PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
CENTENARY OF THE MAIDEN SPEECH OF J.KEIR HARDIE, ON UNEMPLOYMENT (5 February 1993)

That this House recalls that on 7th February 1893, the newly-elected Member for South West Ham, J. Keir Hardie, in his maiden speech, moved an amendment to the Loyal Address in thanks for the Gracious Speech regretting the absence in that speech of any reference to the industrial depression then prevailing and the misery this caused and calling for legislation in the interests of the unemployed; further recalls that over hon. 100 Members of the then Conservative Opposition supported his amendment, that from then onward the level of unemployemnt has been regarded as a matter of proper concern for all governments; so condemns the absence of any reference to unemployment in the last Gracious Speech, and thus concludes that Her Majesty's Government is less concerned with this matter than some of its Party predecessors a century ago; calls on Her Majesty's Government and its supporters to abandon those aspects of its legislation and policy that increase unemployment, particularly in the public services; and commends the vision of the then hon. Member for South West Ham in first placing employment issues before Parliament, and acting as a prime mover in the creation of the Labour Party, which represents the interest of those whose livelihood and the well-being of whose families depends not on accumulated or inherited capital, but on the product of their daily labour by hand and brain, and who still form the majority of the citizens of the United Kingdom.

Sponsored by:
John Smith (Labour)