Mp joins walkout during pMQs in the Commons
a Mp told this week how she walked out of the House of Commons during last week’s prime Minister’s Questions to stand up for her constituents after she claimed there were repeated attempts by the uK tory government to silence scotland’s voice on Brexit.
Dr philippa Whitford, the Mp for Central ayrshire, said she left in solidarity with the sNp’s Westminster Leader, Ian Blackford, after the speaker asked him to leave during prime Minister’s Questions.
Mr Blackford had called for the House of Commons to sit in private, following the prime Minister’s failure to bring forward emergency legislation on Brexit to ensure the scottish parliament’s position is considered as the uK leaves the Eu.
this followed the proceedings the previous night where scottish Mps were not given the opportunity to debate the part of the Eu ( Withdrawal) Bill which impacted on the Devolved settlement and allows powers which should be returned to Holyrood when the uK leaves the Eu to instead go to Westminster.
Dr Whitford described the events in the House of Commons this week as “scandalous” and said it was a democratic outrage that her constituents and the people of scotland were being ignored.
she said: “I walked out of the House of Commons because, on tuesday night, scotland - and the constituents of Central ayrshire - were effectively silenced on Brexit and on the uK government’s seizure of control on key Devolved areas.
“the uK government’s Brexit legislation ignores the will of the scottish parliament, which voted 93 to 30 against the Bill as it stands. It undermines the 20- year Devolution settlement, which the people of scotland overwhelmingly support, and shows the truth of Enoch powell’s claim that “power Devolved is power retained!”
“the prime Minister gave a commitment that she would treat scotland as part of a “union of equals” yet she has pressed ahead with a power- grab in direct opposition to scotland’s elected parliament. David Mundell’s statement on thursday that “scotland is not a partner in the uK; it is a part of the uK” shows how scotland’s parliament will be treated in the future.
“the tories haven’t won a democratic mandate from the people of scotland for over 60 years, yet they think it is acceptable to claw back powers from Holyrood without consent.
“the uK government’s shambolic, hard Brexit is putting jobs and livelihoods at risk and I will always do what I feel is right to stand up in parliament for the people of Central ayrshire and scotland.”
ayr, Carrick and Cumnock Mp Bill grant said:“the sNp are relying on false claims and tired rhetoric. over 80 powers will come straight to scotland, from Brussels, immediately on exit day. Far from taking powers away, this will protect and enhance devolution.
“In just 24 areas, the uK government will temporarily freeze the current Eu regulations, for up to five years. this is to give the government time to implement them, as they will affect the whole of the uK. Without common frameworks across the whole of the uK in these 24 policy areas, businesses will find themselves unable to trade across the scottish/ English border. that is unacceptable.
“the people the sNp claim to represent were abandoned last week, as the sNp literally walked away from their responsibilities as Mps. I suspect the pre- planned pantomime performance is not about fairness and devolved powers. It is simply a tired tentacle of their ambition to break up the united Kingdom, which is against the wishes of the scottish people. the people of ayrshire and scotland deserve better.”