Appointment of Sir Roger Scruton

Bob Stewart Excerpts
Monday 12th November 2018

(6 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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I will not comment on my right hon. Friend’s last point, because I want the commission itself to come to some of those conclusions, but I know that he is a passionate advocate of this debate and that he has shown himself to be so on previous occasions. His comments on the contribution that Sir Roger will make are well made, as his comments always are.

Bob Stewart Portrait Bob Stewart (Beckenham) (Con)
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Does my right hon. Friend agree that Sir Roger Scruton has shown true courage and humanity through some of his journeys, particularly to the east, and that his writings and speeches are actually pretty good—

Edward Leigh Portrait Sir Edward Leigh
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They are better than yours, Bob, anyway!

Bob Stewart Portrait Bob Stewart
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I have to say that my hon. Friend is absolutely right: they are better than mine. But I will finish my question. Does the Secretary of State agree that Sir Roger Scruton continues to have massive respect for all sectors of our society?

James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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Sir Roger is a leading philosopher, and his extensive work clearly provokes responses and debate, as it is intended to do. However, my focus is on the core skills that he brings to his work on beauty in the built environment, which is why he is so well placed to do this work.