Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 27 March 2019
27 Mar 2019 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Revoking Article 50
I was distressed when we voted to leave the European Union. I was concerned about the economic impact. I was concerned about the potential threat to travel and about the threat to the Erasmus scheme and the many European students who come to this country.
I was distressed about all those things, but I was most distressed about the message that the vote sent to the rest of the world about the kind of country that we are. I liked to think that we were an outward-looking, optimistic, generous nation that was prepared to work with our neighbours. Whatever other message the Brexit vote sent, it certainly sent the message that Britain wanted to be on its own, doing things differently from our neighbours, which I thought was regrettable. I am not saying that everyone was of that opinion. However, that is the powerful message that was sent to the rest of the world.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (Christine Grahame)
SNP
The next item of business is a debate on motion S5M-16554, in the name of Patrick Harvie, on revoking article 50. I ask those members who wish to take part i...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
Before and since 2016, the Greens have made the case for Scotland’s place in the European Union. It is an imperfect institution, but it has been one of the m...
The Cabinet Secretary for Culture, Tourism and External Affairs (Fiona Hyslop)
SNP
I welcome the debate, which gives this Parliament the opportunity to come together to exercise the kind of clear and constructive leadership that is so manif...
Adam Tomkins (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
Imagine if Scotland had voted yes to independence in 2014, and imagine if, weeks away from independence day, there had remained grave doubt about Scotland’s ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Mr Tomkins, that should have been an intervention, not a speech.
Fiona Hyslop
SNP
The point is the lack of imagination from the UK Conservatives in not being able to come up with anything that will take the country forward in any shape or ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
Before I call Adam Tomkins, I should say that we have a little time in hand that I will give back to members who take interventions until I have no time left...
Adam Tomkins (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
On these benches, we believe that referendum results must be respected and delivered, not ignored and overlooked. When a Parliament legislates to hand a ques...
John Mason (Glasgow Shettleston) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Adam Tomkins
Con
In a few moments. That was the decision not of half a million people on a march in London or even of 5 million people who have signed a petition but of 17.4...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Given that so many Brexiteers—indeed, even half the back bench of the Tory party—do not think that Theresa May’s withdrawal agreement is what they voted for,...
Adam Tomkins
Con
I say to the member that 17.4 million people voted for Brexit, and the withdrawal agreement will deliver precisely that; it will deliver Brexit. The princip...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
Will the member give way?
Adam Tomkins
Con
No. That is not what the Green Party has chosen to do this afternoon. In my judgment, Opposition days in the Parliament are best used as opportunities to ho...
Andy Wightman (Lothian) (Green)
Green
Will the member take an intervention?
Adam Tomkins
Con
No. In my judgment, to leave without a deal would risk doing similar damage not to our politics but to our economy. For that reason, I have never supported ...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
I see that we are in groundhog year, and this time the lead role is played by Mr Tomkins. The UK is sitting on the edge of the abyss. Lorry parks are being s...
Adam Tomkins
Con
Vote for the deal, then.
Neil Findlay
Lab
He says, “Vote for the deal,” but his own side will not vote for it. We have a Prime Minister in name only, and one who is alone and whose credibility is in...
Patrick Harvie
Green
Just to be clear, is Mr Findlay making that argument in addition to the argument for a referendum on any withdrawal option, and not as an alternative to it?
Neil Findlay
Lab
Yes. That is what I said to Mr Harvie when I spoke to him earlier today. As for Mr Harvie’s second point, it will not be news to him that Labour proposed a ...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Neil Findlay
Lab
No, thank you.
The Deputy Presiding Officer
SNP
The member is in his final minute.
Neil Findlay
Lab
We would take the revoke line against the imminent disaster of no deal. However, I caution against any decision being one made by Parliament alone. The refe...
Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD)
LD
I was distressed when we voted to leave the European Union. I was concerned about the economic impact. I was concerned about the potential threat to travel a...
Jamie Greene (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
Does the member accept that the Scots who voted to leave the EU did so not because they wanted to send an isolationist message but for many other reasons—and...
Willie Rennie
LD
I recognise the multitude of reasons why people voted for Brexit. After this process, we cannot just go back to how we were. We must recognise that some peop...
Adam Tomkins
Con
Will the member take an intervention?
Willie Rennie
LD
No, I am in my final minute. This is just the beginning. If we agree to the withdrawal agreement—slim as the chance of that happening is—the debate will hav...