HC Deb 15 July 1965 vol 716 cc772-3
Q4. Mr. Ian Gilmour

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs at the Lancashire miners' gala at Leigh on 12th June, 1965, about Her Majesty's Government's economic policies, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

Q8. Sir F. Bennett

asked the Prime Minister whether the public speech made by the First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Economic Affairs at the Lancashire miners' gala at Leigh on 12th June, 1965, about Her Majesty's Government's economic policies, represents the policy of Her Majesty's Government.

The Prime Minister

Yes, Sir.

Mr. Gilmour

Is the right hon. Gentleman aware that in his speech on 19th June the First Secretary alleged that there was a sinister conspiracy against the Government by the Press and the City? On 1st July the Prime Minister said there was not a conspiracy and, on 10th July, the noble Lord who is the Joint Under-Secretary for the Home Department said that there was a conspiracy. Is it the Government's view that the Press and the City are conspiring against them, or will the Prime Minister now repudiate the absurd fantasies of the First Secretary?

The Prime Minister

Having read the Spectator recently, I would think that the hon. Gentleman knows better than I do whether there is any conspiracy between the proprietor and the editor of that paper. I would stand by the answer I gave on television, that I think there is enough original sin in parts of the Press that one does not need a conspiracy to have a vendetta.

Sir F. Bennett

Might I have the pleasure of congratulating the right hon. Gentleman on surviving so well the dinner he enjoyed last night with so many of the people whom his right hon. Friend described as conspirators? Can we hope that from this time on there will be rather less whining and trying to put the blame on other people's shoulders, and some acceptance of responsibility by the Government?

The Prime Minister

I had a very good dinner last night and I did not think that any question of survival arose. What I do find in the City and industry is that there is a very healthy disregard of the attempts of hon. Gentlemen opposite to involve the City and industry in antipatriotic moves.