PERSONAL STATEMENTS (Hansard, 29 July 1943)

§ Commander Locker-Lampson (Birmingham, Handsworth)
An unhappy incident occurred in the purlieus of the House yesterday in which I was involved, and inasmuch as I was to blame in any 1806 conduct of mine which was a breach of the Privileges of the House, I desire-to tender my full apology. I hope I shall be granted an opportunity later of making a personal statement. During the altercation with the hon. and gallant Member for St. Marylebone (Captain Cunningham-Reid) I never struck him, although I was struck, but I repeat that if I am to blame for what occurred, I apologise to you, Sir, and to the House. I can only say how sorry I am that such an episode should have occurred in a House of which I have been only a humble Member for many years, but whose honour I would safeguard more than that of any other institution in the world.

§ Captain Cunningham-Reid (St. Marylebone)
; With the permission of the House, I want to make a very short explanation and apology to this House in reference to the incident which has just been referred to. I regret that I have to do this at this late hour, but that is no fault of mine. I believe that on these occasions the House is generally generous in its indulgence to personal explanations. I merely want to draw the attention of the House to what brought this matter to a head.

§ Mr. Speaker
In a personal explanation no contentious matter ought to be introduced.

§ Captain Cunningham-Reid
I would not have attempted to do that if it had not been for the fact that you allowed the hon. and gallant Member for Handsworth (Commander Locker-Lampson) to state that he did not attack me in this particular instance. That being so, I hope that you will allow me to give some explanation of what happened.

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. and gallant Member for Handsworth only made a statement, and did not qualify it. I cannot allow the hon. and gallant Member to do more now.

§ Captain Cunningham-Reid
I will certainly bow to your Ruling, Sir; but will you allow me some other opportunity of making a personal explanation? I think that, in fairness, I should be allowed to make some explanation concerning a very serious imputation indeed, which is without any foundation whatever. I appreciate the situation now. Let me say, without any further ado, that whatever the circumstances were, whoever was in 1807 the wrong and whoever was in the right, I realise that the prestige of this House will be affected if the matter is left as it is now; and, therefore, on that score I do not hesitate to apologise both to you and to this House for any embarrassment that any action of mine yesterday may have caused.