HC Deb 16 July 1990 vol 176 cc683-4 3.34 pm
Mr. Giles Radice (Durham, North)

I beg to ask leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that should have urgent consideration, namely, relations between Great Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany and related matters concerning the role of a unified Germany within the European Community. My application is specific because it relates to the Prime Minister's failure to sack the right hon. Member for Cirencester and Tewkesbury (Mr. Ridley) following his appalling remarks about Germany, published in The Spectator last week. Her failure to act immediately shows that privately she agrees with the right hon. Gentleman's views, if not his language.

The application also relates to the minutes of a confidential Chequers meeting on Germany in March, published in yesterday's The Independent on Sunday. The minutes of the meeting, which was attended by the Prime Minister and the Foreign Secretary, revealed grossly over-simplified and insulting views about the German national character. The Prime Minister evidently thinks that German characteristics include angst, aggressiveness, assertiveness, bullying, egotism, an inferiority complex and sentimentality. I submit that these xenophobic opinions, more appropriate to a football hooligan than to a responsible Prime Minister, have to be repudiated by the House of Commons as soon as possible.

My application is important because it concerns Britain's relations with Germany—our ally in NATO, a fellow member of the European Community and our chief trading partner. It is vital that the House takes the opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to good Anglo-German relations as soon as possible.

My application is urgent because the Foreign Secretary is attending the European Community Foreign Affairs Council, which meets today and tomorrow. British trade Ministers will also be present at the Internal Market Council. Ministers representing this country ought to be reinforced by the views of this House. Therefore, it is essential that the House should be given the opportunity as soon as possible to disown the anti-German views of the Prime Minister and to reassure Germany of our friendship and co-operation in the European Community and elsewhere.

Mr. Speaker

The hon. Member for Durham, North (Mr. Radice) seeks leave to move the Adjournment of the House, under Standing Order No. 20, for the purpose of discussing a specific and important matter that he believes should have urgent consideration, namely, relations between Great Britain and the Federal Republic of Germany and related matters concerning the role of a unified Germany within the European Community. As the House knows, under Standing Order No. 20, I have to announce my decision without giving my reasons to the House. I have listened with great care to what the hon. Gentleman said. As he knows, I have to decide whether his application comes within the Standing Order and, if so, whether a debate should be given priority over the business already set down for this evening or for tomorrow. I regret that the matter which he has raised does not meet the requirements of the Standing Order. I cannot, therefore, submit his application to the House.