by Rishi Sunak has been accused of being “small” for refusing to give MPs time to pay their respects to former Speaker of the House of Commons Betty Boothroyd.
The Prime Minister has ignored calls from MPs to delay the start of parliamentary proceedings by an hour on Tuesday for members to attend the memorial service for the late speaker of the House of Commons, who served from 1992 to 2000.
Baroness Boothroyd, who died in February last year aged 93, was revered across the House and politicians from all parties wanted to attend a Service of Thanks for the Labor boy, held in Westminster Abbey Tuesday.
But the government has rejected multiple requests to delay the start of business so MPs can attend the service without a clash. Tuesday is an important day in the Westminster calendar as MPs will vote on a series of amendments to the Rwanda Bill.
Labor MP Charlotte Nicholls, who described Ms Boothroyd’s “profound impact” on her life, said the government’s decision was “disrespectful to parliament as an institution”.
“Parliament proceedings are moved around all the time for all sorts of different reasons, this is certainly something that could be accommodated… it’s completely within the government’s gift,” she said. The Independent.
Mr Nicholls said: “Not only was she hugely significant to Labor members, but she was the first and only female speaker and she is a disgrace to Parliament as an institution, given the importance of the role that she had, not allowing everyone to pay tribute. the way they wanted – without any parliamentary business that might be missing.”
The decision leaves scores of MPs across the House having to choose between attending the first hour of parliamentary business or honoring one of their former colleagues.
A senior parliamentary source accused the Prime Minister of scoring political points and called the decision “petty”, while Dame Diana Johnson said The Independent the move was a mistake.
Dame Diana said: “That is very disappointing, and I would just advise them to reconsider. If it means just delaying proceedings by an hour, I’m sure most MPs would welcome that, and they welcome the opportunity not to miss parliamentary business. I know Betty would be very keen for us all to be able to attend parliament.”
The Independent understands that the government has been asked to delay the start of Parliament’s day by one hour, which would mean that all the business that still needs to be done, including the Rwandan debate and vote, would get its full allotted time.
However, it is understood that Head of House Penny Mordaunt and Chief Shepherd Simon Hart have deteriorated.
Back in December, Ms Mordaunt paid an emotional tribute to the late Baroness Boothroyd, saying: “She gave us confidence and pride in this place, and it was no accident.
“She wanted to give everyone a chance because she owed every chance that was given to her. For me, that concern was evident in a particular letter she wrote to me after I proposed the Loyal Address in 2014, and I was so grateful for it.
“She came to the conclusion that she wanted me to succeed—not just to succeed, to succeed or to succeed, but to succeed, to succeed, that I would succeed, that I would have a good time doing it and that I would succeed. understand what my purpose was. She knew her purpose: ‘I speak to serve’, she said, and she served us well.
“May she rest in peace, and may these tributes to her remind us all of the responsibility and opportunity we are privileged to have. Thank you, Betty.”
Mr Sunak also paid tribute at the time, saying she was “an amazing woman who spent her life in politics”.
Baroness Boothroyd was a Labor MP from 1973 until 1992, when she was elected Speaker of the House of Commons. She served until 2000, before being taken to the House of Lords as a crossbench peer.
The Yorkshire-born baroness was the first woman Speaker of the House and was a champion of democracy during her time in Parliament.
She became known – before her more divisive successor, John Bercow – for the way she delivered “Order, Order”, and was much loved in her local village of Dewsbury, in Yorkshire.
The Speaker of the House of Commons, Lindsay Hoyle, said The Independent: “I have the highest respect for a great friend like Betty Boothroyd, one of the greatest speakers in history.
“I am very disappointed that not everyone will be able to attend her memorial service”.
Prime Minister Mr Hart declined to comment, but allies rejected suggestions he had refused to meet the speaker.
A government source said: “The Attorney General paid tribute to Betty Boothroyd at her funeral last year as one of our greatest speakers and the house was able to pay her respects at the time.”
The Independent She has contacted Ms Mordaunt’s office for comment.
