box and face the 394 00:19:36,960 --> 00:19:43,880 music of everything that's happened in 395 00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:46,120 the previous week and for four weeks it 396 00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:49,640 will have been the case that the Prime 397 00:19:46,120 --> 00:19:52,600 Minister has not done so at a time when 398 00:19:49,640 --> 00:19:55,280 the British economy is in Desperate 399 00:19:52,600 --> 00:19:59,080 trouble the Prime Minister has not been 400 00:19:55,280 --> 00:20:02,000 able to be questioned about it at a time 401 00:19:59,080 --> 00:20:03,559 when a budget has come and gone which 402 00:20:02,000 --> 00:20:05,240 has been near 403 00:20:03,559 --> 00:20:08,120 universally 404 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:10,080 regarded welcomed my goodness I don't 405 00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:12,600 know where it was welcomed certainly not 406 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:15,200 by the financial commentators certainly 407 00:20:12,600 --> 00:20:17,320 not by the markets certainly not by the 408 00:20:15,200 --> 00:20:19,280 public certainly not by the opinion 409 00:20:17,320 --> 00:20:22,919 polls but the Prime Minister has not 410 00:20:19,280 --> 00:20:24,919 been able to be questioned about it the 411 00:20:22,919 --> 00:20:28,760 Prime Minister has not been able to be 412 00:20:24,919 --> 00:20:33,559 questioned about anything for four 413 00:20:28,760 --> 00:20:37,320 weeks neither domestic nor International 414 00:20:33,559 --> 00:20:38,919 and our country is involved in very many 415 00:20:37,320 --> 00:20:44,400 and you'll be very happy that I don't 416 00:20:38,919 --> 00:20:46,200 seek to dilate upon them Mr Speaker but 417 00:20:44,400 --> 00:20:49,400 the country is involved in some very 418 00:20:46,200 --> 00:20:52,320 serious matters overseas also and the 419 00:20:49,400 --> 00:20:56,640 Prime Minister has not been able to be 420 00:20:52,320 --> 00:20:58,520 questioned about them and I just feel 421 00:20:56,640 --> 00:21:02,240 and I think that the attendance here 422 00:20:58,520 --> 00:21:04,919 this evening indicates that there are 423 00:21:02,240 --> 00:21:06,640 many who feel whether they're on the 424 00:21:04,919 --> 00:21:09,880 official opposition or not there are 425 00:21:06,640 --> 00:21:14,760 many who feel that this has all gone too 426 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:18,559 far that an attempt at 427 00:21:14,760 --> 00:21:21,799 canonization of a person around whom 428 00:21:18,559 --> 00:21:24,360 there is I see the speaker is frowning I 429 00:21:21,799 --> 00:21:27,159 speakers a religious man I'm not against 430 00:21:24,360 --> 00:21:30,039 canonization where it's Justified but 431 00:21:27,159 --> 00:21:33,400 there has to be a con ensus before one 432 00:21:30,039 --> 00:21:36,679 can be canonized and no such 433 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,679 canonization is 434 00:21:36,760 --> 00:21:41,640 possible from the back benches which I 435 00:21:38,840 --> 00:21:43,720 think is rather unseemly and members 436 00:21:41,640 --> 00:21:45,600 can't both Cav at what's being said and 437 00:21:43,720 --> 00:21:46,960 then make a rockus noise themselves I 438 00:21:45,600 --> 00:21:49,240 simply say to The Honorable gentleman M 439 00:21:46,960 --> 00:21:51,120 of Bradford West that I wasn't frowning 440 00:21:49,240 --> 00:21:54,440 at him I was listening attentively to 441 00:21:51,120 --> 00:21:55,520 him Mr George Galloway thank you sir the 442 00:21:54,440 --> 00:21:59,240 point 443 00:21:55,520 --> 00:22:01,679 is that beatification cannot 444 00:21:59,240 --> 00:22:03,640 ization is something that can only 445 00:22:01,679 --> 00:22:06,720 happen when there is a 446 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:09,600 consensus there is no such consensus 447 00:22:06,720 --> 00:22:12,799 about the former prime minister yet 448 00:22:09,600 --> 00:22:15,000 people are acting the state is acting 449 00:22:12,799 --> 00:22:17,520 and the state broadcaster and now the 450 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:18,760 Parliamentary authorities are asking us 451 00:22:17,520 --> 00:22:22,840 to 452 00:22:18,760 --> 00:22:26,120 accept things which are too close to 453 00:22:22,840 --> 00:22:28,600 Royal you see Mrs thater famously had a 454 00:22:26,120 --> 00:22:31,279 slightly fraught relationship 455 00:22:28,600 --> 00:22:34,039 with the palace and I can understand 456 00:22:31,279 --> 00:22:36,320 why Mrs tcher me to many of The 457 00:22:34,039 --> 00:22:41,080 Honorable gentlemen opposite have been 458 00:22:36,320 --> 00:22:42,880 great but she was not to up to 60% of 459 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:46,240 the electorate when she was alive and 460 00:22:42,880 --> 00:22:50,760 according to the polls more than 50% of 461 00:22:46,240 --> 00:22:53,159 the people now being pulled are against 462 00:22:50,760 --> 00:22:57,400 her were strongly against her feel that 463 00:22:53,159 --> 00:22:59,120 she did bad things here and abroad and 464 00:22:57,400 --> 00:23:03,200 it brings to 465 00:22:59,120 --> 00:23:06,960 discredit this kind of funeral this kind 466 00:23:03,200 --> 00:23:08,559 of state occasion if it's awarded in a 467 00:23:06,960 --> 00:23:11,200 way which many people in the country 468 00:23:08,559 --> 00:23:13,400 feel is unjustified and feel is being 469 00:23:11,200 --> 00:23:16,520 rammed down their throats for partisan 470 00:23:13,400 --> 00:23:22,279 reasons and ideological reasons and for 471 00:23:16,520 --> 00:23:26,039 which they're being asked to pay and I 472 00:23:22,279 --> 00:23:27,960 caution through you Mr Speaker the 473 00:23:26,039 --> 00:23:30,520 establishment of which I suspect your 474 00:23:27,960 --> 00:23:32,559 are not fully regarded as a member 475 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:35,000 though you ought to be because your 476 00:23:32,559 --> 00:23:38,919 office is one of the great offices in 477 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:41,240 the land but I I say through you to this 478 00:23:38,919 --> 00:23:44,799 establishment that that that that you've 479 00:23:41,240 --> 00:23:47,799 gone too far they have gone too far 480 00:23:44,799 --> 00:23:51,760 there's been too much of this it's too 481 00:23:47,799 --> 00:23:54,919 expensive it's too elaborate it's too 482 00:23:51,760 --> 00:23:58,400 Regal and many many people in the 483 00:23:54,919 --> 00:24:01,559 country are unhappy about it 484 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:05,840 and I just feel that 485 00:24:01,559 --> 00:24:09,360 to compound all that I've tried to 486 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:12,039 say to compound it with effectively 487 00:24:09,360 --> 00:24:16,279 cancelling a vital part of British 488 00:24:12,039 --> 00:24:20,600 political life would be to compound to 489 00:24:16,279 --> 00:24:24,120 add insult to the injury already 490 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:24,120 suffered my last 491 00:24:24,679 --> 00:24:30,159 Point 492 00:24:26,799 --> 00:24:33,039 gentlemen and 493 00:24:30,159 --> 00:24:35,799 ladies although the the Mis the 494 00:24:33,039 --> 00:24:38,720 misbehavior is coming exclusively from I 495 00:24:35,799 --> 00:24:41,600 think they're called gentlemen uh 496 00:24:38,720 --> 00:24:45,080 opposite my my point is 497 00:24:41,600 --> 00:24:47,120 this Mr Speaker this funeral did not 498 00:24:45,080 --> 00:24:49,200 have to be organized so that it would 499 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:52,559 Clash with prime minister's question 500 00:24:49,200 --> 00:24:54,919 time it could have been held today it 501 00:24:52,559 --> 00:24:58,080 could have been held on Thursday it 502 00:24:54,919 --> 00:25:00,320 could have been held later on Tuesday 503 00:24:58,080 --> 00:25:02,200 the state was vitally involved in the 504 00:25:00,320 --> 00:25:04,600 organization of this funeral we know 505 00:25:02,200 --> 00:25:07,480 that because we're paying for 506 00:25:04,600 --> 00:25:09,600 it the state was vitally involved in the 507 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:12,520 organization of it and it was them who 508 00:25:09,600 --> 00:25:14,120 organized a clash with prime minister's 509 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:18,679 question so why should the House of 510 00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:22,640 Commons be asked to accept the 511 00:25:18,679 --> 00:25:25,480 abrogation of its proper role tomorrow 512 00:25:22,640 --> 00:25:29,679 when the government is responsible for 513 00:25:25,480 --> 00:25:31,640 bringing about any Clash in so far as 514 00:25:29,679 --> 00:25:34,320 there is 515 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:37,080 one but it's too late now to change the 516 00:25:34,320 --> 00:25:40,840 time of the funeral it's not too late 517 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:43,159 for the house to refuse to abandon its 518 00:25:40,840 --> 00:25:45,720 responsibilities at Prime Minister's 519 00:25:43,159 --> 00:25:47,760 questions and I hope if the house 520 00:25:45,720 --> 00:25:50,640 divides it the end of the evening on 521 00:25:47,760 --> 00:25:53,080 this as I hope it will that a decent 522 00:25:50,640 --> 00:25:56,440 number of members of parliament will 523 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:59,720 reflect the feelings of if not their own 524 00:25:56,440 --> 00:26:03,279 constituents then the tens of millions 525 00:25:59,720 --> 00:26:07,440 of constituents of many of us here and 526 00:26:03,279 --> 00:26:11,480 some of them there who feel that the 527 00:26:07,440 --> 00:26:14,480 Adoration of the Maggi has gone far 528 00:26:11,480 --> 00:26:14,480 enough