Contributions
122 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDElection of SpeakerI thank the Father of the House for the way in which he conducted this election. Congratulations from the Liberal Democrat Benches on your new role, Mr Speaker-Elect. You have…04 Nov 2019HANSARDEngagementsMr Speaker, from the Liberal Democrats Benches may we wish you well and congratulate you on a decade particularly as a modernising Speaker? From topicality of debates to promoting…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Grenfell Tower InquiryI thank the Prime Minister for the tone in which he opened the debate, the former Prime Minister, the right hon. Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), for setting up the inquiry in the…30 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General Election BillThe question that we are grappling with in this House and, indeed, in the wider country is not just a narrow matter of our relationship with the European Union, although this…29 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General Election BillThe hon. Gentleman and I have both been campaigning for a people’s vote. I believe that the ideal way to resolve this issue is to put this specific Brexit deal to the public. He…29 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General Election BillThe hon. Lady and I agree on much. I do want 16-year-olds and 17-year-olds to be able to vote. The time for that change is coming, and I will always vote to support 16-year-olds…29 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General Election BillWhile the Liberal Democrats were in coalition, there was not a referendum on our membership of the European Union. In fact, we passed a law to say that that should only happen…29 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General Election BillWe then voted to pass an Act of Parliament to say that that should happen at the point of significant treaty change, which we have not seen. I thank the hon. Lady for her…29 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General Election BillI really have to scotch this suggestion. I am not going to change my basic belief, and, to be honest, I do not think there are many in this House who would do so. Had we voted to…29 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General Election BillI have not finished answering the hon. Gentleman’s colleague. If we had a people’s vote on the deal and there was a vote in favour, I would at least have confidence that there was…29 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General Election BillI have answered the hon. Gentleman’s point. I am going to make some progress and let other people contribute to this debate. We as a country face huge challenges. We have a mental…29 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General ElectionThe Liberal Democrats want to stop Brexit. I appreciate that there are different views on different sides of the House on that matter, but I hope that people appreciate that at…28 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General ElectionI will make some progress and then give way. We believe that the best way to do this is to put a specific Brexit deal to the public for a final say in a people’s vote. We have…28 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General ElectionI always welcome any converts to the cause of electoral reform.28 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General ElectionOr indeed long-standing supporters. We are looking for the best way to protect our constituents and our place in the European Union. But MPs should not kid themselves that, by…28 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General ElectionI am responding to the previous question. The reality of the situation is this. We have secured an extension to article 50 until 31 January. It was not automatic, not guaranteed…28 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General ElectionI have been very clear that I do not believe that the Leader of the Opposition or the Prime Minister are the right people to be in government and leading the country. I am crystal…28 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General ElectionThe right hon. Lady and I have worked together well on the people’s vote campaign, and I pay tribute to her for the courageous decision that she took earlier this year to leave…28 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General ElectionPerhaps the right hon. Lady would make an exception for this particular early-day motion. In the absence of that support being clearly demonstrated, we have to act; we cannot just…28 Oct 2019HANSARD Early Parliamentary General ElectionI will not give way. I want to make some progress. That is why, in the absence of those numbers for a people’s vote, the way forward now is to have an election, but to do so…28 Oct 2019