you mentioned the privy council, which now is largely ceremonial. was there a strong debate about this whole matter? mr. bunker: absolutely. there was a series of debates in the spring and early summer of 1774. then in january and february of 7075 -- 1775. immediately before lexington. they were the most revealing. for the government, there was support. 25% of the members of the house voted against the proposition that the colonies were in rebellion. lord north was asking for a declaration that massachusetts was in rebellion. that, the generals could have carte blanche. there was a substantial amount of division. whigs were the sensible opposition party. independent members of parliament who are worried about the cost of war. one of the great worries was that if you are an independent country gentlemen, a war would be very expensive. to object to the war before it even started was striking. >> and the privy council? mr. bunker: you are right. it was ceremonial them. the important thing was the cabinet. there's some dispute among english historians a

a number of mps on the privy council office some senior ranking former ministers, some long serving mps in the commons are being invited in invited along —— are being invited along to see some of the no deal planning that's going on. they will be briefed by civil serva nts on. they will be briefed by civil servants for about half an hour on what that looks like. some are saying that, brexiteers in particular, as an attempt to scare grandees into supporting the prime minister's plan —— seeing. some i've spoken to tonight are less than impressed. they're spoken to tonight are less than impressed. they‘ re getting spoken to tonight are less than impressed. they're getting those invites at 7:30pm for meetings tomorrow, some saying they can't attend at the last minute. it's part ofan attend at the last minute. it's part of an offensive, a charm offensive to might want to call it, or an arm—twisting offensive, some might say, from the government to get last—minute support onto the prime minister's side. we know chief whip julian smith has been doing the rounds tonight. he met with the conserv

that the opposition agreed to receive a confidential briefing on privy council terms, look at the documentshose parts which inevitably‘s few might damage the national interest, damage the negotiating position of any government of any party, and in effect agreed to redact the documents, the politically embarrassing bits which is what the opposition are after and all the rest of it, they can come out with both of these contentions that the house must be obeyed and that the attorney's legal advice should be confidential, ought to be protected and that is a possible way of reconciling the two sides.” and that is a possible way of reconciling the two sides. i am grateful for the advice of the father of the house but he will appreciate that the right honourable death in opposite want all legal advice to be put into the public domain, without any attempt at protecting the national interest whatsoever. and what you will appreciate, i will not give way for appreciate, i will not give way for a while, consequences of not following the principles of transparency on the one hand and safeguarding public

the gentleman was rather generously elevated to the privy council. minister, you will number urged you, number or stew, indeed begged you, to reach out across this country and find a compromise as a consensus before you lay down your red lines and before you began your negotiations. after three days of debating and giving statements at the commission this lunchtime, it's clear nothing has changed and .othing will change but the thing that is changing is the view of the british people. yes, it has. once]alking at >> that is why -- : order, order. the right honorable lady is giving eloquence and full expression to her views and the right honorable lady must be hurt and she will be. member of have any this house shouted down. that is not acceptable, and it will not happen. amen. , mr. speaker, the right honorable member for sunderland and the right honorable leader from red card, the highest voting leave areas are a second referendum question what people are entitled to change their minds and young people are entitled to have a say about their future be

rid of the it was part of the traditional power that from american perspectives, the crown, the privy council and the royal governors had abused. very quickly in 1977 when new writes its constitution, massachusetts 1780 and the federal convention, the not aance of the veto was very controversial matter. the convention, the federal in 77 was very uncertain about how to presidency,he decided the executive power would be best in a single person and that that single person would exercise the veto. they made that decision at the very beginning of the debate. was not a -- it controversial decision. i think the best explanation for myt i think goes back to madison point earlier. the veto was seen originally as of protective mechanism that would enable the executive but also itself, performance of its duties from excessive legislative encroachment. i think the second point, the question, refresh my memory. >> as a citizen in 2018 -- >> right. think -- to answer -- and this.t trying to punt on i think to answer your question let's say as an historian, i would want to have two sets of facts. how thewan

this compromise, a sensible compromise as he put it, whereby mps could read the legal advice on privy council turns, essentially privately. whether they go down that route, i don't know. it seems like andrea leadsom have said they will publish but she has put in the caveat of referring to the committee. we'll speak to the government to find out what they mean. the potential in occasions are enormous, aren't they, because clearly there was a lot of sensitivity around the legal advice and ministers, citing all sorts of reasons including national security, we re reasons including national security, were obviously worried about the consequences. let's go back to the house. delivers on the brexit priorities the country voted for and the debate and vote ahead of us are the debate and vote ahead of us are the next crucial steps we must take to make sure we deliver on the whole of the referendum, and in the best interests of the uk. the prime minister's proposal delivers on all of those things that those who voted to leave the european union were looking for, mr speaker, meaning we are taking back co

political exchange at the moment, that the opposition agrees to receive a confidential briefing on privy council terms, look at the documents and have the attorney point out those parts which in everybody's view might damage the national interest, damage the negotiating position of any government of any party, and in effect agree to redact the documents, the politically embarrassing bits which is what the opposition and all the rest of it, they can come out -- the house must be obeyed and that the attorneys legal advice can and should be confidential ought to be protected and that's a possible way of reconciling. >> i'm grateful to the advice of the father of the house, but he will appreciate the right honorable gentleman opposite once all legal advice to be put into the public domain without any attempt to protecting the national interest whatsoever. and when he will appreciate, i won't give away for a while. the consequences of not following the principles of transparency on the one hand, and safeguarding public interest on the other are very obvious. the house could request by way of a humble

hasjust rather generously and i fear rather rooney is the elevated the honourable gentleman to the privy counciler three days of debating, and given the statement of the commission, this lunchtime, it is clear that nothing has been changed, and nothing will change. but the thing that is changing is the view of the british people. i know it's nearly the pantomime season, but oh yes it has! and that is why... and thatis yes it has! and that is why... and that is why honourable... order! order! the right honourable lady is giving eloquent and furl special to her views, which is not entirely unknown, but the honourable lady must be heard, and she will be hard, and i'm not having any member of this has shouted down. that is not acceptable, and it will not happen. —— she will be heard. acceptable, and it will not happen. -- she will be heard. that is why, mr speaker, the honourable member first sunderland, and the honourable memberfor the metoo first sunderland, and the honourable member for the metoo hires leave areas, are now supporting a people's vote, because their constituents are entitled to cha