Items25The creator’s order
  1. 1Winston ChurchillWinston ChurchillBorn 30 Nov 1874Read the full Commons statement of 4 June 1940, not only its famous closing passage. Churchill first reconstructs the military retreat and evacuation, acknowledges the danger still ahead, and then moves into repeated declarations of resistance. That progression gives the final cadence a factual and…0i
  2. 2Aneurin BevanAneurin BevanBorn 15 Nov 1897In the Suez debate on 5 December 1956, Bevan works through the government's explanations and tests their internal logic before sharpening the attack with ridicule and vivid imagery. His exchanges with intervening MPs show an argument being defended in the chamber, rather than a collection of…0i
  3. 3Margaret ThatcherMargaret ThatcherBorn 13 Oct 1925The European Council statement and exchanges of 30 October 1990 show Thatcher's habit of reducing a complicated institutional dispute to firm alternatives. The well-known repeated refusal comes after discussion of monetary union, national authority and proposals for European institutions. Read…0i
  4. 4Robin CookRobin CookBorn 28 Feb 1946Cook's resignation statement on 17 March 2003 starts with gentle humour about his return to the back benches, acknowledges colleagues, and then develops his objections to war in Iraq. He separates respect for the Prime Minister from disagreement over policy and sets out reasons rather than relying…0i
  5. 5Tony BennTony BennBorn 3 Apr 1925In the Iraq debate on 17 February 1998, Benn begins by numbering points of agreement before identifying where disagreement starts. He then moves through authority to use force, parliamentary responsibility and the human consequences of war, drawing on his own experience of earlier conflicts. The…0i
  6. 6Charles KennedyCharles KennedyBorn 25 Nov 1959Kennedy's contribution on 18 March 2003 distinguishes opposition to the decision to invade Iraq from support for service personnel ordered to act. He acknowledges arguments and colleagues across party lines before returning to the absence, in his view, of a sufficient case for war at that time. The…0i
  7. 7Hilary BennHilary BennBorn 26 Nov 1953In the Syria debate on 2 December 2015, Benn opens by defending the legitimacy of colleagues who will vote differently, then makes a cumulative case for military action. His conclusion connects the decision to Labour's anti-fascist tradition, using historical analogy to give the argument moral…0i
  8. 8Mhairi BlackMhairi BlackBorn 12 Sept 1994Black's maiden speech on 14 July 2015 uses conversational humour about her age and circumstances before turning to welfare policy and an appeal for opposition cooperation. Her comparison between an MP's accommodation support and the government's treatment of young claimants makes an abstract…0i
  9. 9Caroline LucasCaroline LucasBorn 9 Dec 1960Lucas's maiden speech on 27 May 2010 uses the conventions of a constituency introduction to explain the arrival of a new political voice. A light comparison with Keir Hardie's clothes leads into an argument about ideas once considered radical becoming accepted. She then connects environmental…0i
  10. 10Jo CoxJo CoxBorn 22 Jun 1974Cox's maiden speech on 3 June 2015 moves from the towns, communities and manufacturers of Batley and Spen to specific questions about regional economic power. Local humour and concrete products make the constituency vivid before she asks whether devolution will bring resources as well as promises.…0i