Part of the debate – in the House of Commons am 12:00 am ar 5 Awst 1947.
Mr Herbert Morrison
, Lewisham East
12:00,
5 Awst 1947
I thought there was a general impression on the part of the Opposition, and the newspapers that support the Opposition, that there were certain serious economic and financial circumstances with which we are faced, and that they would be the last people who would deny to the Government any necessary powers to deal with them.—[An HON. MEMBER: "Sensible ones."]—I quite agree with the right hon. Gentleman that it would be well for the Opposition to study the Bill, and then we can examine it. If it is necessary in the interests of the country for the House to sit a bit longer, we must sit a bit longer.
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".
