Parliamentary Constituencies (Amendment) Bill

Alasdair McDonnell Excerpts

2nd reading: House of Commons
Friday 18th November 2016 Commons Chamber

[Mr Dodds]

I entirely agree. The hon. Gentleman is not a member of my party, but his party, along with the Social Democratic and Labour party and others—

[Dr Alasdair McDonnell (Belfast South) (SDLP)]

rose—

[Mr Dodds]

I give way to the SDLP representative.

[Dr McDonnell]

Does the right hon. Gentleman agree that the boundaries that we were offered in Northern Ireland under the original proposals are devastating? They cut across all communities and all borders. Most of our towns and cities have been carved up in a way that fractures communities and makes it very difficult for them to function and represent themselves.

[Mr Dodds]

I entirely agree with the hon. Gentleman.

I think that, in the light of all the arguments that have been advanced today, the Government must reconsider. These are serious matters. Major changes of this kind should result from a desire for party-political advantage. The knock-on effects of such a major constitutional change—not just for the House of Commons but for the Northern Ireland Assembly, especially when it comes to the peace process—need to be carefully weighed. I urge the Government to think again, and I wish the hon. Member for North West Durham (Pat Glass) every success with her Bill.