Contributions
783 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDScottish EconomyI join the Minister in passing on our condolences to the Secretary of State and his family on their bereavement. I also wish everyone a happy Burns day for tomorrow. I thank the…24 Jan 2024HANSARDScottish EconomyThe Minister seems to think that having your pocket picked for £10 and getting £2 back is something to be grateful for. The fact is that working people all across the country,…24 Jan 2024HANSARDDevolution in ScotlandIt is the 25th anniversary of the Scottish Parliament next year—one of the Labour party’s proudest achievements. However, recently it has been riven by failure and scandal, from…29 Nov 2023HANSARDDevolution in ScotlandLet me take this opportunity to congratulate my hon. Friend the Member for Rutherglen and Hamilton West (Michael Shanks) not only on his vast—and fast—promotion to the shadow…29 Nov 2023HANSARDScottish EconomyI join the Secretary of State in saying how gutted we are about the football result last night—but mark my words, we will be seeking revenge in Germany at the European…13 Sept 2023HANSARDScottish EconomyUkraine and covid did not crash the economy; this Government did. The truth is that, after 13 years, we have a low-wage, low-growth economy. Let me take the example of residents…13 Sept 2023HANSARDCost of LivingLet me join the Secretary of State in his earlier tributes to Winnie Ewing and Craig Brown, both of whom passed away last week, and both of whom will be sadly missed. I hold Craig…28 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of LivingThe Scotland Office is saying that Scottish mortgage holders should just “hold their nerve”. What the Minister did not include in his list of excuses was the fact that the Tories…28 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitI am pleased to be able to speak in this SNP Opposition day debate on the cost of living crisis. It is only a few weeks since the SNP called a similar debate, but for millions of…14 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitUnlike the SNP, the Labour Party is trying to be honest with the public on what is in front of us. SNP Members’ proposition to the public at the moment is to have their cake and…14 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitI am happy to give way, given that the hon. Member opened the debate.14 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitI do not agree with the hon. Member—he is justifying his abstention on the basis that other people abstained as well. I did not agree with them at the time, and I still do not. No…14 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitI love it when the SNP quote my own words in debates, because I am very proud of what I and my party did in trying to resolve the savages of Brexit. I am delighted with the way…14 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitI have not even got through the first page of my speech, so if hon. Members do not mind I will take no further interventions for now. The cost of living crisis is loading…14 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitIt always surprises me when SNP Members think that just slightly beating England is an achievement. The attainment gap in Scotland is an unmitigated shame for us all, and the way…14 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitI am not sure I understand that point, given that this is about a UK parliamentary cost of living crisis Committee. It would not be a Committee dedicated just to Scotland; it…14 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitIndeed, the Education Committee is not represented. Given that it deals with skills, access to employment and the biggest contributor to our economy, which is children’s…14 Jun 2023HANSARDCost of Living and BrexitWe should absolutely be eradicating food banks across the whole country. The very fact that people in this country cannot afford to eat is an indictment on both Governments. I…14 Jun 2023HANSARDOffshore Wind: EmploymentWith the energy crisis, the importance of developing Scotland’s renewable energy sector has never been higher. The UK Government have no energy strategy—indeed, it is a…17 May 2023HANSARDOffshore Wind: EmploymentThis UK Government want only to turn the UK into Saudi Arabia—never mind the Saudi Arabia of renewables. It is critical to develop green energy jobs, but we also have to protect…17 May 2023