§ 35. Mr. Dempseyasked the Lord President of the Council if he will arrange to have erected in the Members' Lobby a life-sized statue of Keir Hardie; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. DempseyIs my right hon. Friend aware that that was a shocking reply? Will he bear in mind that the present bust of James Keir Hardie is in a dark corner of a part of this building where members of the general public cannot see it and that that is an insult to members of our party? As the Labour Government erected a statue to Mr. Lloyd George, the Leader of the Liberal Party, and are committed to erecting a statue to Sir Winston Churchill, the Leader of the Conservative Party, why will they not erect one to the Leader of the Labour Party?
§ Mr. DempseyYou are not.
§ Mr. PeartOf course I am. By general agreement, the Lobby has been reserved for statutes of twentieth century Prime Ministers. However, I am prepared to consider another part of the building as a site for the bust of Keir Hardie.
§ Mr. James GriffithsWill my right hon. Friend examine a number of statues of well-known nineteenth-century figures which are in the House with a view to finding a better place for Keir Hardie?
§ Mr. PeartI have already said that I am prepared to consider the possibility of another and more suitable place, but not the Members' Lobby.
Mr. Edward M. TaylorDoes not the right hon. Gentleman agree that the 481 erection of a statue of this great Scotsman in a prominent place outside this building would be a useful reminder to the Government of the extent to which they have departed from the principles on which they were elected?