All 1 Debates between Ronnie Cowan and James Brokenshire

Intelligence and Security Committee: Russia Report

Debate between Ronnie Cowan and James Brokenshire
Wednesday 22nd July 2020

(4 years, 5 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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James Brokenshire Portrait James Brokenshire
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I will take no lectures from the Labour party, or indeed the Whips’ question that the hon. Gentleman has asked me. This Government and my party are vigilant on issues of national security, and we will remain so. We will be clear-eyed as to the threat that Russia poses, and where further action needs to be taken, as I have said, we will do so.

Ronnie Cowan Portrait Ronnie Cowan (Inverclyde) (SNP) [V]
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The report said that it was surprisingly difficult to establish who has responsibility for what. That conclusion is supported by the Government’s response, which alludes to the responsibilities of the Paymaster General, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster, DCMS, the Home Office, the Defence Secretary, the Foreign Secretary, and the PM. At 10 am this morning, we still did not know who had drawn the short straw and would come to the House to defend the indefensible. Is not this report, the Government’s delay in publishing it and their reaction to it just further examples of the incompetence and arrogance that we have come to expect of this Conservative and Unionist Government?