HC Deb 14 November 1977 vol 939 cc48-9
Mr. Madden

On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. I should like to draw your attention to exchanges which took place last Thursday between my hon. Friend the Member for Birmingham, Perry Barr (Mr. Rooker), the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border (Mr. Whitelaw) and myself concerning newspaper reports that the Deputy Leader of the Opposition had entered into a contract on behalf of his party with a public relations firm called Good Relations, in order to promote the careers of three members of the Shadow Cabinet. You may recall, Mr. Speaker, that at that time the right hon. Member for Penrith and The Border said: I am always fascinated to learn of my various activities, but if I ever had any activity of this sort I would be a very remarkable person to have it. I cannot imagine that I ever had anything to do with it before. I know nothing about it and I cannot understand what on earth is being talked about."— [Official Report, 10th November 1977; Vol. 938, c 854.] The next day in The Guardian of 11th November an executive of Good Relations was reported as saying that he had a meeting with Mr. Whitelaw earlier this year. He is quoted as saying: We were talking about the whole area of public relations and he told me that he thought the Tories needed a better image. I later wrote to him and he passed my letter on to the party chairman…".

Mr. Speaker

Order. I can understand a dispute about what was or what was not said, but what is the point of order for me to rule on?

Mr. Madden

With respect, Mr. Speaker, I should be most grateful if, in the interests of all hon. Members, you could endeavour to ensure that either the right hon. Gentleman, or, indeed, the right hon. Lady the Leader of the Opposition made a statement so that we could all know whether the careers and parliamentary duties of three members of the Shadow Cabinet are being promoted by a private public relations agency.

Mr. Pym

May I ask whether the hon. Gentleman gave notice to my right hon. Friend that he intended to raise this point?

Mr. Speaker

I do not know. May I say that I do many things at the behest of the House, but it is not for me to act as a go-between in a matter of this sort.