Chamber
Plenary, 16 May 2002
16 May 2002 · S1 · Plenary
Item of business
Golden Jubilee
I rise briefly to support the motion in the name of the First Minister and to oppose Mr Sheridan's amendment.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has been a fine role model for the past 50 years. As the motion says, she is held in respect by the Scottish people. That may stick in the throat of the minority in Scotland who are republicans, but it is a fact. All the critics and carpers said that there would be no interest in the recent funeral of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, but the massive public reaction and the queues of people outside Westminster Hall waiting to view the Queen Mother's coffin while it lay in state far exceeded expectations. It is clear that there is a great reservoir of admiration for the monarchy.
The critics might have had a point had the monarchy made no attempt to modernise. However, the monarchy has modernised over the past decade—it is responsive, it has slimmed down and it even pays income tax. The Queen is not paying inheritance tax because that was the agreement that she reached with the Government of the day. It would be quite wrong to call for that agreement to be broken. The monarchy might reflect on the position for some future event, but it would be quite wrong to call for a retrospective imposition of inheritance tax at this stage.
Quite simply, the monarchy is popular. Her Majesty the Queen in particular commands respect throughout Scotland. Mr Sheridan's rather spiteful amendment typifies the politics of envy that are the hallmark of his party. Queen Elizabeth shall be remembered and admired in Scotland long after Mr Sheridan is forgotten. I ask members to reject his amendment.
Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has been a fine role model for the past 50 years. As the motion says, she is held in respect by the Scottish people. That may stick in the throat of the minority in Scotland who are republicans, but it is a fact. All the critics and carpers said that there would be no interest in the recent funeral of Her Majesty the Queen Mother, but the massive public reaction and the queues of people outside Westminster Hall waiting to view the Queen Mother's coffin while it lay in state far exceeded expectations. It is clear that there is a great reservoir of admiration for the monarchy.
The critics might have had a point had the monarchy made no attempt to modernise. However, the monarchy has modernised over the past decade—it is responsive, it has slimmed down and it even pays income tax. The Queen is not paying inheritance tax because that was the agreement that she reached with the Government of the day. It would be quite wrong to call for that agreement to be broken. The monarchy might reflect on the position for some future event, but it would be quite wrong to call for a retrospective imposition of inheritance tax at this stage.
Quite simply, the monarchy is popular. Her Majesty the Queen in particular commands respect throughout Scotland. Mr Sheridan's rather spiteful amendment typifies the politics of envy that are the hallmark of his party. Queen Elizabeth shall be remembered and admired in Scotland long after Mr Sheridan is forgotten. I ask members to reject his amendment.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Sir David Steel):
NPA
We come now to a debate on motion S1M-3103, in the name of the First Minister, on the golden jubilee, and one amendment to the motion.
The First Minister (Mr Jack McConnell):
Lab
It is my privilege to move the motion of congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen on the occasion of her golden jubilee and, in doing so, to pay tribute to h...
Tommy Sheridan (Glasgow) (SSP):
SSP
It may be hard to believe, but the Queen and I have certain things in common. Some members may recall that a number of years ago I was condemned as a tax dod...
Mr John Swinney (North Tayside) (SNP):
SNP
Today, Parliament places on record its respect for Her Majesty the Queen's 50 years of public service through a motion of congratulations to mark her golden ...
David McLetchie (Lothians) (Con):
Con
I would very much like to associate the Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party with the First Minister's motion of congratulations to Her Majesty the Queen...
The Deputy First Minister and Minister for Justice (Mr Jim Wallace):
LD
On behalf of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, I add my support to the motion and offer our congratulations to Her Majesty on the occasion of her golden jubile...
Cathie Craigie (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (Lab):
Lab
I associate myself with the motion in the name of the First Minister and add my congratulations to the Queen on the occasion of her golden jubilee. Like the ...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
I congratulate the member on her ingenuity in keeping in order.
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con):
Con
I rise briefly to support the motion in the name of the First Minister and to oppose Mr Sheridan's amendment. Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth has been a fine rol...
Mr Mike Rumbles (West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine) (LD):
LD
I rise to oppose Tommy Sheridan's amendment. I am afraid that his amendment is typical of him: he put what he said quite well, but completely irrationally an...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order.
Mr Rumbles:
LD
What ignorance—what a travesty. Now Tommy Sheridan says that Her Majesty—
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
That is better.
Mr Rumbles:
LD
He says that Her Majesty is responsible for undermining society as a whole. The only person who is trying to undermine society is Tommy Sheridan—what ignoran...
Gordon Jackson (Glasgow Govan) (Lab):
Lab
I am neither by inclination nor in principle the most ardent monarchist in the world, but I thought that there was something quite inappropriate in Tommy She...
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
That concludes the debate. The motion and the amendment will be put at 5 o'clock.
Tommy Sheridan:
SSP
On a point of order, Presiding Officer. You started the debate three minutes late and there are members who still wish to speak in support of the amendment.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Order.
Tommy Sheridan:
SSP
You have stopped the debate right on 4 o'clock. You are in danger of making the debate unbalanced.
The Presiding Officer:
NPA
Even I must obey what the Parliament has decided. The Parliament decided that the next debate would start at 4 o'clock. It is now 4 o'clock and I am simply c...