Hansard

The Deputy Presiding Officer (Liam McArthur) LD

The next item of business is a debate on motion S6M-12372, in the name of Angus Robertson, on Scotland’s place in the world. I invite members who wish to par...

The Cabinet Secretary for Constitution, External Affairs and Culture (Angus Robertson) SNP

This debate follows yesterday’s publication of the latest paper in the Scottish Government’s “Building a New Scotland” series, “An independent Scotland’s pla...

Craig Hoy (South Scotland) (Con) Con

If this is such an important series of reports and if this is such a serious debate, why have only 10 of the cabinet secretary’s parliamentary colleagues tur...

Angus Robertson SNP

I look forward to hearing the member’s speech; I hope that he has something positive to contribute. I will make progress, Presiding Officer. People in the r...

Ross Greer (West Scotland) (Green) Green

My party and the cabinet secretary’s party have different positions on NATO—as I will outline in my speech—but we absolutely agree on the moral obscenity of ...

Angus Robertson SNP

Yes, absolutely. The Scottish Government supports the objectives of the international Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons and the Treaty on the Non-...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I call Alexander Stewart to speak to and move amendment S6M-12372.1. You have around nine minutes, Mr Stewart. 15:11

Alexander Stewart (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con) Con

I am pleased to open the debate on behalf of the Scottish Conservatives, although it is disappointing that the Government has chosen to waste parliamentary t...

Ross Greer Green

Will the member give way?

Alexander Stewart Con

I will take some time before I take an intervention; I might take one later. My amendment calls for the Government to put a stop to the continuous grandstan...

Angus Robertson SNP

A majority of MSPs wish to see an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, as do a majority of members of Parliament from Scotland at Westminster. What has the UK Govern...

Alexander Stewart Con

There are many views and the situation is dire. We have to admit that. I want to see progress on a resolution to things and to see a two-state situation in t...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Mr Stewart, will you resume your seat for a moment? Mr Hoy and Mr Kerr, I have tried to make it clear to you that I do not want to hear separate conversation...

Alexander Stewart Con

Thank you, Presiding Officer. The SNP Government is clearly willing to continue the same old narrative week after week. Taking such an approach is within it...

Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab) Lab

This is a crucial time for global democracy, as 2024 will see nearly 2 billion people around the world go to the polls and give their verdicts on their polit...

Keith Brown (Clackmannanshire and Dunblane) (SNP) SNP

How can that be the case, given the recruitment and retention crisis, the possible selling off of one of the aircraft carriers, and the Ajax tanks fiasco? Su...

Neil Bibby Lab

I am just coming on to why that would be the case. The paper does not propose having any aircraft carriers. I pay tribute to our excellent armed forces. The...

Angus Robertson SNP

Will Neil Bibby give way?

Neil Bibby Lab

I will in a moment. It has been reported that the cabinet secretary has said that Scotland would join the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, but ...

Angus Robertson SNP

What Neil Bibby has outlined is the position of the Governments of the Kingdom of Denmark, the Kingdom of Norway, Sweden and the Republic of Finland. If it i...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Neil Bibby, I will give you the time back.

Neil Bibby Lab

Talk about not answering the question! I asked not about Denmark, Finland or Norway—Interruption.—but about the Scottish Government’s position on whether it ...

Angus Robertson SNP

As Neil Bibby should know, the right of passage for any vessel—conventional or nuclear, armed or powered—is guaranteed under the United Nations Convention on...

Neil Bibby Lab

The cabinet secretary’s position is extremely confusing. Do we seriously think that NATO would allow a situation whereby a member would prevent it from using...

Willie Rennie (North East Fife) (LD) LD

Deputy Presiding Officer, you already know that I think very highly of our Minister for Independence. I think that he is destined for many greater things in ...

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Mr Rennie, even if you are quoting, as I have made clear before—

Angus Robertson SNP

He should sit down.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

Please resume your seat, Mr Rennie.

Willie Rennie LD

Certainly.

The Deputy Presiding Officer LD

I would expect members to use language that is fitting for the parliamentary chamber; that was not fitting for the parliamentary chamber.