Andrew Bridgen.

Question 1, Mr. Speaker.

The Prime Minister.

Mr. Speaker, I'm sure the whole House would like to join me in wishing people in the UK and across the world a happy St David's Day.

I'm sure the whole House will also want to join me in paying tribute to our former

colleague Sir Gerald Kaufman who died over the weekend. He was an outstanding parliamentarian.

He was a committed MP who dedicated his life to the service of his constituents and as

father of the House his wisdom and experience will be very much missed

right across this House. And I'm sure our thoughts are with his friends and family. Mr. Speaker,

this morning I had meetings with ministerial colleagues and others. In addition to my duties

in this House, I shall have further such meetings later today.

Andrew Bridgen. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'd like to associate myself with the Prime Minister's remarks and assure the many relatives and friends of our former colleague that they are very much in our thoughts and in our prayers at this difficult time.

Mr Speaker, following last week's historic by-election victory in Copeland.

Does my right Honourable Friend believe this is an endorsement of her government's plans

to maintain a strong economy, to bring our society together and ensure that we make a huge success of leaving the European Union.

I thank my honourable friend and first of all I would like to congratulate my

honourable friend the new member for Copeland and I look forward to welcoming her to

this house very shortly but my honourable friend is absolutely right that last week's

historic result in Copeland was an endorsement of our plans to keep the economy strong.

And our plans to ensure that places like Coteman do share in the economic success after years of labour neglect.

It was also an endorsement of our plans to unite communities where Labour seek to sow division.

And I think it was an endorsement of offering strong, competent leadership in the face of Labour's

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