Member

When you join this House from business, as I did, one of the things that surprises you about the processes of this great place is how short the period is that you are expected to speak for. In business, no one gives a three-minute speech. The idea that your first speech here should be, as I was guided, no more than five to six minutes and it would be better if you can make it four, is anathema to people outside Parliament. But I have been here far too long now as I think it is normal. I have learned that it is an important part of our process. You can distil the important parts of an argument into a speech of three to six minutes, and you can make important decisions in 17 days of debate. You absolutely can, and we do—it is an important part of our democratic process—but we have not done that.