Speeches by Rankin.

“In what proportion?”

“My hon. Friend is quite right. Although we are at risk of picking apart the Budget in its entirety, I would suggest that giving away our sovereign land and paying for the privilege might not be a great thing to do at any time, but particularly in a fiscally constrained environment. Despite having to have a reasonable a…”

“I would say that I hope the hon. Member in question is closer to this Budget, but having listened to some of his other utterances, perhaps most of us on the Conservative Benches would not hope for that. Never mind! The main criticism we have heard from Government Members, which is a fair criticism, is that of cost. The…”

“12. How much and what proportion of the funding due to be allocated to Mauritius as part of the agreement concerning the Chagos archipelago will come from her Department’s budget.”

“5. What his policy is on holding a referendum on Scottish independence.”

“I thank the Secretary of State for his unequivocal rejection of separatism. He will always find on the Conservative side fellow colleagues who treasure this United Kingdom and want to shout about the most successful alliance in political history. What specific steps can he take to prevent more taxpayers’ cash being squ…”

“When we allow Islamist hate preachers such as Sheikh Alafasy to do speaking tours, it is no wonder British Jews in the UK no longer feel safe. In January, he had a platform at the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, despite the Jewish Representative Council raising its concerns. They were ignored. In the follow-up meeting,…”

“Thousands of drones are being used to smuggle contraband such as weapons and drugs into prisons. Locally, I have met leading security company Preventive Concepts Security. The shadow Lord Chancellor was good enough to visit it in France to see its technology in action, detecting and disabling drones. What specific step…”

“4. What steps he is taking to improve the safety of the prison estate.”

“I do not know whether you want to add anything, Angela.”

“Can I follow up on that? For most industries that were receiving taxpayer support, I would consider that unsustainable. I was kind of expecting the answer that there is a strategic nature to this and a geopolitical angle, so in the medium term it is probably required. I think you have argued there that it is a signific…”

“I can believe that.”

“Community and WMG are both members of the UK Steel Council. I have a question in two parts, if I may. To what extent has the Scottish steel industry been considered in the council’s discussions and decision-making process? Secondly, can you please give us an overall assessment of the council’s effectiveness and impact?…”

“Both witnesses have already talked about some of the major challenges that British steelmakers have faced in recent years. I think I am right to say now that four of six British steel companies are receiving taxpayer support or taxpayer subsidy of some form. To what extent do you believe that public intervention is nec…”

“That is the tension that I am trying to bring out. Who would seek to frustrate such an agenda—the Lords might, in their current form. I find it exciting—and this is a warning—that a majority in this House, gained from 33.7% of the vote on a 59.7% turnout, which is almost exactly 20% of the adults in this country, can r…”

“My hon. Friend’s point is right, and I thank him for it. We walk through the Division lobbies, directed by the Whips, often having had no time, because of the impossible juggling act, to develop real knowledge of the topic in question or to think through properly the implications. Some of the stuff that leaves this pla…”

“Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. The point I am trying to make to those on the Government Benches is that if a Government can expel their political opponents from the other place because the majority in this place says they are not elected, while placing no limit on the Prime Minister’s patronage, so can a new Governme…”

“My right hon. Friend is right. Our national story has brought us to a place where this House is rightfully dominant among the three parts of Parliament in exercising the sovereignty of the King in Parliament, but we should be careful of the wholesale execution of one of those arms. Let us be clear: that is what the uni…”

“I rise to speak to Lords amendments 1 and 8, and therefore against the motion, in two minds. I say in two minds because I find the unilateral removal of the hereditary peers without seeking consensus, which is what a rejection of Lords amendment 1 would mean, both regrettable and exciting. I would like to take each of …”

“Declare an interest!”