Contributions
682 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDEngagementsI am not sure what question the Prime Minister thought I asked, but that certainly was not it. Let us be clear about this: this is now a matter of the Prime Minister’s own…25 Jan 2023HANSARDEngagementsLet me start by echoing the sentiments of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in relation to Holocaust Memorial Day—truly horrific crimes that we must never forget…25 Jan 2023HANSARDEngagementsTo promise is ae thing, to keep it is another. Well, the Scottish Government kept their manifesto promise to the people and, thanks to support from Members of all political…18 Jan 2023HANSARDEngagementsLet me be crystal clear—[Hon. Members: “Ooh!”] This is the Conservative party seeking to stoke a culture war against some of the most marginalised people in society, and…18 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerI rise to propose that the House should debate the matter of the unprecedented and unjustifiable decision of this United Kingdom Government to overturn the views and legislative…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerI beg to move, That this House has considered the Government’s decision to use section 35 of the Scotland Act with regard to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill. Here we…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerI will give way in a moment. In total, the Bill received support from nearly two thirds of Scotland’s democratically elected Parliament in Holyrood. It is an outrage that the…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Points of OrderFurther to that point of order, Mr Speaker. We have just questioned the Secretary of State for more than an hour and he repeatedly mentioned the statement of reasons, which we…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Points of OrderOn a point of order, Mr Speaker. I have many skills at my disposal, but the ability to speak while also looking at the Government’s statement of reasons is certainly not one of…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerI thank my hon. Friend for her worthwhile contribution, which I did not hear in its entirety because of the rabid gammon on the Conservative Benches. None the less, it was an…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerI entirely agree; perhaps the hon. Member for Moray would like to address that.17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerThe hon. Member, although he sits in this Chamber, already sits in Holyrood as well. He will be familiar with the fact that the overwhelming majority of parliamentarians elected…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerIf we are going to talk about losing, the hon. Gentleman lost the debate in Scotland. I repeat once again that it is not democratic to try to overturn that legislation here in…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerI will not. I want to make a little progress. It has been inferred by some Conservative Members that GRR is in some way in conflict with the Equality Act 2010. Indeed, I am sure…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerAbsolutely. My hon. Friend has made an incredibly important point about the Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) Bill. The UK Government are seeking to overturn and ignore Scotland’s…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerAbsolutely. I am confident that the people of Scotland will be watching and listening to Labour’s position. I am more than happy to let the hon. Member for Edinburgh South (Ian…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerAbsolutely. It appears that Mark Drakeford has more of a backbone than the vast majority of those in the parliamentary Labour party put together, and they could do well to learn…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerI have obviously not had the opportunity to look at it, but if that is the case it is a complete and utter embarrassment. It shows that, just as the Secretary of State was…17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerYou will be unsurprised to know, Mr Speaker, that I very much agree in that regard.17 Jan 2023HANSARD Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill: Section 35 PowerNo. Let me return to the points I was making about democracy, on the right to strike, EU legislation, Brexit, but also, importantly, on Scotland’s right to choose. As we found…17 Jan 2023