SOUTH AFRICAN CRICKET TOUR (Hansard, 26 May 1970)

§ Mr. Goodhew
I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 9, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, the failure of the Home Secretary to protect the right of British subjects to go about their lawful occasions, as instanced by his part in the cancellation of the South African cricket tour. I submit that this is a specific matter, because we have had the instance of a perfectly lawful cricket tour by the South African cricket team, which was desired by the majority of people in this country, cancelled as a direct result of the Home Secretary's pressurisation of the Cricket Council in the face of threats by a violent and militant minority led by an alien. Secondly—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Hon. Members must listen to applications under Standing Order No. 9.

§ Mr. Goodhew
Secondly, I submit that the matter is important because it is the Home Secretary's specific responsibility to preserve individual liberty under the law, yet he has capitulated to mob rule and thus taken the first step on the road to anarchy. Thirdly—

§ Mr. John Mendelson
On a point of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. It is not usual to raise points of order during an application under Standing Order No. 9.

§ Mr. Mendelson
My point of order is essential.

§ Mr. Speaker
Every Member thinks that his point of order is substantial.

§ Mr. Goodhew
I submit, thirdly, Mr. Speaker, that the matter should have urgent consideration, because the House is about to be dissolved at the end of this week and there will be no opportunity to debate the matter here for some weeks. In the meantime, there have been threats to harass companies trading lawfully with South Africa. If those companies were to cave in, like the Home Secretary—

§ Mr. John Mendelson
On a point of order—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. The hon. Member must not debate now the issue which he would debate if his application were successful.

§ Mr. Goodhew
Yes, Mr. Speaker. The importance of the matter is that if those companies were to give way, like the Home Secretary, this would have a disastrous and immediate effect on the balance of payments and threaten the jobs of many thousands of British subjects.

§ Mr. Mendelson
On a point of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. We are on a point of order.

§ Mr. Mendelson
The hon. Member is out of order.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. Mr. Goodhew.

§ Mr. Goodhew
In the absence of any guarantee of support from the Home Secetary for those companies, I submit, Mr. Speaker, that this is a matter which should have urgent consideration.

§ Mr. Hugh Jenkins
Further to the point of order—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I am dealing with a point of order.
The hon. Member for St. Albans (Mr. Goodhew) was courteous enough to inform me earlier that he might raise an application under Standing Order No. 9 on the matter which he has has just raised.
The hon. Member asks leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and 1719 important matter that he thinks should have urgent consideration, namely, the failure of the Home Secretary to protect the right of British subjects to go about their lawful occasions, as instanced by his part in the cancellation of the South African cricket tour. As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 9 I am directed to take into account the several factors set out in the Order but to give no reason for my decision. I have given careful consideration to the representations which the hon. Member has made, but I have to rule that his submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order and, therefore, I cannot submit his application to the House.

§ Mr. Shinwell
On a point of order. May I ask you, with great respect, Mr. Speaker, whether you would reconsider your decision and allow a debate? I should like to take part in a debate on this subject, but, for reasons which are fortuitous, I shall not be present.

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. It is not usual for anyone to challenge Mr. Speaker's Ruling on an application under Standing Order No. 9. We can understand the special occasion which prompts the right hon. Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) to make a swansong on a point of order.

§ Mr. Winnick
On a point of order.

§ Mr. Winnick
Your final comment, Mr. Speaker, to my right hon. Friend the Member for Easington (Mr. Shinwell) will not be appropriate to me, but may I ask you whether it is permissible for hon. Members to make speeches here on 1720 behalf of the South African Nationalist Party or of the South African Government? Is it in order for this to be done?

§ Mr. Speaker
If the hon. Member remembers what has taken place, he will know that the hon. Member for St. Albans (Mr. Goodhew) has asked leave to move the Adjournment of the House under Standing Order No. 9. In pointing out the reasons why an hon. Member makes such an application, it is difficult to avoid drifting into debate. When the hon. Member did so, I corrected him.