European Convention on Human Rights (Withdrawal)
Debate between Nigel Farage and Judith Cummins(2 weeks, 3 days ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate Read Hansard Text
Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)
Order. I will be responsible for maintaining order in this Chamber.
Nigel Farage
Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. I am sure you will allow me the opportunity to continue to try to say something despite such constant interventions.
The British people voted clearly, by a massive margin, to bring back the sovereignty—[Interruption.] By the way, what makes me laugh about this is that it is not just about the sovereignty of this country; it is about the sovereignty of this very Chamber and the people within it. It is about bringing power back to this very place, and that is what we voted for.
One of the biggest reasons why the vote happened was the deep alarm at the huge numbers of people coming into our country and the fact that we effectively had open borders, making us poorer in every way. Of course, our membership of the Council of Europe and the European convention and its writing into British law in 1998 kind of enshrined that, and I think it is what Tony Blair wanted us to do.
I believe that Brexit cannot be complete all the while we are subject to a foreign Court and a piece of legislation brought in by the Blair Government on which judges can choose their own political interpretation. We are not sovereign all the while we are part of the European convention on human rights, the Council of Europe and its associated court. It is as simple as that.
Nigel Farage
It is marvellous to see the intellectual levels of debate in this place—it really is.
Is it any wonder—[Interruption.] Is it any wonder that out in the country there is growing frustration—[Interruption.]
Madam Deputy Speaker
Order. Can I remind Members that the hon. Gentleman has a ten-minute rule Bill in front of this House and should be listened to without interruption?
Points of Order
Debate between Nigel Farage and Judith Cummins
Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)
I thank the hon. Gentleman for raising the issue of the flag flying from the Victoria Tower. I will ensure that his request is raised with both Mr Speaker and the House authorities and that he receives a response.
Nigel Farage (Clacton) (Reform)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. My mind is filled with the horrendous images of the assassination yesterday of Charlie Kirk: an American, a conservative, a Christian, a family man—gunned down. He had attracted the following of many millions of young Americans and had a growing online presence in our country, especially after he spoke at the Oxford Union last month.
I absolutely believe in free speech, but we all understand that there are limits to free speech: incitement, constant personal vilification, the use of horrendous historical images. This is not a left/right issue. It is not a left/right debate. I think it is incumbent upon all of us—whichever side of the divide we are on, however passionately we feel—to behave with personal responsibility, and I mourn the loss of my friend.
Madam Deputy Speaker (Judith Cummins)
I thank the hon. Member for giving notice of his point of order. It serves as a timely reminder of the need for respect in this place and in our politics. While it is not a matter for the Chair, he gives the House an important opportunity to offer our condolences and to express our horror at the events in the USA yesterday.
Budget Resolutions
Debate between Nigel Farage and Judith Cummins
Madam Deputy Speaker
I thank the hon. Member for the point of order. However, that is not a point of order; it is a courtesy of the House.
Nigel Farage
Nice try! I was just gently teasing, that was all.
We heard “invest, invest, invest” at the start of the Budget statement, and I thought, yes, that is absolutely what we need—not just from the big multinationals that come to smart conferences, but equally from hundreds of thousands of people putting their own risk capital into start-ups and new businesses. But no, this “invest, invest, invest” is going to be done by the Chancellor on our behalf. Not only was she a top economist at the Bank of England, but she is now going to be the fund manager of the nation, investing money and trying to pick winners. I would suggest that the last time Governments attempted to invest money and pick winners, back in the 1970s, it ended very badly indeed.