Perhaps it is when parliamentary tensions are at their most acute that moments of good humour have particular value.
In answering questions in the House of Commons following a Business Statement on the 10th January, the Leader of the House, Andrea Leadsom, was asked, by Labour MP Chris Bryant, whether it might be wise to delay the UK’s EU departure date.
Mr Bryant said that, with the anticipated Second Reading of the EU Withdrawal Implementation Bill before Christmas (as the solicitor General had indicated) now unlikely to take place until at least the 28th January - if the Government proceeds with the Meaningful Vote next Tuesday as planned, would the Government seriously consider that they may have to delay the 29th March departure date.
Mr Bryant began:
“Mr Speaker I don’t think there’s anything wrong with a good flounce and sometimes it’s useful but I don’t think we should flounce out of the European Union”
This harks back to a minor parliamentary kerfuffle in December:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-46471678/did-commons-leader-andrea-leadsom-just-flounce
The Leader of the House responded to Mr. Bryant:
“Well first of all can I simply concede to the honourable gentleman that he’d be a better flouncer than me in all circumstances”.
She was interrupted by Mr. Bryant’s prompt call of “Division!” to settle the point by a vote of the Chamber.
A very welcome moment of convivial good humour rippled across the benches.
Transcript from col. 559: