Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am ar 23 Gorffennaf 1924.
Mr Arthur Ponsonby
, Sheffield, Brightside
The reports which His Majesty's Government have received show that the republican movement in Persia encountered strong Opposition on the part of the Shiah clergy. At the beginning of April a proclamation was issued by the Persian Prime Minister enjoining the Persian people to cease discussing the proposed introduction of a republican régime, and the injunction appears to have been obeyed.
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
