HC Deb 05 April 1955 vol 539 c1004
Lieut.-Colonel Marcus Lipton (Brixton)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the imminent resignation of the Prime Minister.

The first fact for your consideration, Mr. Speaker, is that the matter is definite because, according to the B.B.C. news bulletin—and the B.B.C. is no purveyor of idle information—the resignation is due to take place today. The second point, on the question of urgency, is that the resignation is due to take place today and it is, therefore, desirable that the House should have an opportunity of expressing itself on the subject. Thirdly, on the question of public importance, it must, I think, be conceded, even by the most hostile critic of the Prime Minister on the Government side of the House, that his resignation is a matter of public importance.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. and gallant Member for Brixton (Lieut.-Colonel Lipton) asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9 for the purpose of discussing a definite matter of urgent public importance, namely, the imminent resignation of the Prime Minister. That matter does not come within the Standing Order.