Speeches by Blackman.

“My question is about some of the legislative frameworks for this. When people are released on undertakings and they are going to appear in court at some point in the future, can you ensure that there is consistency in the conditions that are placed on them—for example, they should not be allowed to approach the MP or t…”

“Can you actually do anything though? Once you identify that individual who is flying under the radar with lots of different things to different MPs, is there anything you can actually do?”

“In many, many ways!”

“I will go very quickly. The Operation Bridger documents do not really take into account that Scotland has a different jurisdiction, and the law was totally different, so it is not just different thresholds but different laws. Some of them apply across the UK, like the Representation of the People Act, but some of the o…”

“Do you know which of us have got kids, for example? Surely, or possibly, that makes a difference to some of the security that we would be provided with. Things like that might help you make better decisions about how to help us.”

“I will be happy with a one-word response. Are we missing out on great potential candidates because people are afraid of the intimidation and abuse they might receive?”

“I will be happy with a one-word response. Are we missing out on great potential candidates because people are afraid of the intimidation and abuse they might receive?”

“On the guidance that was sent out, do you think that it would be better, perhaps through the police, if every individual police officer that had to go out to a call from a candidate had actually read that guidance, knew what the guidance was and had an understanding of what our understanding of the guidance was, rather…”

“I thank you for chairing this debate, Mr Stringer, and I congratulate the right hon. and learned Member for Kenilworth and Southam (Sir Jeremy Wright) on bringing this debate to Westminster Hall. It is a subject we have talked about many times. I want to make a number of points. The first is about safety by design. Pag…”

“On the guidance that was sent out, do you think that it would be better, perhaps through the police, if every individual police officer that had to go out to a call from a candidate had actually read that guidance, knew what the guidance was and had an understanding of what our understanding of the guidance was, rather…”

“I would have no problem with merging the bids. I don’t know whether Sir Iain Duncan Smith would have a problem with that, but it would not be an issue for me. For me, it is more important that this is debated than that it has my name on it.”

“Notwithstanding the fact that this is particularly important just now, because it is the supplementary estimates and because of the in-year changes, I still think this will be a topical issue into the future, so I would very much appreciate it if I were added.”

“Thank you, Chair. Social security and pensions is one of the biggest hot topics for all our constituents; it is certainly something I get a huge amount of traffic about. People are really concerned about the cost of living and about how the social security system impacts on their ability to afford heating or energy pay…”

“On that, independents have historically done much better when there are specific local issues or when emotive things are happening in those local communities. How do you think it should be ensured that the rhetoric is kept down within acceptable bounds for the people who are campaigning for the independents, the indepe…”

“On the subject of the risk register and the 40 incidents that you logged, do you think that there was under-reporting? Are you going to keep the risk register up? If there is under-reporting, how will you ensure that more reports are made next time?”

“I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but you are saying that there is a difference between saying, “This party candidate doesn’t live in the constituency and has no relationship with it,” and saying something nasty about them. You are saying that those are two different things, and you think it is important to be a…”

“I agree with Owen—the issues around the middle east were not so prevalent, or so explosive, in Scotland. When you are writing to us afterwards, it would be helpful for you to comment on relationships with social media companies. Both Labour and the Tories are able to contact social media platforms directly, whereas som…”

“On the subject of the risk register and the 40 incidents that you logged, do you think that there was under-reporting? Are you going to keep the risk register up? If there is under-reporting, how will you ensure that more reports are made next time?”

“On that, independents have historically done much better when there are specific local issues or when emotive things are happening in those local communities. How do you think it should be ensured that the rhetoric is kept down within acceptable bounds for the people who are campaigning for the independents, the indepe…”

“I don’t want to put words in your mouth, but you are saying that there is a difference between saying, “This party candidate doesn’t live in the constituency and has no relationship with it,” and saying something nasty about them. You are saying that those are two different things, and you think it is important to be a…”