Points of Order

Nigel Evans Excerpts

Thursday 15th June 2023 Commons Chamber

[Richard Drax (South Dorset) (Con)]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. I wonder if you could help me. As you may know, a barge is due to come to my constituency at the end of this month to house 506 migrants. The port—a private port—has been paid a considerable sum of money. In response to a written question to the Home Office, I had a written reply saying that it was commercially confidential and we could not know the sum. This is taxpayers’ money. A deal has been done. I would have thought it is a right for my constituents and everybody else to know how much taxpayers’ money is being given to a private port to accommodate this barge. Can you advise me on how I can get an answer to this question?

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Nigel Evans)]

I thank the hon. Member for his point of order and forward notice of it. I am sure that those on the Treasury Bench will have heard the point of order. In the first instance, I would recommend getting in contact with the Department concerned. If that does not work, I would recommend going to the Table Office to see what support and information it can give, but this seems prime territory for an Adjournment debate as well.

[Lloyd Russell-Moyle (Brighton, Kemptown) (Lab/Co-op)]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. On gaining control of the council in Brighton and Hove, the Labour administration found that £3 million had been overspent by the Green administration, above and beyond what was legally set in the budget. That is a third of our operating reserves. Can you advise me on how I can hold to account councillors who have been chucked out by the electorate, but who have cost us millions of pounds?

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

I think the hon. Gentleman has done so, supremely well, by raising his point of order.

Before we come to the first debate, I just want to say—I know that Madam Deputy Speaker Dame Rosie Winterton mentioned this, but I want to put my tribute on the record as well—that Glenda Jackson was an incredible talent, not just within the world of theatre and the arts, but in the world of politics, where many of us got to know her over many years, particularly when she was a Minister. I have had more than a few hugs from her on the Terrace, I have to say. She was a personal friend.

When I last went to New York, I went to see her play “King Lear”. She commanded that stage for over three hours—I was shattered just watching her. I got in touch with her before I went, and she said, “Come back into the dressing room and have a chat.” When I went into the dressing room, I was expecting to see somebody who was shattered, quite frankly. Quite the reverse: she was sitting up, supreme. She looked at me and said, “Nigel! What’s going on with Brexit?” We had a good chat for well over an hour. She will be sorely missed.

I have already sent my condolences to her son, but I now extend them publicly to the rest of her family. I hope that the lights of the west end, Broadway, and theatres all over the world will be dimmed in tribute to her, indeed in deep contrast to the way she dazzled when she took to the stage. [Hon. Members: “Hear, hear.”]

We now come to the Backbench Business debate on Pride Month. I call Elliot Colburn to move the motion.