Mr. Deputy-SpeakerI have now, as I undertook to do, inquired into what happened in the Ayes Lobby in the last Division last night. I find that the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Boothby) was writing a letter in the Ayes Lobby when that Division was called. When he tried, first of all, to make his way out by the Tellers' end, he found the Division Clerks in their places and the doors locked. When he began to make his way out to the other end, some Members began jokingly to bar his way, 1233 The great pressure of Members pressing down the Lobby towards the Tellers soon barred his way entirely, and so it became impossible either for him to make his way out or for the Members who attempted to help him to do so.
Fortunately, good humour prevailed, especially in the conduct of the hon. Member himself, and no worse incident occurred; but the obstruction caused to the hon. Member was unparliamentary, and he was improperly prevented from reaching the Lobby in which he wished to vote. I have therefore directed that the numbers be corrected in the Journal and that the vote of the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East, be added to the Noes, making the result of the Division, Ayes, 293; Noes, 281.
§ Mr. EdeI also have made some inquiries into the matter, and I ask the House to accept the report that you have made to us, Mr. Deputy-Speaker. I should like to say, on behalf of my hon. Friends who were nearest to the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East (Mr. Boothby), and even those who were nearer than I was, that they recognised that what started in perfect good humour as a joke went, as jokes are apt to do, rather too far, and they desire me to express to the hon. Member their regret at the fact that that happened and to apologise to the House for something that was not in accordance with the seemly conduct of our affairs. I hope that the hon. Member for Aberdeenshire, East, will accept that statement in the sincere spirit in which it is tendered.
§ Mr. ChurchillWe naturally accept and support the report which you, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, have made upon this matter and I was very glad to hear the remarks which were made in such a becoming strain by the Leader of the 1234 House. From the information which has reached me, it appears that several Ministers of high standing and importance in the Government took an active part in those proceedings. I am not mentioning their names because of the terms of the remarks by the Leader of the House, but it does appear they did take a part and I trust we may assume they are included among those who have apologised to my hon. Friend the Member for Aberdeenshire, East for their unparliamentary and improper behaviour.
§ Mr. BoothbyI only want to refer in one sentence to what the Leader of the House has said and to say that the struggle in the Aye Lobby in the House last night, although conducted with vigour, was also conducted with good humour by both sides—although the sides were not very evenly balanced. I am quite sure that, on reflection, hon. Members on both sides of the House will realise this was in itself a very undesirable incident, which might have created a very dangerous precedent indeed, and that in the circumstances I could not possibly pass over the matter in silence.