Debate on Wednesday, 19 April 2017, in the House of Commons, led by Baroness May of Maidenhead. The answering member was Jeremy Corbyn.

Early Parliamentary General Election

Motion that there shall be an early parliamentary general election. Agreed to on division (522 to 13).

Secondary information

Type: Parliamentary proceeding
Reference: 624 cc680-707
Session: 2016-17
Department: Prime Minister
Chamber / Committee: House of Commons chamber
Proceeding contributions: Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c681 (Link to this contribution)
I beg to move,
That there shall be an early parliamentary general election.
I rise to...; Edward Leigh | 624 c681 (Link to this contribution)
In the time-honoured fashion, my right hon. Friend has called this election in what she considers...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c681 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend tries to tempt me down that road. What is clear is that the Fixed-term Parliaments...; 624 c681 (Link to this contribution); Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c681 (Link to this contribution)
I will take one more intervention and then return to my speech.; Paul Farrelly | 624 c681 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister pledged time and again not to call an early election. In her Easter message, s...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c681 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; John Bercow | 624 c681 (Link to this contribution)
Order. The Prime Minister is perfectly well able to fend for herself, but what the hon. Gentleman...; Paul Farrelly | 624 c681 (Link to this contribution)
I am very happy to withdraw and reformulate what I said. Why does the Prime Minister have such a ...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c682 (Link to this contribution)
I say to the hon. Gentleman that yesterday I gave the country a very clear indication of my inten...; Stewart Malcolm McDonald | 624 c682 (Link to this contribution)
Does it not take some brass neck to call a general election when you are facing allegations of bu...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c682 (Link to this contribution)
That intervention was not worthy of the hon. Gentleman.; Stephen Timms | 624 c682 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Prime Minister just clarify for us whether she supports fixed-term Parliaments?; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c682 (Link to this contribution)
We have a Fixed-term Parliaments Act that enables us to have fixed-term Parliaments. I believe th...; 624 c682 (Link to this contribution); Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c682 (Link to this contribution)
I will not take any further interventions for a while. This is a limited-time debate and hon. Mem...; Ian Blackford | 624 c682 (Link to this contribution)
I am very grateful to the Prime Minister for giving way. I can understand that she wants to give ...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c683 (Link to this contribution)
Now is the time for a general election because it will strengthen our hand in the negotiations on...; Andy Burnham | 624 c683 (Link to this contribution)
Will the Prime Minister give way?; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c683 (Link to this contribution)
I will just make a little more progress.
I believe that our plan for Brexit delivers on the...; Jake Berry | 624 c683 (Link to this contribution)
In the referendum, the people of Rossendale and Darwen gave my right hon. Friend and the Governme...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c683 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. We should be united in this Parliament in wanting to get the ...; 624 c683 (Link to this contribution); Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c683 (Link to this contribution)
I will give way to the right hon. Gentleman, and then I will make progress.; Andy Burnham | 624 c683 (Link to this contribution)
I can see how it suits the Prime Minister’s purposes to make this election all about Brexit, but ...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c683 (Link to this contribution)
Of course when we come into the general election campaign, people will look at a wide range of is...; 624 c684 (Link to this contribution); Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c684 (Link to this contribution)
No, I am going to make some progress.
I have set out the divisions that have become clear o...; Geraint Davies | 624 c684 (Link to this contribution)
In the last election, the Conservatives made a manifesto commitment to stay in the single market....; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c684 (Link to this contribution)
We gave a commitment in the last manifesto to provide the people of the United Kingdom with a vot...; Nigel Evans | 624 c684 (Link to this contribution)
I fully support the fact that the Prime Minister needs a stronger hand going into the negotiation...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 cc684-5 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right in his description of what would happen. Those who say that th...; David Winnick | 624 c685 (Link to this contribution)
Is the Prime Minister at all concerned that, having tried her best to build a reputation for poli...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c685 (Link to this contribution)
I have not denied the fact that when I came into this role as Prime Minister, I was clear that wh...; Nigel Huddleston | 624 c685 (Link to this contribution)
Does the Prime Minister, like me, appreciate decisiveness? Does she agree that voting yes to the ...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c685 (Link to this contribution)
Absolutely: voting yes is a sign of strength, but I would say a little more about abstaining. Any...; Nadhim Zahawi | 624 c685 (Link to this contribution)
Does the Prime Minister agree with Lord Hill, who was a European Commissioner? When asked by the ...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 cc685-6 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right and I am grateful to him for reminding us what Lord Hill, with...; Dawn Butler | 624 c686 (Link to this contribution)
On the timetable before yesterday, the Prime Minister would have concluded her negotiation by 201...; Baroness May of Maidenhead | 624 c686 (Link to this contribution)
No, I am not asking the country to write a blank cheque. We have been very clear about what we in...; Jeremy Corbyn | 624 c686 (Link to this contribution)
We welcome the opportunity of a general election because it gives the British people the chance t...; Robert Flello | 624 c686 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Gareth Snell | 624 c686 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Jeremy Corbyn | 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
I give way to my Friend the Member for Stoke-on-Trent.; 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
Which one?; Gareth Snell | 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
I try not to take it personally that, having arrived so recently, the Prime Minister is that desp...; Jeremy Corbyn | 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
I congratulate my Friend on his election to the House and on his work. I agree with him: I have n...; Robert Flello | 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
Will my right hon. Friend give way?; Jeremy Corbyn | 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
In the interests of unity in Stoke-on-Trent, what else can I do?; Stephen Pound | 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
Don’t forget that there are five towns.; Robert Flello | 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
Six.
My right hon. Friend highlighted the fact that the Prime Minister for 12 months dither...; Jeremy Corbyn | 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
The timing of the election and the role of the CPS is extremely interesting, and it is interestin...; Shailesh Vara | 624 c687 (Link to this contribution)
The Leader of the Opposition talks about trust in leaders. What trust can the public put in a lea...; Jeremy Corbyn | 624 cc687-8 (Link to this contribution)
I was elected leader of my party by 300,000 votes. I do not know how many people voted for the Pr...; Mark Francois | 624 c688 (Link to this contribution)
I thank the right hon. Gentleman for—; John Bercow | 624 c688 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Is the right hon. Member for Islington North (Jeremy Corbyn) giving way? [Interruption.] N...; Mark Francois | 624 c688 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Is that it?; John Bercow | 624 c688 (Link to this contribution)
It is very generous of the right hon. Gentleman to seek to invest me with additional powers, but ...; Desmond Swayne | 624 cc688-9 (Link to this contribution)
I accept entirely the logic laid out by my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister in her statement ...; Angus Robertson | 624 cc689-690 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister says that she wants unity and an end to division; she intends to achieve that ...; Tom Brake | 624 c690 (Link to this contribution)
On the subject of hard Brexit, does the right hon. Gentleman agree that it is incumbent on those ...; Angus Robertson | 624 c690 (Link to this contribution)
In a normal general election campaign, there would be an opportunity to do just that when the par...; Nigel Evans | 624 c690 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Angus Robertson | 624 c690 (Link to this contribution)
Perhaps she would wish that the hon. Member for Ribble Valley might take her place.; Nigel Evans | 624 c690 (Link to this contribution)
As I said in the House yesterday, I hope that the Prime Minister will go head to head with the le...; Angus Robertson | 624 c690 (Link to this contribution)
I do not think that the Prime Minister would manage that with Nicola Sturgeon. However, I am surp...; 624 c691 (Link to this contribution); Angus Robertson | 624 c691 (Link to this contribution)
I need to make some progress as time is limited. I will try to take some interventions later.
...; Caroline Lucas | 624 c691 (Link to this contribution)
Will the right hon. Gentleman give way?; Angus Robertson | 624 c691 (Link to this contribution)
I am happy to give way to the leader of the Greens.; Caroline Lucas | 624 c691 (Link to this contribution)
Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that if this election is, as the Prime Minister says, about a...; Angus Robertson | 624 c691 (Link to this contribution)
As one who made a maiden speech about enfranchising 16 and 17-year-olds, I totally agree with the...; Shailesh Vara | 624 c691 (Link to this contribution)
As the right hon. Gentleman will know, the Supreme Court made it abundantly clear—the judges deci...; Angus Robertson | 624 c691 (Link to this contribution)
What I have difficulty understanding is the commitment that the Prime Minister gave when she went...; John Bercow | 624 c692 (Link to this contribution)
Order. Mr David Morris, you normally have a very emollient manner. You are a very restrained indi...; Angus Robertson | 624 c692 (Link to this contribution)
In Scotland, the general election will be a two-horse race—a straight fight between the SNP and t...; 624 c692 (Link to this contribution); John Bercow | 624 c692 (Link to this contribution)
Order. At least 10 Members want to speak and we have less than an hour left. Members can do the a...; Anne Main | 624 c692 (Link to this contribution)
I welcome the courage that the Prime Minister has shown in taking to the public this question: wh...; Angus Brendan MacNeil | 624 c692 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Lady give way?; Anne Main | 624 cc692-3 (Link to this contribution)
No. The debate is time-limited, and I want everyone to have a chance to speak.
This not abo...; Jonathan Reynolds | 624 c693 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Lady give way?; Anne Main | 624 c693 (Link to this contribution)
No. I am about to finish my speech.
We need to make the future secure for all our young peo...; Tim Farron | 624 c693 (Link to this contribution)
This is an appropriate time to be called. I noticed a tweet earlier from David Cameron, the forme...; Gareth Snell | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Tim Farron | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
Give me a moment.
From the moment the Prime Minister took office, she has ignored the close...; Tom Pursglove | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Tim Farron | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
Not for the moment.
Let us all be very honest and clear about this: the Prime Minister has ...; Stewart Malcolm McDonald | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
Given what the hon. Gentleman says about a coronation, will he rule out a coalition with the Cons...; Tim Farron | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
The great problem we face is that the Prime Minister is running on the expectation that there wil...; Stewart Malcolm McDonald | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
Tell us yes or no.; Tim Farron | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
In good time.
The Prime Minister has called this general election to take advantage of what...; Stewart Malcolm McDonald | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
Yes or no?; Tim Farron | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
I have responded to the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. It is very clear that we are not talking a...; John Bercow | 624 c694 (Link to this contribution)
Order. The atmosphere in the Chamber is rather disorderly. The hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an I...; Tim Farron | 624 c695 (Link to this contribution)
To answer the heckles from my friend of many years, the hon. Member for Glasgow South (Stewart Ma...; Stewart Malcolm McDonald | 624 c695 (Link to this contribution)
Is the answer a yes or a no?; Tim Farron | 624 c695 (Link to this contribution)
I have given the hon. Gentleman his answer. The Prime Minister has clearly called this election o...; 624 c695 (Link to this contribution); Tim Farron | 624 c695 (Link to this contribution)
I will not give way for the time being.
The Prime Minister thinks this will allow her to de...; 624 c695 (Link to this contribution); Tim Farron | 624 c695 (Link to this contribution)
I will not give way now as there is not much time.
Let me move on and explain why the only ...; John Nicolson | 624 c695 (Link to this contribution)
I rise to help the hon. Gentleman. I think he may have misheard my hon. Friend the Member for Gla...; Tim Farron | 624 c696 (Link to this contribution)
The outcome of this general election is uncertain, and in the days and weeks to come we will no d...; Nigel Evans | 624 c696 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Tim Farron | 624 c696 (Link to this contribution)
And so, too, will that of the hon. Gentleman, my constituency near-neighbour.; Nigel Evans | 624 c696 (Link to this contribution)
I do not think the hon. Gentleman gave a straight answer to that question, so let us try another ...; Tim Farron | 624 c696 (Link to this contribution)
I do not, and I tell the hon. Gentleman this: I am very proud to have gone through the Aye Lobby ...; Tom Pursglove | 624 c696 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Tim Farron | 624 c696 (Link to this contribution)
I will not, as other Members wish to speak. I am flattered that so many Members wish to know my v...; Gareth Snell | 624 c696 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; Tim Farron | 624 c696 (Link to this contribution)
I will not.
What the Prime Minister is asking for now is a blank cheque to allow for the Br...; 624 c697 (Link to this contribution); John Bercow | 624 c697 (Link to this contribution)
Order. On account of the level of interest, and given that there are only about 37 minutes to go,...; Peter Bone | 624 c697 (Link to this contribution)
I hope that I can take up less time than that, Mr Speaker.
It is a great honour to follow t...; Angus Brendan MacNeil | 624 c697 (Link to this contribution)
The hon. Gentleman says that Parliament will decide on this question, but the Prime Minister went...; Peter Bone | 624 c697 (Link to this contribution)
This illustrates the advantage of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act. If the House does not agree to ...; Jacob Rees-Mogg | 624 c697 (Link to this contribution)
But does this not demonstrate why the Fixed-term Parliaments Act can never work? No Opposition ca...; Peter Bone | 624 c698 (Link to this contribution)
I rarely disagree with my hon. Friend, but I believe that these events are proof that the Act is ...; Lord Dodds of Duncairn | 624 cc698-9 (Link to this contribution)
I want to address three issues in the short time available to me. First, this election is happeni...; Hywel Williams | 624 c699 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister presents herself, to adapt a phrase from Mr Tony Blair, as a pretty straight s...; Rob Marris | 624 c699 (Link to this contribution)
The Prime Minister has said repeatedly today that she wants an early election in order to produce...; Hywel Williams | 624 cc699-700 (Link to this contribution)
I have no crystal ball. Unfortunately, however, I can see the disarray in the Labour party, but w...; David Winnick | 624 c700 (Link to this contribution)
If the Prime Minister had said when she took office that her Government wanted a general election...; Steve Double | 624 c700 (Link to this contribution)
Will the hon. Gentleman give way?; David Winnick | 624 c700 (Link to this contribution)
I will not, due to the lack of time. The reason given by the Prime Minister for the general elect...; Roger Godsiff | 624 cc700-1 (Link to this contribution)
I, too, will be voting against the motion today, because it is totally unnecessary. I say that as...; Jess Phillips | 624 c701 (Link to this contribution)
In my hon. Friend’s questions about why things are happening in his constituency, will he ask Min...; Roger Godsiff | 624 c701 (Link to this contribution)
My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Under the Labour Government, we had the Building Schools for ...; Jim Dowd | 624 c701 (Link to this contribution)
I support the motion because, as a Government Member said earlier, it seems rather bizarre that t...; Angus Brendan MacNeil | 624 c701 (Link to this contribution)
Given that the hon. Gentleman is going to support the Government motion, is he confident that a T...; Jim Dowd | 624 c702 (Link to this contribution)
The follow-through is to do whatever we can to get rid of a Tory Government as soon as we can. Th...; Steve Double | 624 cc702-3 (Link to this contribution)
I did not intend to speak in this debate, but the hon. Member for Walsall North (Mr Winnick) woul...; Mark Durkan | 624 cc703-4 (Link to this contribution)
As someone who believes that the Prime Minister has presented the case for this election on an en...; Dennis Skinner | 624 c704 (Link to this contribution)
Does my hon. Friend appreciate that the nearest parallel to what is happening now in this campaig...; John Bercow | 624 c704 (Link to this contribution)
Order. I am interested in hearing the hon. Gentleman, but I would like him to face the House.
...; Dennis Skinner | 624 c704 (Link to this contribution)
You were busy talking.; John Bercow | 624 c704 (Link to this contribution)
I was being spoken to by an illustrious member of the Opposition Whips Office, no less, so I woul...; Dennis Skinner | 624 c704 (Link to this contribution)
The nearest parallel is the election of 1974, when the miners were on strike and Ted Heath, the t...; Mark Durkan | 624 cc704-5 (Link to this contribution)
I appreciate the hon. Gentleman’s intervention. While we are making comparisons with the election...; Tommy Sheppard | 624 c705 (Link to this contribution)
I believe this is the sort of thing that gets politics a bad name in our country and it is what i...; Joanna Cherry | 624 c705 (Link to this contribution)
The media are reporting that up to 30 sitting Tory MPs face being prosecuted for electoral fraud ...; Tommy Sheppard | 624 cc705-6 (Link to this contribution)
Yes, I do; I think that is remarkably suspicious. But my concern is that the Prime Minister wants...; Danny Kinahan | 624 c706 (Link to this contribution)
I am pleased to be able to speak in this debate, Mr Speaker. As we all know, Northern Ireland is ...; Alan Brown | 624 c706 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; Angus Brendan MacNeil | 624 c706 (Link to this contribution)
rose—; John Bercow | 624 c706 (Link to this contribution)
Two colleagues wish to speak. They can help each other.
2.25 pm; Alan Brown | 624 c706 (Link to this contribution)
As several hon. Members have pointed out, the Prime Minister heads up a party with a majority gai...; Anne Main | 624 c707 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker.; John Bercow | 624 c707 (Link to this contribution)
If the hon. Lady must.; Anne Main | 624 c707 (Link to this contribution)
On a point of order, Mr Speaker. Twice the hon. Gentleman has accused Members of cheating. There ...; John Bercow | 624 c707 (Link to this contribution)
I think it is a matter of taste rather than of order, but the hon. Lady has made her point with f...; Alan Brown | 624 c707 (Link to this contribution)
I have a bit more—about further non-leadership interventions by the Prime Minister. She consisten...; Angus Brendan MacNeil | 624 c707 (Link to this contribution)
The right hon. Member for New Forest West (Sir Desmond Swayne) goaded Labour Members over not bei...
Subjects: General elections Fixed-term parliaments Dissolution Northern Ireland Assembly Parliament Brexit General Election 2017
Legislation: Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011
Link: View this Parliamentary proceeding on hansard.parliament.uk

Early Parliamentary General Election

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