Smith Commission Debate

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Department: Scotland Office

Smith Commission

John Denham Excerpts
Thursday 27th November 2014

(9 years, 12 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Carmichael
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I thought the only grievance we would get today would be from the Scottish nationalists; I had forgotten we had Plaid Cymru here as well. I commend to the hon. Gentleman the positive approach taken by all parties in building a consensus in Wales. We have always known that for different historical reasons, devolution across the different nations in this country emerges at different paces, which is absolutely right. If he wants more progress, he should try to learn from the Scottish nationalists—or at least from what they were doing before today—and work with other parties to build that consensus.

John Denham Portrait Mr John Denham (Southampton, Itchen) (Lab)
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Scotland will get what Scotland wants, but when will England get what it wants? Does the Secretary of State agree that we need much more radical change in Westminster than has currently been contemplated, more radical devolution within England than has currently been delivered or offered, and a much more open, inclusive and democratic process than that being led by the Leader of the House?

Alistair Carmichael Portrait Mr Carmichael
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I am confident that England will get what England wants when England decides exactly what it is she wants.