John Penrose

Conservative Party | Weston-super-Mare

Business Questions

John Penrose (Weston-super-Mare) (Con): In his answer to the question from my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs. May) about our having two Prime Ministers, the Leader of the House gave a technical, black-letter lawyer’s answer, which I am sure was procedurally absolutely correct. Does he accept, however, that there is a wider constitutional question about what might happen, for example, if during the next six weeks there is some kind of crisis—national or international—and the Chancellor of the Exchequer and the Prime Minister disagree on what must be done? Who will be in charge, and how are we to avoid paralysis?

Mr. Straw: I do not accept that for a moment. There have often been such transitions. There has been a change of Prime Minister between general elections on five previous occasions, four of which happened totake place under Conservative Administrations. [ Interruption . ] The period was shorter, but it was not non-existent. No problems arose then, and I do not anticipate any problems arising this time.