HC Deb 21 November 1957 vol 578 cc562-3
45. Mr. Lewis

asked the Prime Minister why he will not move to appoint a Select Committee or some such form of independent committee to inquire into allegations and charges that labour and trade union leaders have been guilty of sabotage against the Government's economic policy, and to report on what action, legal or otherwise, should be taken against those found guilty of such sabotage.

The Prime Minister (Mr. Harold Macmillan)

Because no good reason for doing so has been advanced.

Mr. Lewis

Is not this very unfair? False charges and allegations are made against many honourable men who are doing much for the good of this country. When a political leader feels that an imputation is alleged against him he writes a letter, and he can have an inquiry. If Mr. Frank Cousins writes a letter similar to that written by Mr. Poole, can he have an inquiry?

The Prime Minister

In the first place, I think the hon. Member misquoted the speech which my noble Friend made. He has left out the phrase "more extreme leaders".

Mr. Lewis

The Prime Minister has said that I misquoted the speech of his noble Friend. I never quoted the speech of his noble Friend: but it was his noble Friend who named Mr. Frank Cousins.

The Prime Minister

I understood that this was a reference to a speech and, in the way in which it appears on the Order Paper, it says: charges that labour and trade union leaders… I was only pointing out that the words of the speech were not the same and, as it was obviously meant to be a quotation from the speech of my noble Friend or a reference to the speech, it should have been quoted correctly. In any, case, I am quite sure that, on reflection, the hon. Member would feel that this proposal he has made is not one which would be suitable or wise for me to follow.

I must say, in passing, that if the hon. Member relies on the word "sabotage", it was clearly used in a metaphorical and not a literal sense. For instance, I might say that the hon. Member is sabotaging the system of Parliamentary Questions. That would not mean that he was actually using violence but was undermining the system.

Mr. Gaitskell

Is the Prime Minister aware that most of us are not in the habit of taking very seriously anything the Lord President of the Council says?

The Prime Minister

In that case, must ask the right hon. Gentleman whether he will exercise some authority over his followers, who seem to take this matter au grand serieux.