Reminder of the bravery of police
Last week saw the face of hatred emerge on the streets in and around Westminster.
At the time of writing, four people have lost their lives with many others seriously injured.
The callous attack lasted a mere 82 seconds but will have a lifelong impact for the friends and family of those who were murdered by a deeply deranged 52 year-old from Kent.
Security at the Palace of Westminster will no doubt be reviewed to establish if procedures and practices can be improved, but it is only fitting for me as a Member of Parliament who spent a number of hours in the Palace of Westminster in lockdown to pay tribute to those who work hard to protect our democratic institutions and all those who work in them.
All of us who work in Westminster owe a tremendous debt to the many people who work for the Metropolitan Police, Parliamentary Security, and our Intelligence and Security Services.
However, I would especially like to pay tribute to PC Keith Palmer, who lost his life in the attack while carrying out his duty at the Parliamentary gate.
His senseless murder is a reminder to all of us of the bravery of the Police Officers who work to ensure our safety.
Whatever differences we as politicians have with one another, in the aftermath of this terrible attack, all of us returned to work in united defiance of the terrorism that seeks to undermine our democratic system, and also to remember those who were brutally killed in last week’s atrocity.
The determination on all sides that the business of democracy must go on in defiance of terrorists saw some significant political developments in both in Holyrood and Westminster.
On Monday, Prime Minister Theresa May and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon met for the first time since the First Minister announced intention to give the Scottish people a choice over the Scotland’s future direction – either hard Tory Brexit or the maintenance of our relationship with the EU through independence.
This is at the beginning of a pivotal week, the end of which will have seen the Scottish Parliament vote on holding a referendum on Scotland’s future between autumn 2018 and spring 2019, the Prime Minister formally trigger Article 50 – the process for exiting the European Union – and the UK Government bringing forward a Bill that will seek to bring all legislation developed in conjunction with the EU brought into UK law.
At the beginning of her premiership, Mrs May indicated that Article 50 would not be triggered without agreement across all devolved administrations of the UK. However, to date, there is no such agreement.
The Scottish Government published a set of proposals entitled Scotland’s Place in Europe at the end of last year that sought to keep Scotland in the EU Single Market – protecting Scottish jobs from a destructive hard Brexit.
As Scotland voted by a huge majority to Remain in the European Union, this was a compromise proposal, but one which, regrettably, the UK Government has shown no constructive commitment towards.
This week has shown two governments on two very different paths.
One will seek to act in the interests of the people of Scotland, while the other will ignore Scotland’s interests, and speaking only for the narrow interests of the right wing of the Tory party.
That’s why it is crucial that, once the details of this Brexit process are clear, the people of Scotland are given a choice over our nation’s future.
Constituents can contact me by phone: 01786 406 375 or email: steven.paterson.mp@parliament.uk
This week has shown two governments on two very different paths