April 25, 2015

Finest Hour 119, Summer 2003

Page 50

Edited and annotated by Paul H. Courtenay

Question Time is that period in the Parliamentary week where Members are allowed to ask the Prime Minister any question, governed only by decorum and the judgment of the Speaker as to whether they are genuinely asking questions or (commonly) giving a speech, Churchill was a master of Question Time, as Mr, Courtenay demonstrates.


Retirement Not

In 1953, a Member tried to provoke Churchill by dropping a hint about his retirement. Churchill turned to Captain Christopher Soames, his Parliamentary Private Secretary. WSC: “Bring me my hearing aid. I don’t want to miss any of this.” Then, with his hearing aid installed but ostentatiously and elaborately turned off: “Would you mind repeating what you’ve just said?”

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Out of His Depth

On 18 November 1952 Mr. Lewis (Lab.) asked: “Is the Prime Minister aware of the deep concern felt by the people of this country at the whole question of the Korean conflict?” WSC: “I am fully aware of the deep concern felt by the Hon. Member in many matters above his comprehension.”

The next day, on reintroducing University seats, which had been abolished by the previous Labour Government, Mr. M. Stewart (Lab.) asked: “Will the Prime Minister remember the Greek proverb, ‘Much learning does not teach sense’?” Mr. Lewis: “May I ask the Prime Minister whether that is above his comprehension?” WSC: “I am sorry to see that I hit so deeply home.”

Attack via Eire

On 30 September 1942 a Member asked the Prime Minister whether, in view of raids by armed parties from the Irish Free State on Northern Ireland, an effective boundary under military control would be established. WSC: “The primary responsibility for dealing with criminal outrages, including those in which the criminals use arms, rests on the civil authorities, who can call for the assistance of the military authorities if need arises. Appropriate arrangements have been made in Northern Ireland for the provision of such assistance if required. I understand the Government of Northern Ireland are satisfied that the situation is well in hand.” Further questions were asked on dangers of attack and the murder of constables in Northern Ireland. WSC: “I have never pretended to regard the situation as satisfactory, but the arrangements made go a considerable way to mitigate the danger. I see no reason to withdraw my trust from the regular process of British justice.”

Unaccustomed Shyness

On 18 June 1952, when asked to define Lord Woolton’s ministerial duties, Mr. Churchill is recorded as being “singularly uncommunicative.” Mr. Emmanuel Shinwell (Lab.): “Will the Prime Minister tell us why he has suddenly become so shy? Usually he is very anxious to add a great deal on supplementary questions….What is the matter with him?” WSC: “I have to measure the length of the response to any supplementary question by the worth, meaning and significance of that supplementary question.”

Summit Conferences

Labour were urging a summit conference on 22 April 1953. Mr. Dodds (Lab.): “Does the Rt. Hon. Gentleman deny that he himself some years ago made a statement as to what he would do [about a Summit Conference with Eisenhower and Stalin] if he got the power? He has had it for eighteen months and he has done nothing in that respect.” WSC: “I did not get the power to regulate the way in which the affairs of the world would go. I only got the power to preside over a party which has been able to beat the Opposition in Divisions for eighteen months.”

On 17 June 1954, after the sensational arrest in Moscow of Russian doctors for the alleged poisoning of leading Soviet leaders, Mr. Emrys Hughes (Lab., Glasgow) asked: “Has the Prime Minister forgotten that he pressed for a meeting with Mr. Stalin?…Why does the Prime Minister now run away?” WSC: “I think we must try to understand the general position as it moves. We in this country would feel very severe domestic preoccupations, making it difficult to have conversations with heads of Governments, if, for instance, so many of our best doctors were being charged with poisoning so many of our best politicians.”

Mr. Dodds renewed the question. WSC: “Many anxieties have been expressed recently at the severe character of the course of the Grand National steeplechase, but I am sure that it could not be improved by asking the horses to try to jump two fences at the same time.”

Abolition

Mr. I. O. Thomas (Lab.), 27 October 1953: “Will the Prime Minister indicate if he will consult the consuming public before he decides to abolish the Food Ministry?” WSC: “On the whole, I have always found myself on the side of the consumer.”

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