Sovereign Grant Bill (Allocation of Time)

Lindsay Hoyle Excerpts

Thursday 14th July 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr Edward Leigh (Gainsborough) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I just need your guidance as I have a particular general point that I wanted to make. It pertains to clause 13 but I would normally have made it on Second Reading. Will you immediately call me to order if I seek to raise it?

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

I think we will need to listen to what the hon. Gentleman has to say.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

The stand part debate on clause 1 will be quite broad.

[Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab)]

May I raise an issue in support of the points that many people have made about the role of the monarchy outside the well-known ceremonial role—the crucial role of Head of State? This matter gets little or no attention. The Conservative historian, Robert Rhodes James, a former colleague of ours, gave a lecture in Cambridge, which was largely ignored, about a time when the role of the monarchy might have been absolutely crucial in our history. It was at the time when the skids were under Margaret Thatcher and everyone wanted her to go and tearful members of the Cabinet were coming to No. 10 Downing Street asking her to go. Robert Rhodes James, who was a very distinguished and respected Member of the House at that time, said that the Conservative party suddenly became terrified because there was a possibility that Mrs Thatcher might call a general election and she could not have been stopped by the Conservative party, the Cabinet or the House of Commons.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. We are talking about the allocation of time. I know that history is part of time but I am not sure it is relevant to the Bill.

[Paul Flynn]

This point is crucial to why we need extra time. This issue is virtually unknown, but it is important because the only person who could then have stopped Margaret Thatcher from acting in her own interests rather than in the national interests, as she might well have been elected, was the Queen. This is a question about the personality of the monarch, because the strong personality of the monarch might have been vital then. This matter is so important that we should have a greater allocation of time and a full debate.