UK Parliament / Open data

Devolution and the Union

Proceeding contribution from Roger Godsiff (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 20 November 2014. It occurred during Backbench debate on Devolution and the Union.

I congratulate the hon. Member for Esher and Walton (Mr Raab) on securing the debate. Like him, I welcome the result of the Scottish referendum. However, Members should be under no illusion. The way in which the UK is governed has changed, and we cannot change it back. These issues are more important than the Barnett formula. Promises were made about devolution max to the people of Scotland, and those promises have to be honoured.

It would be inconceivable—and political suicide—not to do so. Once those promises have been honoured and powers have been transferred to Scotland, however, there will quite rightly be demands from the Welsh Assembly and the Northern Ireland Assembly for the same powers to be transferred to them. If those powers were not transferred, the people of Wales and Northern Ireland could rightly say that they were being discriminated against.

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
588 c474 
Session
2014-15
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
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