Wednesday, December 13, 2006
Goodwill to all persons!
It is the season of goodwill, though I suspect that it will not last much past the start of the budget debate. However, yesterday members were feeling so charitable that some even went above and beyond the call of duty and offered a hand of friendship where previously there had been none:
Carl Sargeant: It is the time for goodwill to all men, including regional Members—[Interruption.]—and women.
The Presiding Officer: Order. I believe the expression in the new translation of the New Testament is ‘goodwill to all people’.
Carl Sargeant: Including regional Members. [Laughter.]
The other member in a festive mood was Alun Cairns. He appears to have been catching up on his popular culture and has referred two or three times now to the programme "Deal or No Deal". A question was asked if this sudden interest might be as a result of the political leanings of the programme's presenter, however it turns out that Alun is using the phrase because he was asked to do so by a Welsh current affairs programme. Apparently, they have a use for the TV clip. What that use is we will have to see.
Carl Sargeant: It is the time for goodwill to all men, including regional Members—[Interruption.]—and women.
The Presiding Officer: Order. I believe the expression in the new translation of the New Testament is ‘goodwill to all people’.
Carl Sargeant: Including regional Members. [Laughter.]
The other member in a festive mood was Alun Cairns. He appears to have been catching up on his popular culture and has referred two or three times now to the programme "Deal or No Deal". A question was asked if this sudden interest might be as a result of the political leanings of the programme's presenter, however it turns out that Alun is using the phrase because he was asked to do so by a Welsh current affairs programme. Apparently, they have a use for the TV clip. What that use is we will have to see.
