Draft Transparency of Donations and Loans etc. (Northern Ireland political parties) order 2018

Simon Clarke Excerpts

Tuesday 19th December 2017 General Committees

[Chloe Smith]

I am afraid that I will not take an intervention from the Opposition Whip. I need to move on and respond to some of the arguments that have been made.

As I mentioned briefly, there has been a history of intimidation in this particular context. Confidentiality has been important up to this point. I find it astounding that the Opposition are playing fast and loose—words that have already been used in this Committee—perhaps with that delicate history, I do not know, but certainly fast and loose with the sensitivity of this time, when we need to get politicians back around the table. This is not about playing politics; this should be about getting on with something that has been important to Parliament. I am afraid to say that the party of the hon. Member for Pontypridd is inconsistent, rather incoherent and perhaps even incredible.

[Mr Simon Clarke (Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland) (Con)]

rose—

[Chloe Smith]

Perhaps my hon. Friend will explain a little more about that.

[Mr Clarke]

We are dancing on the head of a pin. I feel that the argument has been driven by motives other than those on the face of the order. The speech by the right hon. Member for Exeter goes to the point on that. It is about trying in some way to stop or to undermine Brexit rather than being about the real sensitivities and the political history of the most troubled part of our country. Does the Minister agree that the tone that has been struck is almost wholly unhelpful?

[Chloe Smith]

I agree with my hon. Friend and I think that it is rather a shame that we have had to have this discussion. Let us take the point of Brexit: in the time that we have been working hard to deliver transparency, since January 2014, the hon. Member for Pontypridd and his party have taken seven different positions on Brexit alone. We need to do a little better than that.