Shadowing Practice: Edward Heath MP, May 9, 2001. Personal Statement. Last House of Commons Speech - Learn English Speaking with YouTube
C2
Order, personal statement, Sir Edward Heath.
129 sentences
If sentences are too short or too long, click Edit to adjust them.
1
Order, personal statement, Sir Edward Heath.
2
Amen.
3
Mr Speaker, I was absolutely delighted,
4
as I'm sure was the right honourable gentleman,
5
the member for Chesterfield opposite,
6
by the glowing tributes which the Prime Minister Mr. Speaker,
7
the Prime Minister paid to us at the beginning of his remarks,
8
inspired, no doubt, by the first part of the speech of my right hon. friend,
9
the Leader of the Opposition.
10
The second half was not quite in the same vein.
11
And I should like to thank you,
12
Mr. Speaker, very much for allowing me to make this personal statement as my final contribution to these proceedings in this Parliament.
13
A final contribution which explains why I am using a script for the first time since I ceased to be Prime Minister.
14
As a retiring member,
15
I am grateful to the electors of Bexley for returning me as their representative in 14 successive general elections.
16
It has been an honour and a privilege,
17
as well as a pleasure to serve them.
18
I shall like to take this opportunity also to pay tribute to the staff of this House.
19
These are often forgotten people,
20
clerks, security staff, librarians, catering staff and others.
21
They ensure that this place runs so efficiently.
22
As father of the House,
23
I feel a certain responsibility to ensure that we do appreciate what they do and to pay tribute to them.
24
You, Mr Speaker, are also serving our thanks in allowing myself
25
and the Right Honourable Member for Chesterfield the freedom of the House
26
which you so kindly offered us in some of the facilities of this establishment.
27
It's over 51 years now since I became a member here,
28
and I remember full well the impact it made upon me in those early days.
29
In fact, I'd only been a member for a few months
30
when I was invited to become a whip and a member of the Conservative Opposition.
31
As a result of that,
32
I spent my first 25 years here on the front bench,
33
either in government or in opposition.
34
And following that, I spent the next 25 years on the front bench.
35
Below the gangway.
36
And during that time I learned a great deal,
37
particularly perhaps when I was first a whip,
38
or in fact the reason why I became a whip.
39
In those days the whips had a place at the door and if they wanted to they kept members in.
40
All that's passed.
41
But our whip was said to one of our members,
42
Have you got a pair?
43
No, he said, and went on.
44
Well, then you can't go out.
45
Get a pair.
46
No, I haven't got a pair.
47
Whereupon our enthusiastic whip jumped up,
48
gave him a hefty kick in the usual places,
49
and the man went flat on the floor.
50
He had to be picked up,
51
and when taken on his feet,
52
he went to the chief whip and complained.
53
As a result, the whip himself was changed.
54
and I was sent for and invited to take his place.
55
The result was a notice which appeared in the next day's Times which said,
56
Colonel Walter Bromley Davenport, Member of Parliament for Knutsford.
57
Majority 16,913.
58
He has resigned in order to give greater attention to his constituents.
59
His place is now being taken by Mr Edward Heath,
60
Member of Parliament for Bexley, majority 133.
61
That is how I began my climb to fame.
62
And I was taken the next day to see Churchill,
63
and he patted me on the shoulder and said,
64
Yes, of course you can be a whip.
65
And I quote his words,
66
It will mean much hard work,
67
and it will be unremunerated.
68
But so long as I am your leader,
69
it will never remain unthanked.
70
That was a guiding principle all the time.
71
And so after that, I had all the work involving so many different activities and so many different parts of the world.
72
It also entailed the relationship between Parliament and the executive, the government itself.
73
When I look back over my 51 years here,
74
I cannot help but be saddened by the increasing impotence of this House
75
and the decline in the esteem in which this place is held.
76
Speaking quite frankly,
77
the powers of Parliament to hold the executive to account have
78
been declining for over a century under governments of all political persuasions.
79
I can only hope that the next Parliament,
80
following us, will reassert its authority as well and robustly hold the executive to account.
81
I would like to say a word about standards in public life.
82
It is also the behaviour of us members that has undermined public confidence in parliamentary democracy.
83
As I noted during a previous debate,
84
when I entered the House in 1950,
85
every Member of Parliament was seen as a person of integrity.
86
Unfortunately, some reckless campaigning and an increasingly cynical media,
87
excessively focusing on a few examples,
88
one of the unparliamentary behaviour,
89
have led to serious and worrying decline in the public perception of Members of Parliament.
90
I also hope that the new intake
91
and existing members will take note of the need to set an example in these spheres.
92
I also hope that when the conduct of one or two members falls below the required standards,
93
the media will not try and tar all members in the House with the same brush.
94
Perhaps I may say a word.
95
Finally, about Europe.
96
Did I hear a rumbling on that?
97
As it's already been extensively dealt with tonight by my leader,
98
I have no doubt about continuing.
99
It is most appropriate I make the final points of my statement and my final remarks in this House on Europe.
100
I've been a committed European since my Oxford days.
101
My pro-European outlook was reinforced by my wartime experiences.
102
In 1945, as both the victors and the vanquished surveyed the devastation wrought upon the continent,
103
it became obvious that Europe could not afford another war.
104
Unfortunately, the case for British membership of the European community was not recognised by British governments in the 1950s.
105
And so this country lost the opportunity to be a founder member of the community.
106
However, its architects, Sean Monnet and Robert Schumann,
107
correctly recognised that the European community would not be complete without the United Kingdom.
108
My proudest achievement was to have successfully negotiated entry of the United Kingdom into the European community.
109
In January 1972, she fulfilled her destiny.
110
The United Kingdom has always been a European country.
111
We have a shared history and culture.
112
In the modern world, it is only right
113
that we should share our sovereignty with our European neighbours for the greater benefit of all.
114
Yes.
115
In due course, for the second time in a quarter of a century,
116
the British people are going to be asked to vote on whether
117
or not the country can remain a committed player in Europe.
118
I look forward to campaigning vigorously for a yes vote.
119
I have absolutely no doubt whatever that the united Europe is here to stay.
120
I believe it is in British interest
121
and I believe we should do everything we can to help it and to help its people.
122
We shall then be helping ourselves as a people and as a country.
123
And we shall be supporting our own continent and
124
that will also be for the good not only of Europe as a whole but also for the world.
125
And so for those who are going to follow us here tonight,
126
I wish them all well.
127
Business statement
128
in the middle of the house.
129
The business for tomorrow
Download App
AI scoring for every sentence you speak
TRENDING
Popular
About This Lesson
This lesson focuses on enhancing your English speaking skills through effective shadowing techniques. By watching and listening to the personal statement delivered by Sir Edward Heath in the House of Commons, learners will practice key aspects of speech delivery, such as intonation, rhythm, and pronunciation. This gives you a chance to engage with real-life political dialogue, which will enrich your vocabulary and improve your understanding of formal English speech. Utilize this session to refine your skills in a manner akin to IELTS speaking practice, where clear articulation and the ability to convey thoughts are critical.
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Personal statement - A speech or declaration given by an individual to express personal views.
- Tribute - A formal expression of admiration or gratitude.
- Electors - Individuals entitled to vote in an election.
- Privilege - A special right or advantage available to a particular person or group.
- Honor - A sense of respect or recognition for achievements.
- Clerks, security staff, librarians - Different roles supporting the functioning of an institution.
- Front bench - The seating area reserved for senior members of a political party.
- Whip - A party official responsible for ensuring party discipline and member attendance.
Practice Tips
To effectively utilize this lesson in your learning process, consider using the following shadowing techniques:
- Slow Down: Initially, watch the video at a slower speed to fully grasp the pronunciation and intonation of the speaker. This approach will aid in improving your English pronunciation.
- Repetition: Listen to specific phrases repeated several times. The repetition allows your mouth and brain to synchronize, making it easier to reproduce the speech patterns you hear.
- Record Yourself: Use a shadowing app or your mobile device to record your voice as you mimic the speech. Comparing your recording with the original can highlight areas for improvement.
- Focus on Emotion: Notice the emotional undertone behind the phrases used. Try to convey the same feelings in your shadowing to enhance your expressiveness in speaking.
- Daily Practice: Integrate this shadowing exercise into your daily routine for consistent practice. Short, focused sessions can be more effective than longer, infrequent practice.
Incorporate these strategies into your study sessions to maximize your learning experience and achieve fluency. Engaging with real-world examples, like Sir Edward Heath's closing speech, will prepare you for similar contexts in formal speaking scenarios, such as the IELTS speaking practice.
What is the Shadowing Technique?
Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.
☕ Buy us a coffee
ShadowingEnglish remains 100% free thanks to your support. Server and AI costs are high — your coffee keeps us going! 🙏