§ Mr. Hal MillerI 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 walk-out at Longbridge this morning.It is a specific matter. A walk-out took place on a show of hands in defiance of the advice of the shop stewards and of the balloted decision of the membership.It is a most important matter because it can threaten the whole of the corporate plan of British Leyland and the public funds committed thereto. It is also important that such a decision can be taken on a show of hands, without ballot, without reflection, without any possibility of a cooling-off period, and in clear distinction against the advice of the stewards.
The matter is urgent because the union officials will be meeting the company tomorrow afternoon, and the shop stewards of all the British Leyland plants will be meeting in Coventry on Monday. It is, therefore, most urgent that the matter should be discussed so that these people can be given a lead to return to work tomorrow while these meetings take place.
§ Mr. SpeakerThe hon. Member for Bromsgrove and Redditch (Mr. Miller) gave me notice before 12 o'clock this morning that he would seek leave to move the Adjournment of the House for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely,
the walk-out at Longbridge this morning.I listened with care to what the hon. Gentleman said. As the House knows, it has instructed me to give no reasons for my decision. I regret that I have to rule that the hon. Gentleman's submission does not fall within the provisions of the Standing Order, and therefore I cannot submit his application o[...] the House.