MP spices up ‘beergate’ furore as he opens Queen’s Speech debate
A YORKSHIRE MP poked fun at Sir Keir Starmer and the ‘beergate’ police investigation as he had the honour of opening the debate on the Queen’s Speech yesterday.
Graham Stuart, Conservative MP for Beverley and Holderness, also described himself as an “old duffer” as he sought to offer advice to “young thrusters” and those who have their eye on entering Parliament one day.
Mr Stuart spoke about the history of his constituency’s electoral controversies, as he told the Commons: “Free beer and cash were the electoral controversies then, as opposed to say, beer and curry today.
“Never Mr Speaker, never, in the history of human conflict has so much karma come from a korma.”
Mr Stuart also recalled being one of the only Tories to win
a seat from Labour in the North when he was first elected, adding: “The leader of the opposition must wish it was so today. Instead the only thing opening up for him in the North is a police investigation.”
The former minister also gave advice to the “young thrusters” of the Conservative front benches, telling them: “Enjoy any department you are in and value it for itself not just as a stepping stone for something else.
“After all, as I discovered last September, you never know when you will prematurely be on the back benches again.”
It is traditional in Parliament that when the Queen’s Speech is introduced to the House of Commons and debate started, the proposer will include humour in their speech in front of other MPs.
However, Mr Stuart also reflected on the “honour” to be able to do so in the Jubilee year, as he thanked the Queen for her “seven decades of service”.
“To say that this packed chamber is intimidating and creates a certain amount of nerves I think we can all take as read. We wish Her Majesty the best of health and thank her for her seven decades of service to us. Her Majesty has demonstrated a selflessness which puts the rest of us perhaps not least in here to shame,” he added.