Contributions
363 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDWithdrawal from the EU: Economic ImpactIt is not that difficult, is it? Last week, the Office for Budget Responsibility published its report and, at the bottom of page 46, it says quite clearly that the OBR predicts…21 Mar 2023HANSARDRelations with China: Xi Jinping PresidencyI thank the hon. Member for Strangford (Jim Shannon) for securing this debate. We do not take enough time to consider relations with China in the round. When we talk about it, it…16 Mar 2023HANSARDRelations with China: Xi Jinping PresidencyBut to be clear, there is no reason why we should not oblige importers to prove that the products that they import were not made with slave or forced labour. That seems a very…16 Mar 2023HANSARDIllegal Migration BillGary Lineker and others are right to caution about the use of language in this debate, but I think it is important that we also understand why people use the words they do. When…13 Mar 2023HANSARDIllegal Migration BillThis is a most foul and shameful policy, which depends on dehumanising and criminalising some of the most vulnerable people on this earth, and it is most certainly going to be in…07 Mar 2023HANSARD Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) BillIndeed, I do. Across the public sector we see people who, in recent years, saved us from the trials of the pandemic. These are people who should be venerated, not demonised. They…16 Jan 2023HANSARD Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) BillI ask myself what problem so afflicts the British state that its Government see fit to bring forward a major piece of primary legislation. Is it really the case that militant…16 Jan 2023HANSARD Strikes (Minimum Service Levels) BillCan the Secretary of State tell the House how many people died in the care of the national health service during the recent periods of industrial unrest who would not have died…16 Jan 2023HANSARDScotland’s FutureThe difference, of course, between the EU and the United Kingdom is that Scotland can leave one but not the other. I can imagine how the right hon. Gentleman might have felt if he…14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureIndeed so. It has been said that during those 15 hours between 7 am and 10 pm on 18 September 2014, the claim of right was being exercised, because the sovereignty of the people…14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureIf the hon. Gentleman will bear with me, I am about to come to my next point. I have a number of things to say; it might be better for him to listen to them and then reflect on…14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureThat is a good point, and I will address it in just a moment. On the claim of right, it is remarkable how uncontroversial its assertion has been over the years, from 1989 onwards.…14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureI appreciate the political skill of improvisation, but sometimes it is just not enough to make it up as you go along. What has just been said is completely at variance with what…14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureNo, I will not give way. I have already given way once. Let me try to make the point. Let us consider, because we have not done so yet, the results of the 2021 general election in…14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureIt is quite clear that the First Minister and all of us gave a commitment during that campaign, and indeed after it, that the priority of that election would be dealing with the…14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureAs I almost always do, Madam Deputy Speaker. Let us move on. The results were quite clear: the SNP won that election in any normal terms. In fact, it was the best election result…14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s Futurerose—14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureI will take an intervention on that point.14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureI beg to move, That this House believes it should be for the Scottish people to determine the future constitutional status of Scotland; and accordingly makes provision as set out…14 Dec 2022HANSARDScotland’s FutureI wonder whether the hon. Gentleman heard the points I made about the health service, energy and migration, and whether he has any reflections about them.14 Dec 2022