Paul Goodman MP: Only two Labour backbenchers bothered to turn up to defend their Government's programme today

By Paul Goodman MP

Today was the second day's debate on the Queen's Speech. Proceedings began at about 11.30 after Business Questions and could have run until 18.00.

There were Conservative backbench speeches from Peter Bottomley, Nigel Evans, David Evenett, Graham Stuart, Robert Syms, Lee Scott and myself.

There were Labour backbench speeches from... Barry Sheerman - who as Chairman of the Education Select Committee is a special case. Otherwise there were none, other than Dennis Skinner, who got to his feet at 15.35, and hadn't been in the Chamber before at least 14.30.

The debate concluded just after 17.30 - almost half an hour early.

• Number of Labour backbenchers present after opening speeches: one (Sheerman)
• Number of Labour backbenchers present for much of the debate: nil.
• Number of Labour Cabinet members present after opening speeches: nil. (Andy Burham, who was replying to the debate, didn't get to his place until after 15.30.  His opposite number, Andrew Lansley was in place more or less throughout.)
• Number of Labour Cabinet members present for closing speeches: one (Burnham, who had to be present to reply.  Michael Gove, who opened for us, returned in time for both Burnham's and Lansley's closing speeches.  Ed Balls, who opened for the Government, returned ten minutes late.)

Question: if only two Labour backbenchers can be bothered to turn up to defend their own Government's programme, what does that say about their faith in it - and the current state of the Commons?

And if they don't believe in it, why should anyone else?

> Jonathan Isaby noted the lack of Labour MPs present for yesterday's opening of the Queen's Speech debate.

> Michael Gove's speech this afternoon was covered in this earlier Parliament post.