ADJOURNMENT (Hansard, 8 February 1961)

§ Mr. George Brown (Belper)
On a point of order. [Interruption.] Mr. Deputy-Speaker, on a point of order. It will be very clear to everybody that some discussion was going on up there between you and one of the Government Whips which was quite inaudible to everybody else. We have no idea, Mr. Deputy-Speaker, what business you are about to allege you conducted with that hon. Gentleman during that inaudible conversation.
In view of the whole proceedings of the last twenty-five minutes, which I regard as disgraceful, I beg to move that you leave the Chair and send for Mr. Speaker. [Interruption.]

§ Mr. Deputy-Speaker (Sir Gordon Touche)
Order. Order. [Interruption.]

Hon. Members
Leave the Chair.

Mr. Deputy-Speaker
Order. [Interruption.] Order. We are now on the—[Interruption.]

Hon. Members
Leave the Chair.

§ Mr. Brown
Send for Mr. Speaker. [Interruption.] Mr. Deputy-Speaker, I have claimed to move a Motion, which I did with the greatest reluctance. It will be apparent to everybody that we have got into difficulties because of the absence on the Government side of anybody with a sense or a touch for the mood of the House. If we are forced, as my hon. Friend said earlier, to come into collision with you, Sir, as the only way of dealing with this, it must be, as I tried to say to the Patronage Secretary, very apparent that the Government will lose more time while that Motion is dealt with than they could possibly have lost after one o'clock in the morning—such a Motion as we might now feel forced to put down, through no reason of yours, Sir, but, nevertheless, you were put into the impossible position. In my personal judgment, you were put into the position where, I believe, you then acted as you did, by them. But because of that, such a Motion will be taken in the full hours of the business of the House.
It must be apparent to the Leader of the House, who has only just arrived, 592 that something has happened which requires his intervention. May I ask the Leader of the House whether he has anything to say to us, failing which, Sir, I am bound to press you for an answer to the Motion which I not only claimed to move, but had moved, which was that you should leave the Chair, after having sent for Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Deputy-Speaker
The Question before the House is, "That this House do now adjourn".

Hon. Members
No.

§ Mr. Brown
On a point of order. Mr. Deputy-Speaker, this is now being made quite impossible. When I moved my Motion, I pointed out to you, without any reaction from you, that you and a Government Whip had had a private conversation there which no Member of the House had heard. I pointed out to you, Sir, that anything which you were about to declare which had passed between you two could not possibly be regarded as business of the House or a decision of the House. If, as I understand it, you are now purporting to say that a Motion was moved and accepted by you while I was on my feet, without anybody raising his voice and without anybody in the House hearing it, then I am bound to say to you that there must be a Motion. This is behaviour in the Chair which I have not seen in fifteen years.
I moved, in the full hearing of everybody—which the Government Whip did not do—that you send for Mr. Speaker. It was the only Motion heard to be moved. It was the only Motion anybody heard. Nobody heard your private conversation.
I persist in claiming my right to move that you send for Mr. Speaker and do not purport to carry the House on some private conversation of your own that you have—[Interruption.]

§ Mr. Deputy-Speaker
No such Motion is in order and I declare the House adjourned.