I will certainly raise my right hon. Friend’s latter point with the relevant Department and make sure that it has heard what she has said today. On her former point, it is absolutely right that we do all we can to protect Members of Parliament. It is absolutely right that we hold to account those who seek to intimidate or threaten individuals, elected Members of Parliament and those holding local government office, and that they face the full force of the law. However, we cannot adapt our processes and procedures in this place to not have difficult debates. We have to be able to debate difficult issues. We have to stand up for our constituents and make the judgments that we think are right. If we are adapting the procedures of this House because we are fearful of the consequences of standing up and saying what we think is right, then democracy has failed and the extremists have won. We must never do that and, as long as I am Leader of the House of Commons, that will never happen.
Business of the House
Proceeding contribution from
Penny Mordaunt
(Conservative)
in the House of Commons on Thursday, 22 February 2024.
It occurred during Business statement on Business of the House.
Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
745 c876 
Session
2023-24
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Librarians' tools
Timestamp
2024-03-06 14:32:41 +0000
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