Scotland Bill

Jim McGovern Excerpts

Tuesday 15th March 2011 Commons Chamber

[Mr MacNeil]

The hon. Gentleman has been living in Scotland long enough to know that Ministers in Scotland and the Scottish Parliament are far more susceptible to pressure from communities in Scotland than the Chancellor of the Exchequer is at No. 11 Downing street.

The hon. Member for North East Somerset will not be surprised to learn that I am no great fan of the 1707 Union, but I am quite relaxed about the 1603 Union and the maintenance of Her Majesty as the Queen. The hon. Member for Liverpool, Walton (Steve Rotheram) put it to me that Scotland does indeed have a king and his name is Kenny, but that is a little beside the point. I am happy to maintain the Crown, as Canada, Australia and New Zealand do. My point is about the movement of powers from Westminster to the most democratic forum representing Scotland, which is the Scottish Parliament—that is the right way to proceed.

[Jim McGovern (Dundee West) (Lab)]

The hon. Gentleman says that he has no wish for his contribution to be viewed as republicanism. What are his views on republicanism?

[Mr MacNeil]

I think it works quite well in America, Ireland and France—