Business of the House Debate

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Department: Leader of the House

Business of the House

Henry Smith Excerpts
Thursday 10th May 2012

(12 years, 6 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Henry Smith Portrait Henry Smith (Crawley) (Con)
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As you will be aware, Mr Speaker, 200 years ago tomorrow Spencer Perceval was assassinated in the House of Commons, yet the only thing marking where he fell are a few irregularly placed floor tiles. May we have a statement on whether we might put in place a more fitting memorial to that statesman?

Lord Young of Cookham Portrait Sir George Young
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The question of whether to have a statue or memorial is a matter not for the Government but for you, Mr Speaker, and the Commission. Spencer Perceval’s family used to live in my old constituency in Ealing, where a church, All Saints church, has been built in his memory and a concert is held to remember him. The mayor of the constituency he represented—Northampton, I think—will lay a wreath in his memory at the weekend. I will pursue, through the Commission, my hon. Friend’s suggestion of having a more fitting memorial to Spencer Perceval.