SYMPATHY WITH THE COMMONS. (Hansard, 14 May 1941)

§ THE SECRETARY OF STATE FOR THE COLONIES (LORD MOYNE)
My Lords, in the informal proceedings at the beginning of yesterday's sitting, your Lordships gave clear evidence of your sympathy with the House of Commons in the loss of the Chamber where they have sat now for close on a hundred years. I am sure your Lordships will agree that it would be fitting that we should give a more formal expression of the very real sympathy I know we all feel. The Chamber of the House of Commons had not behind it the many centuries of associations that link Westminster Hall with English history from its earliest days, but it has been the meeting place of the Commons during, I suppose, the most fruitful and fateful century in the whole of our long history, during which the Mother of Parliaments has seen its children established in all the four corners of the globe. It has heard the classic oratory of Gladstone and Disraeli, and many of us who have sat in it know how deep a hold it had on the affections of all its members.
I feel sure your Lordships will not be content merely with resolutions of sympathy, but will be anxious to help the Commons in any way found practicable. Plans are naturally under consideration as to how to reorganise the Palace of Westminster, and I can say nothing definite to your Lordships before necessary 172 consultations have taken place. I have not even had an opportunity of speaking to the Prime Minister, whose generous reference to the House of Lords was reported in the Press this morning in answering a question that had been put to him. My own feeling is that this House should do everything in its power to make easy the position of another place, and I may, if it seems the best way out, ask leave of His Majesty that we vacate our own Chamber and move into the Royal Gallery, but of course I would not in any way commit your Lordships until further negotiation and examination of the practicability of the various schemes have taken place. For to-day, therefore, I propose for your Lordships' approval the following Resolution: That this House, taking note with sorrow of the destruction of the Chamber of the House of Commons by wanton act of the enemy, wishes to assure that honourable House that the House of Peers shares to the full the grief and indignation aroused by the ruin of a place of meeting so long and intimately associated with the liberties of Britain and the spread of free institutions under the Crown; and that a Message be sent to the Commons accordingly. There is, I think, a certain symbolism in the ruin that has been brought to the Palace of Westminster. Though the shrine has been demolished it has only kindled brighter the unquenchable flame that burned within. Parliament has had many homes, and, though buildings may be destroyed, this vandalism will only add strength to the spirit of freedom which will grow and grow until the downfall of Hitler and all his evil works. I beg to move the Motion that I have already read to your Lordships.

LORD FARINGDON
My Lords, I know that in their absence my noble friends on this side of the House would wish me to associate them fully with the Motion of sympathy which is at present 173 before your Lordships' House. I think that the other place will know how deeply we sympathise with them when they remember how strenuously we ourselves on another occasion resisted displacement from our own place of meeting to this present place. As the noble Lord has said, there is a certain symbolism in the destruction of the place of democratic meeting by the totalitarian forces, but it is a place of meeting which we all expect with absolute confidence will re-arise, phoenix-like, from its ashes, and that in so doing it will again stand as a symbol of the perpetuity of the institutions which are so dear to us all.

VISCOUNT MERSEY
My Lords, I would like to add that noble Lords who sit on this Bench wish to be associated with what has been said by the noble Lord the Leader of the House.

THE LORD BISHOP OF WINCHESTER
My Lords, I also beg to associate those who usually sit on these Benches with this expression of heartfelt sympathy with the House of Commons in the loss of their Chamber, for that Chamber has been a symbol, not only throughout the Commonwealth but throughout the whole of the civilised world, of representative government and freedom of speech. Germany may rejoice over the destruction of a Chamber which represents everything to which its present régime is opposed, but freedom is not bound up with any buildings, however great may be their association, and though our enemies may bomb our churches, our public buildings, our town halls and the homes of our people, the spirit of freedom will still survive until this tyranny be overpast.