:00:34. > :00:39.After just two years but to Prime Minister the UK's 56
:00:40. > :00:41.Parliament is coming unexpectedly to a close, to make way
:00:42. > :00:44.The Commons and Lords have just finished their work,
:00:45. > :01:06.Good afternoon from Westminster, where time is running out
:01:07. > :01:11.And the ceremony of prorogation will begin in a couple of minutes time.
:01:12. > :01:14.That was the clock of the House of Lords, here is the House
:01:15. > :01:16.of Lords in session, gathering for the last time
:01:17. > :01:27.Joining me in the studio in Westminster are Sean Curran,
:01:28. > :01:29.BBC Parliamentary correspondent and, until Easter, the clerk
:01:30. > :01:32.of the House of Lords, the clerk of the Parliaments,
:01:33. > :01:38.We are waiting for the Leader of the House of Lords Baroness Evans
:01:39. > :01:45.to mention the prorogation is under way, and she may say
:01:46. > :01:56.that the Queen will not be present on this occasion.
:01:57. > :01:59.What's it like, Sir David, in this final moment of a session?
:02:00. > :02:05.Especially the dying moment of a Parliament.
:02:06. > :02:07.I think I'd say it's well drilled and everybody knows
:02:08. > :02:15.It's obviously quite a significant moment,
:02:16. > :02:22.that for some weeks after that everybody's minds will be
:02:23. > :02:24.on the election, nothing will be happening in the chamber.
:02:25. > :02:27.I think when I was clerk of the Parliaments my main concern
:02:28. > :02:33.We will see in due course the role of the clerks in the ceremony
:02:34. > :02:40.Now the House stands for the Lords' Speaker, Lord Fowler.
:02:41. > :02:42.The third Lord Speaker of the House of Lords
:02:43. > :02:53.He takes his place at the moment as Lord Speaker on the woolsack,
:02:54. > :02:57.It not being convenient for Her Majesty personally
:02:58. > :03:00.to be present this day, she has been pleased to cause
:03:01. > :03:04.a commission under the Great Seal to be prepared for prorogued
:03:05. > :03:11.So for approximately the 163rd time since Queen Victoria,
:03:12. > :03:13.it wasn't, in the end, personally convenient
:03:14. > :03:42.So a Royal Commission will be appointed and that
:03:43. > :03:44.will consist of five members of the House of Lords.
:03:45. > :03:47.It takes them a bit of time to get fully ready for that.
:03:48. > :03:49.If I may continue with you, Sir David.
:03:50. > :03:51.Have you got little pangs of disappointment not to be there?
:03:52. > :03:54.I'm very happy to be here watching from afar
:03:55. > :03:58.I'm looking forward to seeing it from the studio.
:03:59. > :04:01.We are going to hear a certain amount of Norman French when it
:04:02. > :04:04.comes to the granting of Royal assent for acts, you are a past
:04:05. > :04:26.There has been a bit of chat that when Brexit comes
:04:27. > :04:29.Have you got any suggestive words for us?
:04:30. > :04:34.I don't think when the Norman conquest happened and the British
:04:35. > :04:36.constitution started to be formed that the unity of Europe
:04:37. > :04:40.You gave me notice of this question and if someone suggested that,
:04:41. > :04:43.it looked to me as if it's something like "Say or Queen
:04:44. > :04:48.The Clerk of the Commons came up with his own suggestion,
:04:49. > :05:01.You heard it here first, Anglo-Saxon for the Queen wishes it.
:05:02. > :05:05.Are you pleased we got to the end of this session in one piece?
:05:06. > :05:08.It's been a bit of a shock, we didn't expect to be
:05:09. > :05:18.The members are Lady Evans, the Leader of the House
:05:19. > :05:23.of Lords, Lord Privy Seal, Lord Fowler the Lord Speaker,
:05:24. > :05:28.Baroness Smith of Basildon the Leader of the Opposition peers,
:05:29. > :05:31.Lord Newby Leader of the Liberal Democrats,
:05:32. > :05:33.and Lord Hope of Craighead, convener of the crossbenchers.
:05:34. > :05:56.And Black Rod walks towards towards the Royal Commission to be
:05:57. > :05:59.Let the Commons know that the Lords Commissioners
:06:00. > :06:01.desired their immediate attendance in this House to hear
:06:02. > :06:11.David Leaky, now you are free of the place, David,
:06:12. > :06:20.I do think there's no question that the House could do an equally
:06:21. > :06:24.Until 1999 the numbers rose until over 1,200 but not
:06:25. > :06:32.The benches are rather more crowded nowadays.
:06:33. > :06:34.The problem obviously is to find a way of reducing them.
:06:35. > :06:43.We will shortly see Black Rod walk through.
:06:44. > :06:46.As Black Rod goes to collect the Commons at this stage,
:06:47. > :06:52.This session and this Parliament, just two years long.
:06:53. > :06:53.It's been an extraordinary Parliament, dominated
:06:54. > :06:58.We saw David Cameron the first Prime Minister of this Parliament
:06:59. > :07:01.under constant pressure from Eurosceptics on his own side,
:07:02. > :07:06.That's not to say that there weren't big moments
:07:07. > :07:17.We, of course, had that big debate about bombing Isis in Syria
:07:18. > :07:20.when Hilary Benn made that speech from the Labour front benches.
:07:21. > :07:22.In the House of Lords we had the revolt over tax
:07:23. > :07:26.I think the referendum has dominated.
:07:27. > :07:29.The principal doorkeeper of the House of Commons is awaiting
:07:30. > :07:36.Before that happens, the door will, as with state opening,
:07:37. > :08:14.You will have heard the MPs say, "we're out"!
:08:15. > :08:22.Mr Speaker, the Lords who are authorised by virtue
:08:23. > :08:25.of Her Majesty's commission to declare her Royal assent act
:08:26. > :08:27.is passed by both houses, and to declare the prorogation
:08:28. > :08:32.of Parliament, desired in the presence of this honourable
:08:33. > :08:50.The Speaker thinks on the whole they will go.
:08:51. > :08:53.Quite a good turnout in the Commons, many retiring MPs.
:08:54. > :08:54.There have been two tragic moments in this Parliament,
:08:55. > :08:57.the murder of Jo Cox and not so very long ago, the murder
:08:58. > :09:01.Absolutely, both moments that shocked everybody at Westminster.
:09:02. > :09:04.Only this week there was talk of the memorial to Jo Cox,
:09:05. > :09:07.anyone who's ever been in the House of Commons will notice that along
:09:08. > :09:10.the walls there are these plaques, some of them are empty,
:09:11. > :09:12.some of them have coats of arms on them.
:09:13. > :09:23.They represent all of those MPs who, in past years, had fallen.
:09:24. > :09:25.Many fell during the First World War.
:09:26. > :09:27.They also commemorate those who have been killed
:09:28. > :09:32.There was going to be a ceremony in a few weeks' time for there to be
:09:33. > :09:34.a plaque to commemorate Jo Cox, that's been delayed
:09:35. > :10:00.There is though thereshould be one for PC Keith Palmer as well.
:10:01. > :10:01.The principal doorkeeper, the principal barkeeper,
:10:02. > :10:04.the Sergeant of arms and accompanying the Speaker, John
:10:05. > :10:07.The Speaker's secretary together with the clerk of the Commons.
:10:08. > :10:12.The clerk, you could just see them, he picked it up from the table
:10:13. > :10:14.when he left, the money bill, the Finance Bill.
:10:15. > :10:17.He's going to hand it over to the clerk of the Parliaments,
:10:18. > :10:19.signifying the Commons authority on financial matters.
:10:20. > :10:21.He will hand that Bill over, no discussion really
:10:22. > :10:25.Quite a queue of people heading to the Commons.
:10:26. > :10:32.I would say one of the big moments was in July 2016.
:10:33. > :10:34.We'd had the referendum, everybody thought that
:10:35. > :10:37.would be the big issue, but then we had the report
:10:38. > :10:47.Show us this moment when your Commons equivalent,
:10:48. > :10:50.he's producing their the Finance Bill.
:10:51. > :10:52.What should happen is that my successor in a moment...
:10:53. > :10:59.We are looking out for a couple of doffers.
:11:00. > :11:16.They are greeting the Commons and the Commons bowl in return.
:11:17. > :11:18.They aren't that synchronised either!
:11:19. > :11:20.This is apparently to show who they are.
:11:21. > :11:30.The Speaker is holding the Finance Bill.
:11:31. > :11:32.The clerk of the Parliament takes it from him.
:11:33. > :11:35.The point being that this Bill grants money to the Crown
:11:36. > :11:38.and that is in the gift of the Commons and not the Lords.
:11:39. > :11:41.My lords and members of the House of Commons,
:11:42. > :11:45.Her Majesty not thinking fit to be personally present at this time,
:11:46. > :11:49.has been pleased to cause a commission to be issued under
:11:50. > :11:54.under the Great Seal, and thereby given her Royal assent
:11:55. > :11:57.to diverse acts that have been agreed upon by both
:11:58. > :12:06.The titles whereof are particularly mentioned and by the said commission
:12:07. > :12:08.has commanded us to declare and notify her Royal Assent
:12:09. > :12:11.to be said several acts, in the presence of you the Lords
:12:12. > :12:25.and Commons, assembled for that purpose.
:12:26. > :12:29.And has also assigned to us and other Lords directed full power
:12:30. > :12:31.and authority in Her Majesty's name, to prorogue this Parliament, which
:12:32. > :12:52.Elizabeth II, by the grace of God of United Kingdom of Great Britain
:12:53. > :12:54.and Northern Ireland and of art other run-scoring, head
:12:55. > :12:56.of the Commonwealth, defender of the faith,
:12:57. > :13:09.to right trusty and well be loved Lords spiritual and temporal
:13:10. > :13:10.and our trusty and well beloved knights, citizens
:13:11. > :13:13.of the House of Commons in this presents Parliament assembled,
:13:14. > :13:23.For as much as in our said Parliament, diverse acts have been
:13:24. > :13:25.agreed by our loving subjects, the Lords spiritual and temporal
:13:26. > :13:27.and the Commons, the short titles of which are set forward
:13:28. > :13:30.in the schedules here to that the said acts
:13:31. > :13:33.are not in force in the law without Royal Assent and in as much
:13:34. > :13:36.as we cannot be present at this time in the Houses of Parliament,
:13:37. > :13:39.giving oral assent to such acts as have been agreed upon a we have
:13:40. > :13:42.therefore caused these to be made and have signed these
:13:43. > :13:50.letters and by them give our Royal Assent to those acts,
:13:51. > :13:53.willing the said act shall be of the same strength,
:13:54. > :14:00.force and the fact is if we'd had been personally present in the said
:14:01. > :14:02.higher house and had publicly and in the presence
:14:03. > :14:08.with the great Seal of our realm and also commanding the most
:14:09. > :14:15.Reverend Father in God, are grateful Chancellor,
:14:16. > :14:33.prime of all England and Metropolitan.
:14:34. > :14:35.Our well be loved and faithful councillors,
:14:36. > :14:37.Elizabeth Mary truss, Chancellor of Great Britain.
:14:38. > :14:38.Peter Norman, Lord Fowler, Lord Speaker.
:14:39. > :14:41.Natalie Jessica, Baroness Evans of those part, Lord Privy Seal.
:14:42. > :14:49.James Arthur David, Lord Hope of Craighead,
:14:50. > :15:03.Angela Evans, Baroness Smith of Basildon.
:15:04. > :15:10.Or any three or more of them to declare this Royal Assent
:15:11. > :15:12.in the said higher house in the presence of you,
:15:13. > :15:16.the said Lords and Commons, and the clerk of our parliaments
:15:17. > :15:27.to endorse the act in our name and record these letters and said
:15:28. > :15:29.acts in the manner accustomed and we declare that after this
:15:30. > :15:32.Royal Assent given and declared then and immediately the said acts shall
:15:33. > :15:37.be taken and accepted as good and perfect acts
:15:38. > :15:39.of parliament and be put into due execution accordingly.
:15:40. > :15:42.Whereas we did lately, for a diverse difficult and pressing
:15:43. > :15:44.affairs concerning us, the state and defence
:15:45. > :15:48.of our United Kingdom and church, ordained this our present Parliament
:15:49. > :16:04.too beholden at the city of Westminster, the 18th of May
:16:05. > :16:06.on the day our said Parliament was begun and Holden,
:16:07. > :16:09.and is now Holden, for certain pressing courses and considerations,
:16:10. > :16:12.we have thought fit to prorogue our said Parliament.
:16:13. > :16:15.We therefore, confiding much in the fidelity,
:16:16. > :16:19.prudence and circumspection of our commissioners,
:16:20. > :16:24.have by the consent of our council assigned to our commissioners,
:16:25. > :16:28.giving to you or any three or more of you full power and authority
:16:29. > :16:34.in our name to prorogue and continue our present Parliament
:16:35. > :16:42.in our city of Westminster, from Thursday the 27th day of April
:16:43. > :16:51.or Friday the 28th day of April until Tuesday the second day of May.
:16:52. > :17:00.We command that you attend the premises and fulfil them.
:17:01. > :17:03.We also command all and singular, art archbishops, Lords, baronets,
:17:04. > :17:06.mites, and all others to make concerns to meet at Harris said
:17:07. > :17:08.Parliament over two of these presence that they assist
:17:09. > :17:11.you in executing the premises as they ought to do.
:17:12. > :17:23.In witness thereof we have caused these letters to be made patent,
:17:24. > :17:26.witness ourselves at Westminster in the 66th year of our reign.
:17:27. > :17:31.By the Queen herself, signed with her own hand.
:17:32. > :17:33.Jake Thorne, on his fourth stay in office as Reading Clerk.
:17:34. > :17:37.He swaps places with the deputy clerk of the Crown.
:17:38. > :17:42.By virtue of the commission now read, we declare and notified
:17:43. > :17:44.to you the Lords spiritual and temporal and Commons
:17:45. > :17:48.in Parliament assembled that Her Majesty has
:17:49. > :17:56.given her Royal Assent to the acts in the commission mentioned
:17:57. > :17:59.and the clerks are required to pass the same in the usual
:18:00. > :18:07.The deputy clerk of the Crown will read the titles of the acts.
:18:08. > :18:34.He is giving the Royal Assent in Norman French.
:18:35. > :18:50.Intellectual property, unjustified threats act.
:18:51. > :19:18.Preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence
:19:19. > :20:00.Health service medical supplies costs act.
:20:01. > :20:11.Northern Ireland Ministerial Appointments And Regional Rates Act.
:20:12. > :20:19.Local audit public access to documents act.
:20:20. > :20:33.Merchant Shipping, Homosexual Conduct Act.
:20:34. > :21:13.Faversham Oyster Fishery Company Act.
:21:14. > :21:28.22 acts passed in the last few days of this parliamentary session
:21:29. > :21:35.We are commanded to deliver Her Majesty'sspeech
:21:36. > :21:41.My Lords and members of the House of Commons.
:21:42. > :21:44.My government has pursued a programme that has delivered
:21:45. > :21:46.security and strong leadership and began the task of making Britain
:21:47. > :21:54.My ministers have brought forward measures to build a stronger economy
:21:55. > :21:58.and a more united nation while also acting to counter threats
:21:59. > :22:00.to national security and build a more outward
:22:01. > :22:08.The defence of the realm has remained an utmost priority
:22:09. > :22:12.Legislation was passed to ensure that law enforcement and security
:22:13. > :22:19.agencies had the powers to disrupt terrorist attacks.
:22:20. > :22:22.My government has continued with a programme to reform
:22:23. > :22:37.New legislation will help make the police and Fire Service
:22:38. > :22:40.more capable, efficient and locally accountable.
:22:41. > :22:43.Building on the success of last year's anti-corruption Summit,
:22:44. > :22:45.legislation was introduced to tackle money-laundering, seize
:22:46. > :22:49.criminal assets and combat terrorist financing,
:22:50. > :22:53.to build a stronger economy my government has taken forward
:22:54. > :22:56.measures as part of its plans for a stronger Britain
:22:57. > :23:00.so the country is well placed to exploit new opportunities
:23:01. > :23:05.in the global economy and ensure the benefits are spread
:23:06. > :23:08.through the country, to ensure the UK remains a leader
:23:09. > :23:13.in developing new technologies, draft legislation was published
:23:14. > :23:16.setting out a new framework to support the growing commercial
:23:17. > :23:22.space flight industry, to foster innovation and foster
:23:23. > :23:25.creative industries, legislation reforming the law
:23:26. > :23:40.My ministers have you continued investment and infrastructure
:23:41. > :23:42.projects to ensure local communities can grow and prosper.
:23:43. > :23:45.Legislation was passed to support the building of a high-speed railway
:23:46. > :23:47.from London to Birmingham and allow for better local bus
:23:48. > :23:53.My government has also legislated to ensure all households can access
:23:54. > :23:57.fast broadband and allow new telecommunications
:23:58. > :24:02.infrastructure to be rolled out across the nation.
:24:03. > :24:04.Legislation has given communities more control over
:24:05. > :24:18.To build a fairer society my government has brought forward
:24:19. > :24:21.measures to protect the most vulnerable and drive greater social
:24:22. > :24:24.reform so every child has the chance to make the most of their talents.
:24:25. > :24:27.To this end legislation has been passed to enable a world-class
:24:28. > :24:28.technical education system that provides opportunities
:24:29. > :24:40.Legislation has been asked to improve soldier and's social care
:24:41. > :24:42.in England and put the national citizens service
:24:43. > :24:46.My government also supported legislation to tackle homelessness
:24:47. > :24:54.Provision was also made to help low income families save for the future
:24:55. > :24:57.to help young people save for the long term
:24:58. > :25:09.with a lifetime ISA and to protect pension schemes.
:25:10. > :25:12.With a rough edition of the important role of charities,
:25:13. > :25:13.legislation helped charities and community sports clubs
:25:14. > :25:16.by simplifying the gift aid donation scheme.
:25:17. > :25:19.A new act will enable the NHS and the taxpayer to secure better
:25:20. > :25:23.value for money from the growing cost of medicines.
:25:24. > :25:26.To build a more united nation, my government has made it a priority
:25:27. > :25:33.to strengthen the union between all parts of the UK.
:25:34. > :25:37.Legislation established a long-term devolution settlement in Wales
:25:38. > :25:41.and an England significant new powers have been devolved
:25:42. > :25:47.My government has taken steps to enable the resumption of devolved
:25:48. > :25:49.government in Northern Ireland when an agreement is reached
:25:50. > :25:59.To deliver the results of the 2016 referendum,
:26:00. > :26:01.legislation allowing the UK formally to signal its intent to withdraw
:26:02. > :26:10.My government has worked to ensure a global Britain plays a leading
:26:11. > :26:12.role in world affairs and provided assistance to British
:26:13. > :26:21.To bolster the UK's role in developing countries,
:26:22. > :26:25.new legislation will allow further investment to create more jobs
:26:26. > :26:27.and boost economic growth in the poorest countries in Africa
:26:28. > :26:37.Legislation was enacted to protect cultural property in times of law.
:26:38. > :26:42.Legislation was enacted to protect cultural property in times of waw.
:26:43. > :26:44.Legislation was enacted to protect cultural property in times of war.
:26:45. > :26:47.The Duke of Edinburgh and I were pleased to welcome
:26:48. > :26:49.the President of the Republic of Colombia in November,
:26:50. > :26:53.strengthening our friendship with an important partner in Latin America.
:26:54. > :26:55.My ministers established a close relationship
:26:56. > :26:57.with the new administration in the United States.
:26:58. > :27:01.My government has continued to play a leading role in the global
:27:02. > :27:05.coalition against Daesh and employed British troops in Estonia and Poland
:27:06. > :27:10.as part of Nato's enhanced presence while maintaining the UN consensus
:27:11. > :27:21.My ministers have pursued a campaign against modern slavery
:27:22. > :27:26.and help to secure pledges of ?4.6 billion for the humanitarian
:27:27. > :27:29.crisis in Syria during a conference in Brussels in April.
:27:30. > :27:33.Members of the House of Commons, I thank you for the provisions
:27:34. > :27:37.you have made for the work and dignity of the crowned
:27:38. > :27:40.you have made for the work and dignity of the crown
:27:41. > :27:43.My lords and members of the House of commons,
:27:44. > :27:46.I pray that the blessing of Almighty God may rest
:27:47. > :27:51.My lords, and members of the House of Commons,
:27:52. > :27:54.by virtue of Her Majesty's commission, which has been now read,
:27:55. > :27:59.we do, in Her Majesty's name, and in obedience to her commands,
:28:00. > :28:06.prorogue this Parliament to the second day of May,
:28:07. > :28:09.to be then here Holden and this Parliament is accordingly prorogued
:28:10. > :28:17.Lady Evans, who used to work in a think tank,
:28:18. > :28:21.I bet she never thought she would end up doing that job.
:28:22. > :28:23.Farewell from the Royal Commissioners,
:28:24. > :28:31.They have been prorogued, and both Houses of Parliament
:28:32. > :28:33.will actually be dissolved at one minute past midnight
:28:34. > :28:45.The proclamation will be read in Edinburgh by the Lord.
:28:46. > :28:54.And the State Opening will be on the 19th of June when the Queen
:28:55. > :29:02.will outline the plans for the next Parliament.
:29:03. > :29:05.I say the State Opening, it's not going to have robes,
:29:06. > :29:08.the Queen won't wear her crown, it's being done in
:29:09. > :29:14.They say there isn't enough time to prepare.
:29:15. > :29:16.I remember the last time that happened was in March 1974,
:29:17. > :29:28.when the Queen was in Australia for some of the election campaign.
:29:29. > :29:31.Sean Curran, this Parliament comes to an end and by definition almost,
:29:32. > :29:33.we are going, a lot of MPs will be retiring.
:29:34. > :29:40.We had one announcement today that Sir Edward Garnier is retiring.
:29:41. > :29:51.The Yeoman Usher, the deputy Sergeant at Arms to the House
:29:52. > :29:56.of Lords will escort out the Lord Speaker.
:29:57. > :30:00.We might see some of those turn up in the Commons for the last time
:30:01. > :30:03.to shake the Speaker's hand but they have had a long
:30:04. > :30:05.wait because the Commons finished its business at 11:15am.
:30:06. > :30:10.We've all had lots of things to do obviously.
:30:11. > :30:17.Since 2014 it's been possible for members to retire
:30:18. > :30:23.Still keeping the membership around 800 because new ones
:30:24. > :30:32.The sergeant-at-arms is now not with the mace because Parliament
:30:33. > :30:40.He is accompanied there by the Speaker.
:30:41. > :30:43.And so we've seen the Commons summoned to the Lords,
:30:44. > :30:52.the appointment of the Royal Commission, Royal assent given to 22
:30:53. > :30:54.acts and the prorogation of this Parliament culminated
:30:55. > :31:02.And although all these people have been to the House of Lords,
:31:03. > :31:08.the Speaker is now going to inform them as to what they have just seen.
:31:09. > :31:14.Who are you going to miss amongst the retirees?
:31:15. > :31:16.I think, interestingly, some of the people retiring aren't
:31:17. > :31:23.necessarily household names but have a big impact.
:31:24. > :31:26.I was quite surprised to see that Iain Wright,
:31:27. > :31:29.the Labour MP for Hartlepool who had been the chair of the business
:31:30. > :31:41.Actually somebody who I think had had quite a big impact
:31:42. > :31:43.with his committee on a lot of issues that affect
:31:44. > :31:46.He had that big tussle with Sports Direct.
:31:47. > :31:48.That will change the landscape of the committees.
:31:49. > :31:51.Of course we are also losing some familiar names in Westminster.
:31:52. > :32:06.Although we might not have seen him quite as much.
:32:07. > :32:08.I think he is spending his time counting his money.
:32:09. > :32:16.He's made one speech in Parliament...
:32:17. > :32:19.The House has been to the House of Peers where a Commission
:32:20. > :32:24.was read authorising the Royal assent to the following acts.
:32:25. > :32:31.Parking places variation of charges act 2017.
:32:32. > :32:39.Broadcasting radio multiplex services act 2017.
:32:40. > :32:58.Intellectual Property, Unjustified Threats Act 2017.
:32:59. > :33:22.Technical And Further Education Act 2017.
:33:23. > :33:48.Health Service Medical Supplies Costs Act 2017.
:33:49. > :33:50.Northern Ireland Ministerial Appointments
:33:51. > :33:59.Local Audit Public Access to Documents Act 2017.
:34:00. > :34:10.Merchant Shipping Homosexual Conduct Act 2017.
:34:11. > :34:15.Guardianship Missing Persons Act 2017.
:34:16. > :34:27.Higher Education and Research Act 2017.
:34:28. > :34:40.Faversham Oyster Fishery Company Act 2017.
:34:41. > :34:55.I have further to acquaint the House that the Leader
:34:56. > :34:58.of the House of Lords, one of the Lords' Commissions
:34:59. > :35:00.delivered Her Majesty's most gracious speech to both Houses
:35:01. > :35:03.of Parliament in pursuance of Her Majesty's command.
:35:04. > :35:07.For greater accuracy, I have obtained a copy,
:35:08. > :35:09.and also directed that the terms of the speech be printed
:35:10. > :35:29.Copies are being made available in the vote office.
:35:30. > :35:34.The Commission was also for proroguing this present
:35:35. > :35:37.Parliament, and the Leader of the House of Lords said: "My lords
:35:38. > :35:40.and members of the House of Commons, by virtue of Her Majesty's
:35:41. > :35:44.Commission, which has been now read, we do, in Her Majesty's name,
:35:45. > :35:50.and in obedience to Her Majesty's commands, prorogue this Parliament
:35:51. > :35:59.This Parliament is accordingly prorogued to Tuesday
:36:00. > :36:31.STUDIO: So, they won't see them on May 2nd.
:36:32. > :36:39.Good news really that in this busy Parliament there was time to pass
:36:40. > :36:42.bills for farriers and indeed the Faversham Oyster farm.
:36:43. > :36:47.Fisheries, I'm doing them a disservice.
:36:48. > :36:52.That's the Solicitor General shaking hands with the Speaker.
:36:53. > :36:59.He's just shaken hands with the government Chief Whip.
:37:00. > :37:02.Now the shadow Leader of the Commons for Labour.
:37:03. > :37:08.Tobias Ellwood, the Foreign Office minister recently appointed
:37:09. > :37:11.to the Privy Council, following his actions on that
:37:12. > :37:15.You may think it sounds a bit silent in the Commons, it does,
:37:16. > :37:18.because the formal part of the session has ended, there is
:37:19. > :37:32.I'm afraid that's why you can't hear these nice chats with the Speaker.
:37:33. > :37:37.Andrew Percy there, saying goodbye at this session to the Speaker.
:37:38. > :37:39.From the dissolution on Wednesday, MPs will no longer be MPs.
:37:40. > :38:00.And of course hereditary peers in your House,
:38:01. > :38:03.they die and then there are these strange by-elections when they die.
:38:04. > :38:05.Not just if they die but if they choose to retire.
:38:06. > :38:07.Are you a supporter of by-elections for hereditary peers?
:38:08. > :38:10.Now I've retired I'm allowed to have a view and the short
:38:11. > :38:14.The curiosity of the nature of the electorate and even more
:38:15. > :38:17.so the people who can stand, which doesn't include
:38:18. > :38:21.you or me but only people who have a hereditary peerage,
:38:22. > :38:23.means they are not our finest moment, having to run
:38:24. > :38:39.The system was introduced to enable the numbers to be kept up
:38:40. > :38:49.I think this is Fiona Mactaggart getting a kiss.
:38:50. > :38:55.She has announced this week she is standing down.
:38:56. > :38:57.An MP since 1997, representing Slough.
:38:58. > :39:08.She said this week after 20 years she had done her bit.
:39:09. > :40:15.Mr Morris was the keyboard player for Rick Astley.
:40:16. > :40:18.Eric Pickles who announced this week he was going to stand down.
:40:19. > :40:20.He's the kind of person we could end up seeing
:40:21. > :40:21.in the House of Lords, David.
:40:22. > :40:24.There's normally a list of new peers after a dissolution, yes.
:40:25. > :40:26.But it's not always predictable who the lucky
:40:27. > :40:29.As an ex-Cabinet minister it's not at all unlikely.
:40:30. > :40:32.An emotional moment, that's someone leaving
:40:33. > :40:35.There's Iain Wright who we were just talking about,
:40:36. > :40:37.He's been pretty busy this Parliament.
:40:38. > :40:39.He's had a high-profile role in Parliamentary terms.
:40:40. > :40:42.He may not be a household name but someone who did
:40:43. > :40:46.That's the Culture Secretary saying goodbye to the Speaker.
:40:47. > :40:48.Yes, and he chaired, along with Frank Field,
:40:49. > :40:53.They did make it up and there were warm words being exchanged
:40:54. > :41:01.They famously had a difficult relationship.
:41:02. > :41:03.There was a joke going around that involved dwarves
:41:04. > :41:07.Simon Burns had to make a lot of apologies for that.
:41:08. > :41:11.He's been a member of the Chelmsford since 1987.
:41:12. > :41:14.Sir Alan Haselhurst, I would be surprised if he isn't
:41:15. > :41:17.there but he has served since 1970 as an MP, with a small
:41:18. > :41:42.Simon Burns is saying he's going to come and campaign
:41:43. > :41:49.for the Speaker in Beaconsfield, not Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire
:41:50. > :41:50.Buckinghamshire yes, Buckingham.
:41:51. > :42:09.Normally the Speaker stands as the Speaker
:42:10. > :42:12.The Liberal Democrats have announced they are standing.
:42:13. > :42:18.Whether John Bercow bonds Sir Simon Burns's support.
:42:19. > :42:20.He is famously an enthusiastic supporter of Hillary Clinton
:42:21. > :42:22.and was campaigning for her during the US presidential election.
:42:23. > :42:24.And has campaigned for the Democrats over many years.
:42:25. > :42:26.It's one of the interesting features, along with
:42:27. > :42:29.Sir Alan Duncan, another prominent supporter of the Democrats
:42:30. > :42:45.In having quite a large majority there but that
:42:46. > :42:50.For quite a short period, deputy leader of the Conservative Party.
:42:51. > :42:54.When was he deputy leader of the Conservative Party?
:42:55. > :42:59.It may have been under William Hague or John Major.
:43:00. > :43:07.He was definitely deputy leader of the Conservatives
:43:08. > :43:33.We will look it up after this programme.
:43:34. > :43:35.There are a lot of Conservative MPs who have stayed,
:43:36. > :43:44.I don't know if that's normal that it's the Government benches to stay.
:43:45. > :43:47.I think Labour MPs historically have not tended to stay
:43:48. > :44:00.Who was the standout backbencher for you?
:44:01. > :44:17.I think it depends upon your criteria.
:44:18. > :44:20.I think we can see there Peter Bone is lining up, I think
:44:21. > :44:22.he was an influential backbencher, one of those who was
:44:23. > :44:24.agitating behind-the-scenes to get the referendum.
:44:25. > :44:26.Another person with a lot of influence, maybe not a household
:44:27. > :44:28.name, was Steve Baker, another Conservative Eurosceptic
:44:29. > :44:30.because of the way they organised their colleagues.
:44:31. > :44:35.The mysterious unseen person in the studio,
:44:36. > :44:37.researcher Simon Vaughan, has produced evidence that
:44:38. > :44:42.Peter Lilley was deputy leader of the Conservative Party
:44:43. > :45:01.That's embarrassing because I was here so I should have known.
:45:02. > :45:03.Now he will no longer even be known by the electors
:45:04. > :45:10.Kit Malthouse has search Boris Johnson.
:45:11. > :45:12.On the deputy mayor in charge of policing.
:45:13. > :45:18.That is Natalie McGarry who began as an SNP member,
:45:19. > :45:21.now an independent and she will not stand at this election so she spoke
:45:22. > :45:28.She had the whip withdrawn by the SNP.
:45:29. > :45:35.She has faced well documented difficulties.
:45:36. > :45:40.We also had quite a number of by-elections in this session.
:45:41. > :45:44.Sean, how many by-elections have there been in the last year?
:45:45. > :45:58.Made her maiden speech this week, it almost looked
:45:59. > :46:02.like she would come in and go out without saying anything.
:46:03. > :46:21.Ozzy O'Brien, he won Darlington for a Labour in 1983 and lasted
:46:22. > :46:30.three months later at the general election and was never
:46:31. > :46:34.Caroline Johnson is quite a new MP, she is saying farewell.
:46:35. > :46:43.That replaced Steven Phillips, the barrister who resigned quite
:46:44. > :46:45.suddenly, basically falling out with the Government over
:46:46. > :46:55.Martin Vickers from Cleethorpes, he never hesitates to speak up
:46:56. > :47:09.David, we have had difficulties in the Commons about expenses
:47:10. > :47:11.but this parliament has been far free of them.
:47:12. > :47:14.You have had difficulties in the Lords.
:47:15. > :47:18.Yes, not too many and the good news is that since the House of Lords
:47:19. > :47:24.suspension act of last year, or the year before...
:47:25. > :47:26.Sir Gerald Howard saying farewell, a doughty fighter
:47:27. > :47:40.The House has power to suspend for any period or to expel members
:47:41. > :47:54.One of the grounds of which you were expelled without any specific
:47:55. > :47:56.decision in the House is if you were sentenced
:47:57. > :47:58.to a long prison sentence, so that would happen
:47:59. > :48:14.He was a great admirer of Margaret Thatcher.
:48:15. > :48:24.I think one of the features of this year has been Thursdays when we saw
:48:25. > :48:42.some personal speeches, Conservative MP Vicki Fox talked
:48:43. > :48:44.about losing a baby, Michelle Thompson talked about sexual
:48:45. > :48:47.assault and we had some emotional debates that showed backbenchers
:48:48. > :48:50.prepared to talk openly about things people would keep private.
:48:51. > :48:52.That was a feature of this Parliament, a change
:48:53. > :48:56.People find it easier to talk about these things.
:48:57. > :48:58.Clapping has broken out to some extent, where
:48:59. > :49:07.I don't mind because if you are trying to report Parliament
:49:08. > :49:10.for the news it makes for good audio and video, so from a professional
:49:11. > :49:15.point of view I like moments of drama like that.
:49:16. > :49:18.We had applause before, when Tony Blair stood down in 2007
:49:19. > :49:29.With the arrival of the SNP, they started clapping as a block
:49:30. > :49:39.and that made an impact and then when Hilary Benn made his speech
:49:40. > :49:42.during the debate on bombing raids, there was applause after that
:49:43. > :49:44.and we had applause for Andy Burnham's speech
:49:45. > :49:54.The clerk of the Commons wore his wig today as it is a semi-state
:49:55. > :50:00.occasion, but the clerks in the Commons abandoned their wigs
:50:01. > :50:04.in February but they have been kept in the Lords.
:50:05. > :50:07.So far, yes, there has been talk about it but those members
:50:08. > :50:09.who raised the matter when it was announced
:50:10. > :50:11.that we were stopping wearing them in the Commons were keen
:50:12. > :50:15.I am waiting to see if anyone proposes that
:50:16. > :50:22.Never let it be said that the laws rushed into a change.
:50:23. > :50:25.The Lords are sometimes progressive, we were four and a half years
:50:26. > :50:36.ahead of the Commons in introducing TV cameras.
:50:37. > :50:41.What change would you like to see developed in the Lords?
:50:42. > :50:47.What one thing would you like to see change?
:50:48. > :50:50.I think I would say Question Time could be more effective if it
:50:51. > :50:59.We waste rather a lot of the available time with members
:51:00. > :51:16.fighting each other to get in the next supplementary
:51:17. > :51:18.and if we could be find a way of avoiding that,
:51:19. > :51:22.A very assiduous chair of the Public Accounts Committee,
:51:23. > :51:24.he gave way to Margaret Hodge, and equally assiduous chair.
:51:25. > :51:29.Sir Edward doesn't want to move out of Parliament.
:51:30. > :51:32.If the restoration ever happens, they were going to vote on this
:51:33. > :51:36.before Easter but they didn't and he is firmly of the opinion
:51:37. > :51:38.that they should not move out while repairs take place.
:51:39. > :51:47.Yes, there is a big job that has to be done and the longer you put it
:51:48. > :51:59.off there is a chance they will have to move in a hurry.
:52:00. > :52:01.It seems the officials think you have to go and members
:52:02. > :52:05.A small minority of members are saying that.
:52:06. > :52:07.We had a small committee who unanimously recommended
:52:08. > :52:18.in favour of doing the job in one fell swoop.
:52:19. > :52:24.This line seems to be about the same length for the last five minutes,
:52:25. > :52:28.people coming out of the woodwork to shake hands and lining
:52:29. > :52:31.up, waiting their turn is the Sergeant at Arms and...
:52:32. > :52:54.There are MPs who are very much Commons chamber people and those
:52:55. > :52:57.And some confessed that within a few weeks or months,
:52:58. > :53:03.there is Simon Hall, somebody who does like the chamber,
:53:04. > :53:08.he likes being there in debates and getting involved but you find
:53:09. > :53:10.MPs who, after a few months say they didn't find
:53:11. > :53:16.And people think they are not working.
:53:17. > :53:20.They tend to say they would rather concentrate on casework and do not
:53:21. > :53:28.Peter Bone, very keen on being in the chamber,
:53:29. > :53:31.when Mr Cameron was Prime Minister and asking him questions
:53:32. > :53:37.when he would invoke the name of his wife,
:53:38. > :53:40.Mrs Bone, he doesn't seem to do that so often.
:53:41. > :53:58.I think we had Mrs Bone's birthday, which Theresa May
:53:59. > :54:01.dealt with not as deftly as she might have done.
:54:02. > :54:02.Bob Blackman, shaking hands with the MP.
:54:03. > :54:05.A chuckle as we remember that happy day.
:54:06. > :54:08.I get the impression in a house of 800, about three quarters
:54:09. > :54:10.of the speaking is done by 100 peers.
:54:11. > :54:15.There are others who regard their role as either working
:54:16. > :54:24.in committees or in some cases supporting their party in divisions.
:54:25. > :54:28.Alistair Birt, a strong remain supporter saying farewell.
:54:29. > :54:30.It's very windy at Westminster two days ago, he had
:54:31. > :54:43.The Speaker seemed interested in his Tie.
:54:44. > :54:51.I think we have just one more actual MP.
:54:52. > :54:54.Is it a privilege to be the last MP to shake the Speaker's hand?
:54:55. > :55:07.I thought, David, in your neck of the woods they could do with more
:55:08. > :55:17.It was harder because with a male Speaker, three of them
:55:18. > :55:29.But there is room to do better next time.
:55:30. > :55:44.His predecessor told me at the bus stop he would not stand again.
:55:45. > :55:48.A champion ruiner of Private Members' Bills, Andrew Dismal.
:55:49. > :55:52.Now the Sergeant at Arms, a karate black belt,
:55:53. > :55:55.in case you think he looks like a softly.
:55:56. > :56:01.He came from the Ministry of Justice.
:56:02. > :56:06.This will be the end of his first full session of Parliament.
:56:07. > :56:16.Lawrence Ward, his predecessor, retired at the end of 2016.
:56:17. > :56:19.The sergeant was chosen by a panel of MPs headed
:56:20. > :56:36.It is still the black belt that is most worrying,
:56:37. > :56:39.and at the back, principled doorkeeper of the House of Commons.
:56:40. > :57:03.David, you have seen your last parliament in session.
:57:04. > :57:05.When you and knows your retirement you didn't realise the election
:57:06. > :57:08.Until it was announced I hadn't expected it.
:57:09. > :57:11.I felt sorry for my successor on his first working day
:57:12. > :57:14.in office, the Prime Minister announced a dissolution.
:57:15. > :57:21.Your successor took office on Monday this week.
:57:22. > :57:26.He took office at Easter but was sworn in at the first sitting day.
:57:27. > :57:32.When that happened everyone moved up a little bit,
:57:33. > :57:34.so the old Reading Clerk, Simon Burton, became clerk Assistant
:57:35. > :57:44.He doesn't have to take an oath, it's only the clerk of Parliament.
:57:45. > :57:47.With the other tabled posts, the House has to approve
:57:48. > :57:49.the Speaker's appointment so a motion was agreed
:57:50. > :58:11.So when they performed today that was their first time on parade.
:58:12. > :58:23.Sean, your final thoughts on this Parliament, is pretty short
:58:24. > :58:30.I think it's been an extraordinary Parliament because it has been
:58:31. > :58:35.dominated by Brexit, the arguments ahead
:58:36. > :58:43.of the referendum, the campaign which saw the resignation
:58:44. > :58:48.of the Prime Minister, having previously won his majority
:58:49. > :58:52.in his own right just a year before, then those extraordinary few days
:58:53. > :58:58.and weeks following his resignation and we sought Theresa May become
:58:59. > :59:00.and weeks following his resignation and we saw Theresa May become
:59:01. > :59:06.She has not been in office a year and now we're going for an election.
:59:07. > :59:07.It has been an extremely interesting Parliament.
:59:08. > :59:14.I'm not sure we will ever see another like this.
:59:15. > :59:23.Fascinating fact, I believe there was one government defeat
:59:24. > :59:24.in the Commons in this whole Parliament.
:59:25. > :59:28.Which has upset the Conservatives in office before, Mrs Thatcher
:59:29. > :59:43.There have been threatened rebellions we have seen policy
:59:44. > :59:46.being modified or shelved that that was the only Commons defeat.
:59:47. > :59:49.And Lords defeat, 38 in this session as opposed to 60 in the last session
:59:50. > :59:55.I'm not sure I can say that, the opposition can pick
:59:56. > :59:57.their moments and perhaps they have been more focused when they seek
:59:58. > :00:07.You can see why he is there and diplomats clerk.
:00:08. > :00:16.But the Lords is a place where there seems to be defeats.
:00:17. > :00:19.It will be interesting how the Lords react
:00:20. > :00:26.to the Queen's Speech that we will see
:00:27. > :00:28.to the Queen's Speech that we we'll see
:00:29. > :00:32.And the last people have left the House of Commons and it's
:00:33. > :00:34.left to the sergeants, the clerks, the doorkeepers,
:00:35. > :00:37.they have the place all to themselves for a few weeks.
:00:38. > :00:40.It will not be quiet on BBC Parliament.
:00:41. > :00:42.We will bring live speeches and election events
:00:43. > :00:47.from the campaign trail in the coming weeks
:00:48. > :00:49.and live coverage from the Scottish Parliament,
:00:50. > :00:52.Welsh Assembly and the European Parliament.
:00:53. > :00:59.The action will return to Westminster with a meeting
:01:00. > :01:03.of the 57th Parliament on Tuesday 13th of June and on that day
:01:04. > :01:05.the Commons and Lords will meet at 2:30pm and MPs
:01:06. > :01:18.I hope you will join us for the election campaign,
:01:19. > :01:23.but from all of us here, Sean Curran, Sir David Beamish,
:01:24. > :01:26.thank you both very much and from Westminster,