ABSTRACT
It is recorded that 'His Majesty's Opposition' was a term first used before the first Reform Act. The Ministers of the Crown Act, 1937, made a significant constitutional innovation by giving statutory recognition to the Opposition's existence through providing for its Leader to receive a salary. In a debate on the second reading of a bill, the minister who sets out the arguments in favour of the bill, and the reasons for its presentation, is followed by an Opposition spokesman, whose speech is regarded as an authoritative exposition of the attitude of the Opposition as such. As an Opposition front-bench speech expresses party policy, and is commonly regarded as doing so, it is important that its contents should be prepared in consultation with a group qualified to represent the party's views. On 4 November 1970, the plp introduced new rules providing for separation of the positions of Leader and chairman in opposition.
