Contributions
169 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD China: UK policyDoes it strike my hon. Friend as a little strange that he was given that advice?07 May 2019HANSARD National Security Council LeakHaving been somewhat involved in the establishment of the National Security Council in its current form, and having sat on it for six years, I completely understand the Prime…02 May 2019HANSARDBritish Steel: EU Emissions Trading ComplianceI congratulate the Secretary of State. My experience in government was that the most important things that Secretaries of State do are those least noticed. They are the crises…01 May 2019HANSARDEnvironment and Climate ChangeI want to make three very brief points, which I hope will not repeat anything that has been said so far. The first relates to the tone and nature of the debate. It is enormously…01 May 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI therefore will not dilate on the subject, but let me just say that I did not say anything about a WTO exit. There could well be circumstances under which people were in favour…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for bringing us back to the business of the House motion, which has not had much of an airing yet. The paragraph to which he refers is one of a…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseAlas, I think that Brexit will leave behind it a trail of many difficulties for our nation, as we seek to heal the divisions and so on. But I suspect that one of the good things…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI will respond, and then I shall resume my seat, in deference to—03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI am sorry. I will take one more intervention, from the former leader of my party, my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green (Mr Duncan Smith), whom I could…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI promised myself at the very beginning of this process—going right back to the referendum campaign and beyond—never to deny the truth about these things, even when it was…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI am well aware that my hon. Friend did, and I welcomed her arrival in the Lobby. I am just pointing out that it was not me who designed an arrangement that meant it was necessary…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI am terribly sorry, but I will not give way, because I have promised to give way to my right hon. Friend the Member for Chingford and Woodford Green and then to sit down.03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseThe answer is yes it would, but I do not anticipate that that is at all likely. My sense, for what it is worth, is that although the House of Lords procedures are arcane and it is…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the Houserose —03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI certainly would never accuse my right hon. Friend of speaking for too long; it was others who advised me that I was speaking for too long. I just say to him and other Members…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI am grateful to my right hon. Friend for giving way. I rather agree that it would be desirable to have longer to discuss these things, although, as my right hon. and learned…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseEverything else that my right hon. Friend has said so far that I do not agree with was accurate, but I do not think that his final point was accurate. It is perfectly possible…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI would never take offence from my right hon. Friend the Member for Derbyshire Dales (Sir Patrick McLoughlin), who is a very old friend and colleague. We have been through many…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseMy hon. Friend is right to say that the Bill has a long genesis; it is the fifth of its kind, and it goes back to long before the Prime Minister’s statement. Of course, we had the…03 Apr 2019HANSARD Business of the HouseI know that my hon. Friend and neighbour, who is an admirable constituency MP, holds that very strong view. As he knows, I do not share it. Those 17.4 million people mandated us…03 Apr 2019