Contributions
1,152 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Compare that to the “Oh no, here we go again” response to the sequence of snap elections and uncalled for and unprepared for ballots that have…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)There is a bit of a challenge. People do get put off by long queues. Under social distancing in Scotland, the queues were even longer and it was taking even longer to vote. I…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)The hon. Lady is absolutely right, and it is interesting that we have not heard more about the detail of those pilots from the Government. They were their own pilots—it was the…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)There we go: that is the benefit of having these evidence sessions, and we should thank, congratulate and treat with respect all the witnesses we heard. I echo the points of order…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)Yes. I hope as the Committee progresses we will be able to look at precisely that issue. That brings me quite neatly on to what I hope will be my final point of concern: what is…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)The hon. Lady makes the point that it is not uncommon for any of us to verify a passport application for our constituents. All that we are verifying in that situation is a…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)Will the hon. Lady give way?22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)This is an incredibly valuable amendment, and the hon. Lady can be sure of the SNP’s support if she presses it to a vote. We have seen in recent months the Government handing out…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)It is either that or the Committee gets a separate speech. We fully agree with the amendment and the hon. Lady’s point. Does this not go to the heart of what the Bill is allegedly…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)I was particularly amused by the notion that affirmative instruments are subject to detailed scrutiny. Anyone with experience of the SI process in this House could see that…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)On a point of order, Sir Edward. I am happy to go back and look at the Hansard record, but I have no recollection of serving on a Delegated Legislation Committee with the…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)The other point, of course, is that if someone was going to all that hassle to cast a vote in the name of the hon. Member for Lancaster and Fleetwood, why would they not just…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)Will the Minister give way?22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)That does not answer the point that I made on Second Reading and earlier today about what happens if a voter turns up too late in the process, say about quarter to 10 at night, at…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Sixth sitting)The hon. Lady is absolutely right about the enthusiasm with which 16 and 17-year-olds in Scotland have participated in ballots and plebiscites since they have had the opportunity…22 Sept 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Fifth sitting)The right hon. Gentleman was asking whether anyone could think of another crime in this country that people are just allowed to get away with. According to the House of Commons…22 Sept 2021HANSARD Elections Bill (Instruction)I think there has been some grumbling on the Conservative Back Benches that the House has been detained by this motion and there have been all kinds of Divisions this evening.…20 Sept 2021HANSARD Elections Bill (Instruction)My hon. Friend says that the Conservatives are prepared to game the system; they are gaming the system not only by changing the electoral system but by using this instruction to…20 Sept 2021HANSARD Elections Bill (Instruction)Does the hon. Lady agree that we should find a way, through the usual channels, to make sure that the Bill Committee can take some supplementary evidence and we can schedule in…20 Sept 2021HANSARD Elections Bill (Instruction)I congratulate the Minister on his achievement in arriving at the Dispatch Box to move this instruction motion. Will those of us who are on the Committee enjoy the pleasure of his…20 Sept 2021