Coalfield Communities

Debate between Jim Hood and Lindsay Hoyle

Tuesday 28th October 2014 Commons Chamber

[Conor Burns]

On a point of order, Mr Deputy Speaker. The hon. Member for Lanark and Hamilton East (Mr Hood) has just made profoundly serious accusations against a noble Lord. Is that in order?

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

In fairness, I did not hear as I was talking to a Whip. It is up to each Member to decide what they say, and they must make that decision.

[Mr Hood]

I will repeat part of the point that I am making. The rumours that Sir Leon Brittan was involved in misconduct with children do not come as news to miners who were on strike in 1984, because when miners were going into the dock in magistrates courts we were aware and miners were declaring—

[Mr Hood]

No, I will not give way. I will give way when I have finished my point.

Miners were saying in the dock in all the magistrates courts throughout the strike that they objected to the instructions coming from the Home Secretary when there were reports of child abuse linked with that same Home Secretary.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. It is up to each Member, but we have to be very careful about what we say. We must consider what we are saying and what the implications are.

[Mr Hood]

Obviously, I accept what you say, Mr Deputy Speaker. I am just repeating what I read in the papers—

[Mr Deputy Speaker]

Order. Time is up. Five minutes have gone. I call Mr Mark Spencer.

Fairness and Inequality

Debate between Jim Hood and Lindsay Hoyle

Tuesday 11th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Jim Hood (Lanark and Hamilton East) (Lab)]

I am quite amazed that the hon. Gentleman is surprised that I and many other hon. Members are against his nationalism. To put my comment last week in context, I said that despite the lying of the SNP Government and the Westminster Government here, I would not support nationalism and would therefore vote against his Government. He should not be surprised, because I have always opposed nationalism. I always will oppose nationalism, because I do not make judgments about people on the basis of the side of the road or the side of the bed they were born on.

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. I think the hon. Gentleman has got the message across.

Scotland’s Place in the UK

Debate between Jim Hood and Lindsay Hoyle

Thursday 6th February 2014 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hood]

Well, of course. Wherever we see poverty, we have empathy with those who are suffering it. As we have heard said many times, poverty is just as important to us if it is by the River Thames or the River Clyde. That has always been the case. [Interruption.] I hear what is being muttered behind me and I will try not to be put off—I am becoming a bit used to it.

Thirty years ago, on 5 March, I was proud to be involved in the miner’s strike, fighting for my community, for my campaign and for my values and mining community values. We were fighting against a lying Westminster Government then, and I am fighting against a lying Government now in the Scottish Parliament. In 30 years’ time, when somebody asks what I was doing in 2014 and which side I was on, my grandchildren will be able to say, “He was on the side of Scotland, and he opposed devolution and—

[Mr Deputy Speaker (Mr Lindsay Hoyle)]

Order. Time is up, unfortunately, much as I wanted to hear more. I call Rory Stewart.