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Prime Minister let off the hook over Metrolink!
Date published: 03/11/2005
Prime Minister Tony Blair was saved by Speaker Michael Martin from having to answer difficult questions about the Metrolink in Prime Minister's Questions. Lib Dem Shadow Transport Spokesperson, Rochdale MP Paul Rowen, was asking the Prime Minister when the Government would make a statement on the future of the Metrolink Extension to Rochdale, Oldham, South Manchester and elsewhere.
The Liberal Democrat Whip's Office have written a letter of complaint to the Speaker's Office. Paul Rowen said, "This was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to tell the whole country what is going to happen with the Metrolink. He came to Rochdale on 21 April and said that the Metrolink would happen. I asked him whether he thought that this was electioneering and asked him to make a statement on what is happening next. The Speaker cut me off, under an antiquated rule because I didn't refer to Tony Blair as 'right honourable.' Parliament needs to grow up - this was a serious, important question that we need answering. For the speaker of the House to do this is has cemented his Christmas Card from Tony Blair, he did him a serious favour. He has let down the residents of Greater Manchester. I will not let him off the hook though and will be continuing to put pressure on the Government to get vital answers."
In the backdrop of David Blunkett's resignation the House was lively with the Prime Minister having already fielded difficult questions. It appears that the reason given by Speaker, Michael Martin, was that Paul Rowen referred to Tony Blair as 'you' and not 'right honourable'.
Paul finished, "I would encourage the people of Greater Manchester to write to Tony Blair asking him whether he was electioneering when he claimed just before the General Election that the Metrolink would definitely happen. He has ducked the issue in the Houses of Parliament; he can run but he can't hide. I promised people that I would step up the campaign for the Government to keep their promise: until the Government deliver Metrolink nobody in Greater Manchester should trust anything Labour says."
The Liberal Democrat Whip's Office have written a letter of complaint to the Speaker's Office. Paul Rowen said, "This was an opportunity for the Prime Minister to tell the whole country what is going to happen with the Metrolink. He came to Rochdale on 21 April and said that the Metrolink would happen. I asked him whether he thought that this was electioneering and asked him to make a statement on what is happening next. The Speaker cut me off, under an antiquated rule because I didn't refer to Tony Blair as 'right honourable.' Parliament needs to grow up - this was a serious, important question that we need answering. For the speaker of the House to do this is has cemented his Christmas Card from Tony Blair, he did him a serious favour. He has let down the residents of Greater Manchester. I will not let him off the hook though and will be continuing to put pressure on the Government to get vital answers."
In the backdrop of David Blunkett's resignation the House was lively with the Prime Minister having already fielded difficult questions. It appears that the reason given by Speaker, Michael Martin, was that Paul Rowen referred to Tony Blair as 'you' and not 'right honourable'.
Paul finished, "I would encourage the people of Greater Manchester to write to Tony Blair asking him whether he was electioneering when he claimed just before the General Election that the Metrolink would definitely happen. He has ducked the issue in the Houses of Parliament; he can run but he can't hide. I promised people that I would step up the campaign for the Government to keep their promise: until the Government deliver Metrolink nobody in Greater Manchester should trust anything Labour says."
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