Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (John Scott) Con

The next item of business is a debate on motion S4M-12677, in the name of Jean Urquhart, on celebrating Scotland’s diverse communities. 15:50

Jean Urquhart (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) Ind

In a world that is more interconnected than ever and in which historically our societies have developed as a result of the transnational mobilisation of cult...

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Communities and Pensioners’ Rights (Alex Neil) SNP

I am delighted to be able to speak in this important debate. I thank Jean Urquhart for lodging the motion and, if I may say so, for delivering an eloquent sp...

Ken Macintosh (Eastwood) (Lab) Lab

I thank Jean Urquhart and John Finnie for bringing this important debate to the chamber and for the launch yesterday of the not my xenophobia campaign, which...

Liz Smith (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

We are very happy to support the motion and the other amendments. The American author, poet and civil rights campaigner Maya Angelou famously noted: “in di...

Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP) SNP

First, I thank Jean Urquhart for bringing the motion to Parliament today and for the tone that she set for the debate. I very much welcomed that. Diversity ...

Hanzala Malik (Glasgow) (Lab) Lab

Good afternoon, Presiding Officer. It is an honour to talk about celebrating Scotland’s diverse communities. As many members know, I have been involved in eq...

Rob Gibson (Caithness, Sutherland and Ross) (SNP) SNP

I am proud to say that, back in the 1990s, one of the SNP branches in my constituency put forward an amendment to recognise not the people of Scotland but th...

The Deputy Presiding Officer Con

I call Christian Allard, after which we will move to the closing speeches. 16:30

Christian Allard (North East Scotland) (SNP) SNP

Thank you, Presiding Officer. That is not the last thank you that I will say—I have to say a lot of thank yous in my four minutes. First, I thank the Scottis...

Cameron Buchanan (Lothian) (Con) Con

Today’s discussion about celebrating Scotland’s diverse communities is a welcome opportunity to highlight in the chamber the importance of a vibrant communit...

Patricia Ferguson (Glasgow Maryhill and Springburn) (Lab) Lab

I suspect that when Jean Urquhart decided on the topic for today’s debate, she had little idea just how topical it would be. However, I thank her for lodging...

Alex Neil SNP

The tone of the debate has been excellent and has shown Parliament in its best light, especially as we are all united—right across the chamber—in the sentime...

John Finnie (Highlands and Islands) (Ind) Ind

On behalf of the independent and Green group, I thank members for their contributions to the debate, which has, as many have said, been consensual and constr...