Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 08 October 2014
08 Oct 2014 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Scotland’s Future
It is interesting to have this Labour-led debate and to hear Labour members’ perspective on the outcome of the referendum and where Scotland goes from here. We have heard four unionist speakers today and they have made not one mention of one more power for this place. They have talked only about the powers that this “parish council”—to use Tony Blair’s description—already has.
There is absolutely no doubt that the better together parties went into a blind panic when they were confronted by the polling evidence that put yes in front of no. Until then, the better together campaign was quite confident that it would win comfortably.
In the same item of business
The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott)
Con
The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-11116, in the name of Johann Lamont, on Scotland’s future. I invite members who wish to speak in the deba...
Johann Lamont (Glasgow Pollok) (Lab)
Lab
I hope that we can have a productive debate. The previous debate became very aggressive and unpleasant. We need to find a way of moving on to ensure that we ...
Annabelle Ewing (Mid Scotland and Fife) (SNP)
SNP
Will Johann Lamont clarify what she thinks that Gordon Brown meant when he talked about powers as near to federalism as possible in the context of the United...
Johann Lamont
Lab
First, clearly he did not support independence and secondly, he believed in a strong Scotland inside the United Kingdom, sustaining the pooling and sharing o...
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I agree with the sentiment that Johann Lamont expresses about people’s engagement and our need to respect that and take it seriously. Does she agree with the...
Johann Lamont
Lab
Certainly, the work that we did on the devolution commission meant that, for more than two years, we were engaged with civic Scotland, the trade unions and t...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
You must close now, please.
Johann Lamont
Lab
Let us let go of our own political projects, so that we can have real debate where we differ and real creativity where we instinctively agree. Let us resist ...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Alex Neil to speak to amendment S4M-11116.1, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon. You have up to seven minutes. 16:30
The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Wellbeing (Alex Neil)
SNP
Much has rightly been made of the remarkable shift that took place during the referendum campaign. The people of Scotland led an energised and engaging debat...
Johann Lamont
Lab
The cabinet secretary is four minutes into his speech. At what point is he going to talk about using the powers that he has to create a fairer, more equal Sc...
Alex Neil
SNP
Johann Lamont clearly has not been listening to my speech. I certainly hope that we get the powers that mean that we do not need to implement the welfare pol...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
Order.
Alex Neil
SNP
That challenge, set by the Scottish people, is to deliver real change that will improve their lives, to bring decisions closer to the people that they affect...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
I call Patrick Harvie to speak to and move amendment S4M-11116.1.1. Mr Harvie, you have up to five minutes. Less would be more, please. 16:37
Patrick Harvie (Glasgow) (Green)
Green
I guess that, if we want to find the atmosphere that will allow us to explore the common ground, we all have a little way to go. In a couple of days’ time, ...
Jackson Carlaw (West Scotland) (Con)
Con
I offer the sympathies of the Conservative Party to the family and friends of Angus Macleod, who died yesterday. He was, for 35 years, an unchanging presence...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
The member is in his final minute.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Finally, I will pick up on the sentiment that underpins Johann Lamont’s contribution to the debate. What her amendment says about acknowledging “that people...
The Deputy Presiding Officer
Con
The member must close, please.
Jackson Carlaw
Con
However, we as a Parliament should equally be prepared to develop that sentiment in the time that lies ahead. We must now all work to ensure that Lord Smith’...
Jamie Hepburn (Cumbernauld and Kilsyth) (SNP)
SNP
In case there is any doubt, I say at the outset that I accept the result of the referendum. It was of course hugely disappointing for those of us who campaig...
Johann Lamont
Lab
Will the member take an intervention?
Jamie Hepburn
SNP
I am afraid not—I do not have much time. One hundred thousand disabled Scots will lose an average of £1,000 as a result of the switch from disability living...
Hugh Henry (Renfrewshire South) (Lab)
Lab
The motion and the Government amendment refer to a “more equal” society. I will concentrate on that. There is no doubt that it is frequently mentioned in the...
Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD)
LD
The referendum was the biggest democratic experience of my life. It gave the biggest democratic endorsement of any decision ever taken in this country, and w...
Maureen Watt (Aberdeen South and North Kincardine) (SNP)
SNP
It is interesting to have this Labour-led debate and to hear Labour members’ perspective on the outcome of the referendum and where Scotland goes from here. ...
Johann Lamont
Lab
Will the member give way?
Maureen Watt
SNP
I have only three minutes, so I will not. A comfortable win for better together is what was suggested by the early polls that put support for independence a...
Jackson Carlaw
Con
Oh, come on.