The great snake debate

Press, 27 October 1982, Page 22

The great snake debate

Parliamentary reporter Bo Derek was up to something snaky, but the Minister of Justice, alias the leader for the negative, did not agree. More than 150 Parliament buildings staff packed the theatre in which the Prime Minister usually holds his press conference to watch members of Parliament and Ministers’ secretaries debate “That Bo Derek is up to something snaky.” Bibles abounded, and so did the misquotes. A monstrous stuffed material snake slithered up the stage steps and settled on the knees of the affirmative, where it showed its fangs. Eve sensuously appeared, gave Mr McLay a come-hither, and threw back the apple he tossed to her.

For the negative, Mr McLay led his team Ms - Marilyn Waring (Nat.) Mr r Trevor de Cleene (Lab.) and r Mr Geoffrey Braybrooke t (Lab.) against a team of polished performers, clothed i in the finery of the period: ! Napoleon Bonaparte, Beau : Brummell, and Beau Geste. ; Their leader, a Bohemian i and one of the senior Parlia- ! mentary counsel, led the team to undeserved defeat. They traded their clear win in buffoonery, style, and brilliantly irrelevant script and delivery for the loser’s prize — champagne. The applause favoured the affirmative, but the Speaker of the House, Sir Richard Harrison, head of the panel of judges who comprised Miss Ruth Richardson (Nat.) and Dr Michael Cullen (Lab.), was forced to bow to the

wish of affirmative. The team for the negative sufferd from an approach to the debate that was reminiscent of the House. In true forjn, Ms Waring “reduced to size 10 through jogging” — departed from House protocols, acquitted herself passably as an actress, and argued, in true Waring style, that Bo Derek was not up to anything because the serpent’s activities in the Garden led ultimately to domestic role-sharing, when Adam and Eve sewed themselves aprons of figleaves. Mr McLay was too distracted, as was his audience, by the temptress, the snake and the appearance of the manager of Bellamys, Mr Frank Sumner, as Bo Peep, to follow his argument through.

Mr de Cleene waved his s stick and threw himself with i vigour into a stream of wit and nonsense that sounded as unprepared as most speeches he delivers to the House. The audience loved it and so did a sizable turnout of members of Parliament and Junior Cabinet Ministers. They will be back for the third in the series near Christmas — the topic to be decided. The debates began about six weeks ago with the topic, “That candy is dandy but liquor is quicker,” lost by the members. A particularly active social club at Parliament, led by the Bills Clerk, Mr R. Amor, is responsible for the debates.