Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 15 November 2018
15 Nov 2018 · S5 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Proposed European Union Withdrawal Agreement
The member makes a very good point. That is one of the issues that cause enormous concern, of which there are many. If Mr McDonald would like to write to me or to come and see me, perhaps with the organisation concerned, to give me that information—I have seen the outline information—I will undertake to take the matter forward.
I make the general point that there are whole areas in which, although issues might be referred to in passing, nothing is tied down. The process of tying down the relevant material and information will take years. The real problem that we now face if anything like the Prime Minister’s deal were to go forward is that we would face an implementation period that would have to be renewed and at any point in which there could be a collapse in the talks. We would be in that limbo for a long period of time. None of that would be necessary if we took a single market and customs union approach.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Ken Macintosh)
NPA
The next item of business is a statement by Michael Russell with an update from the Scottish Government on the proposed United Kingdom-European Union withdra...
The Cabinet Secretary for Government Business and Constitutional Relations (Michael Russell)
SNP
I am grateful for the opportunity to update the chamber at this important moment in the Brexit process—though given the speed of current developments, I am n...
Adam Tomkins (Glasgow) (Con)
Con
That was not a Government statement from a serious minister. It was a cocktail of contrived grievance from someone who, even two years on, has never accommod...
Michael Russell
SNP
To address the substance of the question, no, I do not agree. It is obvious that a reading of any of the documents indicates that there are huge similarities...
Neil Findlay (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
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Michael Russell
SNP
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Neil Findlay
Lab
No it does not.
Michael Russell
SNP
It absolutely contains all that information. Indeed, we have gone on publishing more volumes of “Scotland’s Place in Europe”—it is almost like a serial publi...
Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green)
Green
I welcome the cabinet secretary’s statement. The Greens would be more than happy to work with the Labour Party and the Scottish Government to try to present ...
Michael Russell
SNP
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Tavish Scott (Shetland Islands) (LD)
LD
The deputy political editor of the BBC has just tweeted: “Tory minister tells me if Brexiteers vote down Deal—he and others will openly campaign for a secon...
Michael Russell
SNP
I am behind it, remain behind it and will be behind it, because that is the position that the SNP has taken. Tavish Scott and his colleagues cannot take yes ...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
There is considerable interest in the subject, as members will imagine. At least 10 members wish to ask questions. I urge everyone to be succinct. I am, howe...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
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Michael Russell
SNP
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Donald Cameron (Highlands and Islands) (Con)
Con
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Michael Russell
SNP
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Alex Neil (Airdrie and Shotts) (SNP)
SNP
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Michael Russell
SNP
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Claire Baker (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Lab)
Lab
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Michael Russell
SNP
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Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
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Michael Russell
SNP
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Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (Ind)
Ind
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Michael Russell
SNP
The member makes a very good point. That is one of the issues that cause enormous concern, of which there are many. If Mr McDonald would like to write to me ...
Liam Kerr (North East Scotland) (Con)
Con
In December 2016, Michael Russell stated that membership of the single market was “clearly not going to happen”. What has changed?
Michael Russell
SNP
The member would have to remind me of the exact context of that remark. Unlike Mr Kerr, I do not scrape through previous speeches in an effort to quote peopl...
Ruth Maguire (Cunninghame South) (SNP)
SNP
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Michael Russell
SNP
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Pauline McNeill (Glasgow) (Lab)
Lab
Given the many references in the statement to special status for Northern Ireland, does the cabinet secretary agree that the focus should be on permanent mem...