Public Festivals, Holidays and Commemorations

Paul Flynn Excerpts

Tuesday 13th December 2011 Commons Chamber

[Paul Flynn (Newport West) (Lab)]

It is a pleasure to speak on St Lucia’s day, about which we did not know previously. The hon. Member for Romford (Andrew Rosindell) seems to suggest an incontinence of celebration—there is hardly a day of the year when we would not be obliged to celebrate something. However, absent from his speech was any suggestion of celebrating the reason for our existence in the Chamber. Why not have a democracy day? What about 4 November to celebrate the Chartists who died in my constituency, and others who died in many other places, for example, the Tolpuddle martyrs—all those who fought in the struggle to ensure that we have our free Parliament? They should be celebrated; they are far more significant than many of those the hon. Gentleman suggested.

Question put and agreed to.

Ordered,

That Andrew Rosindell, Henry Smith, Jacob Rees-Mogg, Nadhim Zahawi, Bob Russell, Simon Hart, Priti Patel, Thomas Docherty, Paul Uppal, Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil, Heather Wheeler and Ian Paisley present the Bill.

Andrew Rosindell accordingly presented the Bill.

Bill read the First time; to be read a Second time on Friday 20 January 2012 and to be printed (Bill 262).