My view is that we have touched the trough of unemployment, and I see nothing in the supine approach of the Government to make me believe we are likely to have a lower unemployment figure than at present. I think that we shall be confronted with economic difficulties. We shall find that the hard core of unemployment which exists in certain areas of England and Wales, as well as Scotland, will persist, despite whatever efforts the Government say they are making.
Nevertheless, on balance, I advise my hon. Friends not to oppose the Motion. I will explain why. My hon. Friends are incorrigible optimists. After twelve years of "this lot" they still expect to get some satisfaction out of the presence of Ministers on the Government Front Bench. For all the good they do they might as well not be there. I only hope that they will desert their Departments and go away for a long holiday, because the mischief that they have done to this country's economy and social purpose over the last twelve years is of such a character that it is far better that they should leave the job alone altogether. If they will not go away for good, as the country wishes them to do, at least let them have the longest possible holiday away from interfering with their Departments.
I can conceive of nothing better. My hon. Friends are indefatigable in their enthusiasm, but I fear that they will not get any more satisfaction out of the Government during the coming weeks than they have got during the last twelve years. This group of Ministers are supine in their indifference, wrapped in complacency and soporific with sleep—absolutely sodden. I am told that the Derby winner was drugged or doped. I wish that the lot opposite had been doped. They might have moved a little faster then.
I must beware of the Leader of the House. I know that he is regarded as an excellent tipster. But it was not a racehorse that he tipped last time; he tipped Leicester City to win the Cup. He went on to say that he was an excellent tipster, but when I see his name on a Motion proposing that we should adjourn until Thursday. 24th October, my first thought is that we shall adjourn to quite a different date. He has been proved consistently wrong with his tips, and I find myself wondering whether we shall be here on 24th October. I express the view now that when the Leader of the House tells us that there is not to be an election this year we ought to watch the situation very carefully in case there is one. Nothing makes me more suspicious than when the Leader of the House starts giving tips of that character.
I do not wish to dash the enthusiasm of my hon. Friends any more than is necessary, but I do not wish them to be persistently disappointed by the inadequate quality of Ministerial replies. I could not advise them to oppose the Motion. On the whole, they will find more solace in mixing with their constituents and hearing what they have to say about this group of Ministers—which will provide them with even more scorpions and whips than they have at present with which to beat the Government if they dare to return to face the House after an election.
There is no doubt that the Government are tired and supine, and that the country wishes them gone. We cannot get rid of them until they wish to go. I thank heaven that the five-year Parliament Act was never changed to a seven-year Parliament Act. We know that they will be gone almost for a certainty this time next year. They cannot go too soon.
Meanwhile, I suggest to my hon. Friends that Ministers should not be encouraged to do any more damage either to our democratic institutions or to this country's policy by interfering with their Departments any longer than is necessary. Therefore, I advise my hon. Friends not to oppose the Motion.
4.28 p.m.
Mr. Iain Macleod I shall reply to the serious points which have been made, which do not include the points made in the last speech. The hon. Member for Cardiff, South-east (Mr. Callaghan) must be getting a little worried about what he has read about the short list that is being prepared for him in Cardiff, South-east.
Mr. Charles Loughlin (Gloucester, West) That was a "no ball".
