Queen's Speech Quips

Skinner has traditionally cracked jokes, usually about the Royal Family, during the annual Queen's Speech ceremony. He does this upon the arrival of Black Rod (the symbol of Royal authority in the House of Commons) to summon MPs to hear the Queen's speech in the House of Lords. The best known, according to the New Statesman and other sources, are as follows (http://www.newstatesman.com/blogs/the-staggers/2010/05/black-rod-skinner-queen-beast):

*In 1987, he said "Tell her to sell up!", a reference to the tightening of belts in the United Kingdom.
*In 1988, he greeted the sight of Black Rod with the statement "Hey up, Here comes puss in boots!", to a great deal of laughing in the chamber.
*In 1990, he quipped "It tolls for thee Maggie", a reference to Margaret Thatcher's impending departure.
*In 1991, on arrival of Black Rod quipping "I bet he drinks Carling Black Label"; a reference to an advertising campaign at the time.
*In 1992, he said to Black Rod "Tell her to pay her taxes"; at the time, this was an important political issue.
*In 1997, he shouted "New Labour, New Black Rod".
A reference to Labour's election campaign slogan "New Labour, New Britain".
*In 2000, he shouted out "Tell her to read the Guardian!" - the Guardian newspaper was campaigning at the time to repeal various laws relating to the monarchy.
*In 2001, he said to new Black Rod Michael Willcocks "You're nowt but a midget!!" to much laughter in the chamber.
*In 2003, he suggested that the Speaker "bar the doors" after Black Rod had arrived, a practice that is used to block late-arriving MPs from casting their votes after the division bells have been sounded. After the command he also said "Did she lock the door behind her!" to laughter from other MPs. The tongue-in-cheek suggestion by Skinner was scoffed at by Speaker Michael Martin.
*In 2005, he asked Black Rod "Has she brought Camilla with her?" to much giggling from other MP's. There were reports that The Queen and Camilla were not on the best of terms.
*In 2006, Skinner responded to Black Rod's invitation with "Have you got Helen Mirren on standby?", in reference to the portrayal by Helen Mirren of Elizabeth II in the 2006 film, The Queen. The BBC political commentator Huw Edwards called the quip "cheap but funny".
*In 2007, he asked "Who shot the harriers?" referring to a recent event in Sandringham, where two protected hen harriers had been shot near a royal property. Prince Harry and a friend had been questioned by police over the incident.
*In 2008, he asked, "any Tory moles at the Palace?", referring to the recent arrest of Conservative MP Damian Green in connection with an investigation about him receiving confidential information from a civil servant at the Home Office who was formerly a Conservative Party candidate. To which Black Rod quipped, "I shall miss you, Dennis", receiving laughter from other MPs. The 2008 State Opening of Parliament was Michael Willcocks' last as Black Rod.
*In 2009, he stated "Royal Expenses are on the way", a reference to the parliamentary expenses scandal.
*In 2010, he stated "No royal commissions this week" in reference to the recent newspaper story in the News of the World which revealed that the former Duchess of York had taken cash payments for introducing businessmen to the Duke of York. Interestingly this time, whether through error or purpose, he made his one-liner in the middle of the Yeoman Usher's (who was filling in for an ill Black Rod) speech. To which the Yeoman Usher replied at the end, "Thank you, Dennis".
*In 2012, he shouted "Jubilee year, double-dip recession, what a start" to the evident annoyance of many MPs on the government benches.
*In 2013, he exclaimed "Royal Mail for sale, Queen's head privatised" in reference to the governments plans to sell off sections of the Royal Mail and Margaret Thatcher's comment when she was Prime Minister that she wouldn't privatise the Royal Mail as she was not "prepared to have the Queen's head privatised".

Other Quotes

"every now and then you see the arrogance of Cameron, and that comes through every so often. It is the Bullingdon Club. When they were sat down – him and Gideon [Obsorne's birth name] – and he says: 'You know what we really want, Gideon? Every weekend, after we've roughed up one of those hotels, we need an army of volunteers to come in and clean it all up.' And Gideon says: 'Yeah, we could call it the Big Society" interview with ,Decca Aitkenhead - The Guardian, (Sunday 17 June 2012) - http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/jun/17/dennis-skinner-formed-pits-war

"Tell the House of Lords to go to hell."
During the 2004 fox hunting debate in the House of Commons.
Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster (2004-09-15). House of Commons Hansard Debate - 15 September 2004. Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved on 2010-04-29.

"I thought you were taking Marquand with you."
Heckling Roy Jenkins in 1976 when, during his farewell speech to the Parliamentary Labour Party before leaving to become President of the European Commission, he said: "I leave this party without rancour". Jenkins, who famously pronounced his Rs like Ws, left the Commons at the same time as David Marquand, the MP for Ashfield and a close ally of Jenkins.

"Does my hon. Friend agree that when millions of parents and others in Britain are wrestling with the problems of drug abuse among young people, and when the Government are trying to do their level best to tackle those problems, it is a sad state of affairs that the Tory Opposition receive £1 million a year from one of the biggest drug runners in the west?" [Members of the House: "Oh."] Is it not high time that the Leader of the Opposition had the guts to get rid of him?"
Referring to allegations about Michael Ashcroft at the time

"When I called the Right Hon. Member for Plymouth, Devonport (Dr. Owen) a pompous sod, Mr. Speaker said to me, 'You had better withdraw that'. I said I would withdraw 'pompous', but said, Mr. Speaker 'That's not the word I'm looking for.' There was laughter in the House and everyone thought that I had hit the nail on the head. I thought that that was a real parliamentary triumph, but Mr. Speaker thought differently. He said, 'Off you go,' and I did not get a chance to reply."
Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster. House of Commons Hansard Debate - 28 February 1992. Publications.parliament.uk. Retrieved on 2010-04-29.

"The Hon. Gentleman is making pretty heavy weather of the fact that he was kicked out of this gentleman's club for 20 days. I call it a gentlemen's club, but it is known as the mother of Parliaments, although only about 42 women are allowed in here. The Hon. Gentleman is complaining that he got 20 days. His real problem is the fact that he is not the Tory Party candidate at the next election - and that has nothing to do with what happened in this place.

I have been kicked out of this place about seven times, but I did not have any chance to explain. No one said to me, "Dennis, will you explain why you said that the Right Hon. Member for Chingford (Mr. Tebbit) was lining his pockets when he picked up that non-executive directorship of British Telecom?" I would have loved to tell everyone all about that, but Mr. Speaker said, "On your bike - early bath," and off I had to go.

I accused the noble Lord, Lord Pym, when he was a Member of this House, of being the Minister for Unemployment because there were nearly 2 million people on the scrap heap - that pile of human misery known as the dole queue. Again, I was not able to make a speech before Mr. Speaker sent me out.

Those were all genuine statements that I had to make. The Hon. Member for Winchester (Mr. Browne) was kicked out for 20 days because he lined his pockets with about £50,000 and did not put it in the register as he is supposed to do, and now he is whingeing but I reckon he got away with blue murder!"

Is my right hon. Friend aware that in the 1970s and a lot of the 1980s, we would have thanked our lucky stars in the coalfield areas for growth of 1.75 per cent.? The only thing growing then were the lines of coke in front of boy George and the rest of them.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo051208/debtext/51208-04.htm

She has been let off because she is a Tory.
Said because the Deputy Speaker had allowed Theresa May to make a comment about the Prime Minister allegedly lying to the House because he interpreted it in a context Skinner didn't agree with.
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmhansrd/vo060420/debtext/60420-05.htm

During PMQS on 25th April 2012 regarding Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt (UK politician) resigning of his special advisor Adam Smith said - "When posh boys are in trouble they sack the servants"

(14 Sep 2013, 8:16 am)fozzovmurton wrote When I heard about Royal Mail beong sold off, the first thing I thought of was Dennis Skinner...quite a funny man lol

(17 Sep 2013, 10:37 am)Daniel wrote W'hey... This was a topic brought up by my Business teacher today and I was the only one who had a clue!

Wouldn't have had a clue without this thread!

(17 Sep 2013, 10:38 am)Andreos1 wrote To be fair, it didn't take off the way I thought it might.

Hope you threw in a few Skinnerisms into the debate?

@TonyBenn 19 Aug 09
On the picket line today Postal workers told
me they beieve the Government is
deliberately trying to destroy the Post Office.
I agree

(19 Sep 2013, 8:15 pm)Andreos1 wrote Another old school politician.

He doesn't tweet often, but has tonight.
Just looked down his feed and found this insightful tweet.
(Check out the date too)

(19 Sep 2013, 10:20 pm)gtomlinson wrote How is that insightful?

Skinner and Benn are dinosaurs.

(19 Sep 2013, 10:20 pm)gtomlinson wrote How is that insightful?

(19 Sep 2013, 10:39 pm)AdamY wrote I quite like Skinner but have never been particularly convinced by Benn's supposed brilliance.

(20 Sep 2013, 4:42 pm)fozzovmurton wrote I also quite like Skinner, if only for his outspoken opinions, but he is becoming of a crusty now, he is about 82/83 now and his beliefs are probably nowhere close to what the Labour Party has now become, but the Beast of Bolsover will probably leave Parliament the day 6 men come to carry him out in a box

(20 Sep 2013, 6:03 pm)aureolin wrote Labour Party has forgotten it's roots. That's the problem. Long gone are the days they'd look after the workers. Not in a million years would you have thought they'd set the wheels in motion and complete the off shoring of government jobs to India.

(20 Sep 2013, 6:20 pm)AdamY wrote And when were those days exactly?

Labour have a long history of denouncing socialist tendencies and vanquishing the 'revolutionary element' of their party ever since they were first elected to government in 1924 (and arguably before).

A lot of folk, myself included, were always brought up to vote Labour. They were always the best option we had. I've been a member since 16, but even I doubt that now.

I wasn't old enough to vote in 97, but whenever I speak to people about it, I always hear that there was a real buzz in the air in the mid-90s. The thought of a Labour government getting in and the Tories finally being kicked out of the door. Blair and New Labour had won a lot of people over. Even those that had even declared never to vote Labour again. In the end though? I do feel we massively progressed as a nation, but at what cost has this come?

You could argue that this coalition is hitting people harder than Thatcher ever did. But even with that being said, there is no buzz about Labour any more. They have not come up with a single credible policy since 2010. Miliband asked at the TUC if he is for or against austerity - couldn't give a straight answer.

(06 Oct 2013, 9:30 am)Andreos1 wrote According to Chuka Umunna this morning, the value put onto the Royal Mail by the Tories is significantly lower than it should be - they have failed to reflect or take into account the value of the land included in the sale.

A cynic may suggest the decision was a deliberate one.
After all, how many people would love to get their hands on prime real estate for peanuts?

(06 Oct 2013, 10:40 am)aureolin wrote Well that's well and truly devalued that statement in your first four words. Chuka Umunna appears to be Labour's "next big thing", but he's about as much use as a chocolate fireguard.

Are they actually selling the land/estates? Surely this makes it difficult for it to be put out for tender again at the end of the PPP? The new land/estates owner would be under no obligation to sell as far as the law of the land goes. It'd make more sense for the land/estates to be leased to whoever wins the tender for the duration of that contract - a tactic that hasn't been uncommon in previous government PPPs.

It's not like we're selling Gold at a rock bottom price mind...

BBC Breaking News @BBCBreaking 24s

Royal Mail shares open at 456p, 36% above
offer price, at start of conditional trading on
London Stock Exchange bbc.in/1g4OTAu