Ministerial Code: Policy Announcements Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Ministerial Code: Policy Announcements

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts
Tuesday 29th October 2024

(2 days, 16 hours ago)

Commons Chamber
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Urgent Questions are proposed each morning by backbench MPs, and up to two may be selected each day by the Speaker. Chosen Urgent Questions are announced 30 minutes before Parliament sits each day.

Each Urgent Question requires a Government Minister to give a response on the debate topic.

This information is provided by Parallel Parliament and does not comprise part of the offical record

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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I have noted the media reporting an assertion from Downing Street that the pre-announcement of Budget measures is entirely routine. For the avoidance of doubt, I am always happy for Ministers to come to the House to make announcements in the run-up to a Budget. This discourtesy arises when those announcements are made elsewhere.

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Nick Thomas-Symonds Portrait Nick Thomas-Symonds
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I certainly do agree. I am sure it will come as a surprise to right hon. and hon. Members that one of the Conservative’s former Chancellors decided to comment on the September 2022 fiasco. What did Kwasi Kwarteng say the other day? “Okay, my Budget wasn’t perfect”—the master of understatement.

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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I call the Liberal Democrat spokesperson.

Sarah Olney Portrait Sarah Olney (Richmond Park) (LD)
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It is a sad state of affairs when the run-up to the Budget of this new Government so closely resembles that of the previous Government, with consistent leaks and briefings to the media rather than announcements being made where they should be—in this House—so that Members can scrutinise them on behalf of their constituents. The previous Conservative Government did so much damage to trust in politics, including by consistently undermining the ministerial code. Will the Minister put things right and toughen up the status of the code by enshrining it in law?

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Nick Thomas-Symonds Portrait Nick Thomas-Symonds
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I must say, the Conservatives have learned absolutely nothing. They trashed ministerial standards and standards in this House when in government. [Interruption.]

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. Mr Shannon, you are meant to sit down again.

Nick Thomas-Symonds Portrait Nick Thomas-Symonds
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The Conservatives trashed standards in government. My suggestion to them is to reflect on the past 14 years.

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Nick Thomas-Symonds Portrait Nick Thomas-Symonds
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I can tell the hon. Gentleman about working people. Working people are the people who have been so appallingly let down by the Conservative party. They are the people who are paying extra costs in their mortgages and their rents every month; they are the people hit by the cost of living; they are the people left on record waiting lists by the Conservative party; and they are the people who this Government are determined to deliver for.

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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We now come to Paul Holmes.

Paul Holmes Portrait Paul Holmes (Hamble Valley) (Con)
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Thank you, Mr Speaker—there I was ready to defend your honour, Sir. Even after your ruling yesterday, the Government made more announcements on the BBC this morning concerning health services, so has the Paymaster General asked his advisers at the Cabinet Office whether they think the Chancellor or any other Minister has broken the ministerial code? If he has not asked for that advice, why not?

Nick Thomas-Symonds Portrait Nick Thomas-Symonds
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Come on. The Conservative party, which showed zero respect for the ministerial code in office, trying to put questions like that is appalling—it is double standards. [Interruption.]

Lindsay Hoyle Portrait Mr Speaker
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Order. I expect better of a senior Whip!