HC Deb 13 April 1972 vol 834 cc1426-8
Q2. Mr. Redmond

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the Leader of the Opposition to join him in his forthcoming discussions with the West German Chancellor.

Q3. Mr. Adley

asked the Prime Minister if he will invite the Leader of the Opposition to attend one of his official meetings with Herr Brandt on 20th April or 21st April.

The Prime Minister

No, Sir. But I hope that there will be an opportunity for the Leader of the Opposition or one of his right hon. Friends to meet Herr Brandt while he is in London.

Mr. Redmond

I thank my right hon. Friend for that very satisfactory reply. Will he ask the Leader of the Opposition particularly to explain his latest position in relation to the Common Market to Herr Brandt so that the Chancellor may clearly understand on which terms the right hon. Gentleman would recommend British entry?

The Prime Minister

The Leader of the Opposition records in his memoirs on page 765 that when Herr Brandt came to London in 1970 they had a total identity of views on the Common Market. It is not the German Chancellor who has changed.

Mr. Adley

In the unlikely event of Herr Brandt being persuaded to meet the Leader of the Opposition, will my right hon. Friend encourage the German Chancellor to explain to the Leader of the Opposition that the difference between the German Parliament of 1972 and the German Parliament of 1933 is that today the German Parliament is free, sovereign and democratic whereas in 1933 it was holding referenda on various subjects?

The Prime Minister

As a matter of historical fact my hon. Friend is, of course, quite correct. I must, in fairness, point out that Herr Brandt, during his visits to this country, has always been absolutely willing to meet either the Leader of the Opposition or myself when in Opposition.

The difficulty next week I understand will be that the Leader of the Opposition will be away from this country on a visit to North America on a ten-day lecture tour during which he will be speaking on the art of political leadership.

Mr. Callaghan

Aside from the continued series of childish insults which we are getting from the right hon. Gentleman, may I ask whether he is aware that I shall be very happy to accept the invitation which his office has already given me to have lunch with him and the German Chancellor next week, as will others of my colleagues, and that we shall then be very glad to discuss with Herr Brandt the basis on which it will be possible for the British Labour Government to co-operate with him after the inevitable defeat of the Conservative Government whenever the right hon. Gentleman holds the next election?

The Prime Minister

I know that the German Chancellor will do his utmost to believe what the right hon. Gentleman tells him, but he will have great difficulty in believing that one.

Mr. Mellish

Why not test it?