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Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 14 Jul 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

"I thank the Minister for that answer. At Justice questions on 9 June, the Lord Chancellor told us that he was working on that independent review into the operation of the Human Rights Act, but given how hugely significant the Human Rights Act is to the devolved settlements of Wales, …..."
Stuart C McDonald - View Speech

View all Stuart C McDonald (SNP - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 14 Jan 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

"Members have every right to be concerned about what the Government are up to with the commission, given their previous noises about human rights, judicial appointments, prerogative powers, judicial review and much, much more. Those concerns are shared not just among Members, but across civil society and beyond. Does the …..."
Stuart C McDonald - View Speech

View all Stuart C McDonald (SNP - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in Commons Chamber - Tue 14 Jan 2020
Oral Answers to Questions

"The Human Rights Act is also part of the constitutional backbone of devolution, so again will the Secretary of State agree that there should be no change to that Act, given all its implications for devolved competences, without the express agreement of the Scottish Parliament and Government? Otherwise, what sort …..."
Stuart C McDonald - View Speech

View all Stuart C McDonald (SNP - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) contributions to the debate on: Oral Answers to Questions
Speech in General Committees - Mon 28 Oct 2019
Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Civil and Family) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019

"I have very little to say. For any legal purists watching from Scotland, I think the action referred to is actually aliment, not ailment. Other than that, what the Minister said made sense; the provisions correct two particular problems with the earlier regulations and on that basis, I do not …..."
Stuart C McDonald - View Speech

View all Stuart C McDonald (SNP - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) contributions to the debate on: Civil Jurisdiction and Judgments (Civil and Family) (Amendment) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 08 Oct 2019
Procedure for Appointing Judges

"I beg to move,

That this House has considered the procedure for appointing judges.

It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Sharma. I look forward to a positive and perhaps consensual debate on the procedure for appointing judges and the importance of those procedures being consistent with …..."
Stuart C McDonald - View Speech

View all Stuart C McDonald (SNP - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) contributions to the debate on: Procedure for Appointing Judges
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 08 Oct 2019
Procedure for Appointing Judges

"I agree with the hon. Gentleman wholeheartedly. I will return to that point later. The exchanges that sparked those headlines came when the Attorney General was asked by one of his Back Benchers whether it was time for MPs to get involved in approving appointments at the Supreme Court level. …..."
Stuart C McDonald - View Speech

View all Stuart C McDonald (SNP - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) contributions to the debate on: Procedure for Appointing Judges
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 08 Oct 2019
Procedure for Appointing Judges

"I do not have a ready answer to that. The numbers show that it may not have gone far enough. I agree that there is more to be done to ensure that we have a bench that reflects the society that it serves, but I am not sure what the …..."
Stuart C McDonald - View Speech

View all Stuart C McDonald (SNP - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) contributions to the debate on: Procedure for Appointing Judges
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 08 Oct 2019
Procedure for Appointing Judges

"I welcome that intervention, and the hon. Gentleman raises an interesting question. There are a couple of things I would say. First, we will never have a judicial bench that does not have political opinions. Just because we do not necessarily know what those opinions are does not mean that …..."
Stuart C McDonald - View Speech

View all Stuart C McDonald (SNP - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) contributions to the debate on: Procedure for Appointing Judges
Speech in Westminster Hall - Tue 08 Oct 2019
Procedure for Appointing Judges

"This has been a worthwhile debate with cross-party strong and unequivocal support for the principle of judicial independence, and the idea that that must be at the centre of our judicial appointment processes. We have heard interesting points about diversity on the bench and retirement ages, and received a sympathetic …..."
Stuart C McDonald - View Speech

View all Stuart C McDonald (SNP - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East) contributions to the debate on: Procedure for Appointing Judges
Written Question
Judiciary: Public Appointments
Tuesday 1st October 2019

Asked by: Stuart C McDonald (Scottish National Party - Cumbernauld, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch East)

Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans he has to reform the process for making judicial appointments, including to the Supreme Court.

Answered by Chris Philp - Shadow Home Secretary

There are no plans to alter the process for making judicial appointments. Our judges are selected following a rigorous, independent, merit based process which is key to maintaining the quality, integrity and independence of our world class judiciary.