Oral Answers to Questions Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Oral Answers to Questions

David Winnick Excerpts
Tuesday 24th May 2011

(13 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Nick Clegg Portrait The Deputy Prime Minister
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The first point of which to remind my hon. Friend is that this was a manifesto commitment of all three parties. It is something that we as a country have been discussing for around 100 years or so, and we have introduced changed electoral systems to a number of Assemblies and Parliaments in the UK without referendums in the past.

David Winnick Portrait Mr David Winnick (Walsall North) (Lab)
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It is understanable that there is tension and disagreement between the two coalition parties on this issue, and perhaps on other matters, but it was reported last week that during a recent meeting of Tory MPs one Member described the Liberal Democrats as “yellow” followed by a second word beginning with “b” then “a” and ending in “s”. Was the Deputy Prime Minister as shocked as I was by such behaviour?

John Bercow Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. May I gently say to the Deputy Prime Minister and to the House that I do not think he is responsible for what is said at meetings of Conservative Members of Parliament?