General Press Comments

[Dame Evelyn Redgrave]

Much like how they handled the Peter Mandelson debacle, Labour is finding any old excuse to avoid committing to proper reform of public appointments. In the motion debate on Mandelson, they demanded ‘serious cross-party solutions’ to be proposed. When Mary MacAndrews became Prime Minister, she committed to better standards in public life through an independent inquiry on the appointments system.

And yet, when such solutions are proposed and a chance to start proper reform comes, Labour fail to meaningfully engage. Instead, they hide behind excuses and vote against the legislation with paper-thin reasons. With a Government that retains Peter Mandelson at the New Millennium Experience and refuses to take the obvious, immediate steps needed in Parliament, we know that Labour is not serious in the slightest about reforming public appointments.

[Sir Jack Anderson]

Today in Parliament, I reaffirmed the government's resolute commitment to our National Health Service and delivering the funding it needs in the coming decade to provide excellent service for all. The cross party commission the government has established, which will explode funding needs and options, makes it clear that the government will deliver strong public services in a fiscally responsible way.

The government wants to be clear and transparent with the public on the funding needs for the National Health Service and the options available, and to engage with the British people on how they want that delivered and how it is best delivered. But my main pledge to the British people is this: our commitment to the fantastic NHS remains ironclad.

[Andy Edwards]

While the upcoming budget debate will certainly focus on short-term NHS funding for services, for new hospitals, and for a strengthened NHS workforce, I'm proud to be a part of a Government that is taking a serious look at long-term NHS funding in the Chancellor's recent announcement of a commission dedicated to ensuring adequate funding over the next three decades. From new technologies to an aging population, there will be increasing demand for the high level of quality service that the NHS provides. This move will bring cross-party ideas to ensuring that the NHS will absolutely and always be there when we need it.

Labour has long been the party of the NHS- making sure it's appropriately funded and there to serve the people. Our long-term funding commission is just proof positive that we will be the stewards of the NHS into the future. I know our goals to cut backlogs and improve service time will still be a focus, and I look forward to hearing the progress of this commission and voting in favor of legislation that comes from their work. This Government will safeguard the NHS now and in the future, and the announcement of this long-term funding commission helps ensure that.

[Clarice Ashbridge]

I'm a big enough girl to let a lot of things said about me slide: that's part of the cut and thrust of politics after all. What I cannot abide, however, is the sly comments and nose-tapping about my husband's appointment as Chair of the Scottish Conservatives, especially by the Chancellor. He was selected for that position ahead of a number of candidates because of his campaigning experience during his decades in the party, and his dedicated service in the Scottish Parliament to the people of the West of Scotland.

Being a woman in politics, I've been subject to relentless sexism across the years, and many of those who would seek to disparage me have cast doubt on my qualifications because of who my husband is. That I only became a councillor, then a senior party official, and then MP for Eastwood because of my relationship with Mike. We can all agree that that is wrong, but it also wrong the other way around - my husband is his own man and should not be judged because of who I am. It seems serving in Cabinet with a female PM and her female Deputy has done nothing to change Jack Anderson's elitist old boy's club mentality. It's truly disappointing that the Chancellor would stoop to that level to try and get some quick political points.

[Andy Edwards]

William Croft himself has said that the criticism that he sometimes rushes to an issue too quickly- and there's nothing that exemplifies that more than the debate to rule out the euro and, if we don't, to then hold a referendum. The Prime Minister made great points: this motion is rushed out in an attempt to win points at politicking. And in rushing to make a point, the Leader of the Opposition has put a motion that doesn't seem to have the full votes of his own party, much less enough to win a majority and pass.

This Government's position on the euro is clear and consistent. The people WILL have a say when the time is right- not when it's politically expedient in the mind of folks like Mr. Croft. And having the people vote on further economic integration with Europe- when we can really consider what it means for workers and families, and when we can really live up to the people's will if they do for some reason vote for the euro- is a symbol of the kind of leadership that this country needs. Otherwise, with this motion, we risk a repeat of the ERM and the Conservative's Black Wednesday... which is something no one except maybe some financiers would ever want to wish on Britain again.

I stand with the Prime Minister's comments on this motion to "rule out" the euro and use the people as some political ploy. And I'm glad she and others are calling out this motion for what it is: opportunism at its worst.

[Rebecca Flair]

It is the honour of a lifetime to have been elected to lead the Liberal Democrats, ours is a party where our priorities lie with the British people whatever their race, class, gender, or sexuality. The Liberal Democrats I lead will advocate unashamedly for economic liberalism, for cutting taxes for the people in VAT, Council Tax, and Income Tax. It will be the party of the future, advocating for a greener tomorrow with more money spent on Research, reforesting, and rural regeneration alongside measures to ensure that industry can continue in a carbon neutral way. And it will be the party of localism advocating for record funding to local government despite the Council Tax freeze, advocating financial support to boost bids for international sporting events that shall be enjoyed locally, and advocating reform of the local government sector. I have a very simple message to everyone in this country, if you are fed up with business as usual from Cowboy Croft or New Labour there is an alternative available that will fight for you, the Liberal Democrats.

[Alex Cardigan]

It is an enormous pleasure to be back in the Commons representing my native Saddleworth, I must say. It's also with enormous pride that I stand before you to be able to say that I am supporting a new liberal leadership which has the potential to transform the fortunes of our unique corner of Britain.

Here in Saddleworth, we are at the barricades of the battle against climate change - our beautiful moors and lands must be protected, they simply must, and the liberal policy on the matter achieves that whilst wonderfully promoting local business. Our message is very clear - the planet must be protected. Our policy solutions here are not those of mindless radicals either, they are designed to include our community, support our local businesses, and ensure that our planet has a future. We must protect our wildlife, forests, moorlands and the cultural vitality that they provide.

That philosophical commitment to protecting our planet for the next generation is one of very few pillars of philosophy that both myself and my father, who spoke in the Lords most eloquently on the matter, are agreed upon, that we are stewards of the land. Where I differ with him and with the Conservative Party is that I believe land is for the people, not the gentry, and our stance here reflects that.

[Amelia Lockhart]

The Tories know more about public appointments than constitutional experts, know more about immigration policy than legal experts, and know more on policing than the police. OR they just don’t like evidence and facts and expertise?

[Sir Jack Anderson]

We all know why the Lawrence report was assembled.

If Clarice Ashbridge cared about fighting crime, she’d know that in 1993 racist and vicious thugs attacked and killed a teenage boy. We owed it to respond with the full force of the law in the pursuit of justice.

In responding to that, the police failed. Experts accept that. The victims of that crime accept that. The police themselves accept that.

The Lawrence report was an opportunity to move on, and to allow the police to learn from those mistakes so it never lets victims of crime down again.

But the Tories have suddenly decided they don’t care. As part of their continued slide to the fruitcake right, they have decided that if a victim of crime is a minority their tough on crime rhetoric can suddenly drop. In pandering to their party within a party, the Conservative Party has not just let the Lawrence family down but victims of crime down. It marks a shameful day in their once proud history.

[Will Frost]

The real shame is Labour's inability to make a compelling argument without slandering their opponents as racist and their arguments derogatory. It is a baseless tactic used by those who aim to shut down debate before it has even begun, and it has no place in the proud tradition of British democracy.

Believing that everyone should be treated equally under the law, and supporting the brave police officers who risk their lives to keep us safe, are not mutually exclusive. I do not believe the police of this country to be institutionally racist. I make no apology for that view, because I passionately believe it to be true. The Prime Minister has the chance to agreed with that position, and she chose not to.

The Conservative Party will continue to unashamedly support the police, because someone must have the backs of those that risk everything for the rest of us.