Scotland Bill Debate

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Department: Scotland Office
Monday 9th November 2015

(9 years, 1 month ago)

Commons Chamber
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Joanna Cherry Portrait Joanna Cherry
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I am sure he is. The hon. Gentleman’s interventions and speech underline the reality of our concern that the wish of the Scottish electorate to preserve the Human Rights Act will not be respected. I reiterate that we want to make common cause with the Labour party, the Lib Dems, Northern Ireland Members and Government Members to preserve the Act for the whole of the UK.

Chris Bryant Portrait Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab)
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“They” want to?

Joanna Cherry Portrait Joanna Cherry
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I want to. We want to.

Chris Bryant Portrait Chris Bryant
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You said “they”.

Joanna Cherry Portrait Joanna Cherry
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I said “we”. Listen carefully. I know my accent is a bit difficult to follow, but I said “we”.

In conclusion, our primary intention is to preserve the Act for the whole of the UK, but the amendment would give us the option to implement the settled will of the Scottish people to keep the Act for Scotland, if we fail to keep it for the whole of the UK.