Early Parliamentary General Election Bill

Debate between Paul Farrelly and Bob Seely

2nd reading: House of Commons
Tuesday 29th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Mr Seely]

I am not sure I buy that. I am sorry, but I simply do not. Every time we try to bring forward—

[Paul Farrelly]

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

[Mr Seely]

I would like to just answer and then move on, if I may.

Every time we bring something to this House, the House tries to turn it into the political equivalent of a pushmi-pullyu. We tried to put a timetable motion through, and Labour Members voted against it, but now they want a timetable motion. You were offered three times—

[Paul Farrelly]

Will the hon. Gentleman give way?

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Seely]

I do not buy that for one second. We had three withdrawal deal votes this summer.

[Paul Farrelly]

I do not want an extended debate on this, but there is another good reason why the hon. Gentleman, despite his certainty, is absolutely wrong. The Government have no control of the timetable because they have lost their majority by expelling Conservative Members with long and proud service, losing people to defections and losing the support of the Democratic Unionist party. The reason is, therefore, that the Government have been badly and recklessly led.

[Mr Seely]

Again, I do not buy that. The Government have been led very well, and I will explain why, although I am grateful for the hon. Gentleman’s intervention.

--- Later in debate ---

[Mr Seely]

Thank you very much, Mr Speaker. I think I have been slightly thrown by taking so many interventions, so I am saying “you”. I know I should not and I apologise.

If I may continue with the points that I was making—

[Paul Farrelly]

Do you know where you are?

[Mr Seely]

Roughly, yes. About 10 minutes ago, I was making the point that we needed a new Parliament, before I faced a host of helpful interventions from Labour Members. We need a new Parliament because we spend so much time talking about the same old thing; talking about Brexit endlessly, when there is so much else out there.