Browse content similar to 22/03/2017. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!
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On this programme: | 0:00:17 | 0:00:18 | |
Parliament is put into lockdown after a terror attack | 0:00:18 | 0:00:20 | |
outside Westminster. | 0:00:20 | 0:00:23 | |
It seems that a police officer has been stabbed. | 0:00:23 | 0:00:27 | |
That the alleged assailant was shot by armed police. | 0:00:27 | 0:00:35 | |
As MPs are held in the chamber for their own safety, | 0:00:35 | 0:00:38 | |
the Scottish Parliament also suspends its sitting. | 0:00:38 | 0:00:41 | |
The fact that our sister Parliament has had a serious incident | 0:00:41 | 0:00:43 | |
is affecting this particular debate. | 0:00:43 | 0:00:49 | |
On a shocking and dramatic day, the first MPs knew | 0:00:49 | 0:00:51 | |
of the attack was this statement from the Deputy Speaker, | 0:00:51 | 0:00:54 | |
Lindsay Hoyle. | 0:00:54 | 0:00:56 | |
Order! | 0:00:56 | 0:00:57 | |
I am now going to suspend the sitting of the house. | 0:00:57 | 0:01:00 | |
This house is now suspended, but please wait here. | 0:01:00 | 0:01:05 | |
Outside the chamber, it was slowly becoming | 0:01:05 | 0:01:07 | |
clear what had happened. | 0:01:07 | 0:01:10 | |
At around 2:45pm, pedestrians and police had been mown down | 0:01:10 | 0:01:13 | |
as the attacker's car was driven across Westminster Bridge | 0:01:13 | 0:01:15 | |
and crashed into railings. | 0:01:15 | 0:01:19 | |
A man then tried to get into parliament and stabbed an armed | 0:01:19 | 0:01:22 | |
police officer who was protecting one of the entrances. | 0:01:22 | 0:01:25 | |
The officer was killed. | 0:01:25 | 0:01:27 | |
Police later said the attacker also died in the incident and that more | 0:01:27 | 0:01:30 | |
than 20 people had been wounded. | 0:01:31 | 0:01:33 | |
With the scale of the deaths and casualties still unclear, | 0:01:33 | 0:01:36 | |
inside Parliament the Commons chamber was locked down, | 0:01:36 | 0:01:39 | |
meaning MPs were unable to leave. | 0:01:39 | 0:01:43 | |
15 minutes after the sitting was suspended, the Leader | 0:01:43 | 0:01:45 | |
of the Commons updated MPs. | 0:01:45 | 0:01:48 | |
Events have been moving rapidly and I want to emphasise | 0:01:48 | 0:01:52 | |
that the knowledge that I have which is definite is | 0:01:52 | 0:01:54 | |
so far very limited. | 0:01:54 | 0:01:58 | |
What I am able to say to the house is that there has been a serious | 0:01:58 | 0:02:02 | |
incident within the estate. | 0:02:02 | 0:02:07 | |
It seems that a police officer has been stabbed. | 0:02:07 | 0:02:13 | |
That the alleged assailant was shot by armed police. | 0:02:13 | 0:02:21 | |
An air ambulance is currently attending the scene | 0:02:21 | 0:02:23 | |
to remove the casualties. | 0:02:23 | 0:02:28 | |
There are also reports of further violent incidents in the vicinity | 0:02:28 | 0:02:34 | |
of the Palace of Westminster, but I hope colleagues on all sides | 0:02:34 | 0:02:38 | |
will appreciate that it would be wrong of me to go into further | 0:02:38 | 0:02:43 | |
details until we have confirmation from the police and from the house | 0:02:43 | 0:02:46 | |
security authorities about what is going on. | 0:02:46 | 0:02:51 | |
The Shadow Leader of the House stood up. | 0:02:51 | 0:02:53 | |
Can I thank the leader for the statement and just to say | 0:02:53 | 0:02:56 | |
that our thoughts and prayers are with the police officer. | 0:02:56 | 0:02:58 | |
And to thank the police and security services, | 0:02:58 | 0:03:01 | |
and all the staff for looking after us so well. | 0:03:01 | 0:03:06 | |
To the honourable lady, I think those sentiments will be | 0:03:06 | 0:03:09 | |
shared without reservation in all parts of the house. | 0:03:09 | 0:03:13 | |
We remain suspended until further notice. | 0:03:13 | 0:03:15 | |
With that, the sitting was suspended again and David Lidington came back | 0:03:15 | 0:03:19 | |
to the chamber 20 minutes later with another update. | 0:03:19 | 0:03:23 | |
It is clear that the advice from the police, the director | 0:03:23 | 0:03:25 | |
of security, is still that the chamber should | 0:03:25 | 0:03:27 | |
remain in lockdown. | 0:03:27 | 0:03:33 | |
I think, as most colleagues will realise, a number of right | 0:03:33 | 0:03:36 | |
honourable and honourable members are also in other parts | 0:03:36 | 0:03:38 | |
of the estate and for obvious reasons are unable to be | 0:03:38 | 0:03:41 | |
present for business. | 0:03:41 | 0:03:44 | |
There have been conversations through the usual channels. | 0:03:44 | 0:03:49 | |
I hope the house would agree that in the current circumstances it | 0:03:49 | 0:03:53 | |
would not be right to continue with today's business. | 0:03:53 | 0:03:58 | |
Discussions between the usual channels will take place to ensure | 0:03:58 | 0:04:02 | |
that the business that has been interrupted can be rescheduled for | 0:04:02 | 0:04:04 | |
another mutually convenient date. | 0:04:04 | 0:04:10 | |
I know, Mr Deputy Speaker, that you will want to keep the house, | 0:04:10 | 0:04:14 | |
although we remain in lockdown here, informed about any news | 0:04:14 | 0:04:19 | |
that comes through from the security authorities. | 0:04:19 | 0:04:21 | |
But in view of what I sense to be the mood of the house | 0:04:21 | 0:04:25 | |
and the situation in which we find ourselves, I beg to move | 0:04:25 | 0:04:28 | |
that the house do now adjourn. | 0:04:28 | 0:04:30 | |
The question is this house shall now adjourn. | 0:04:30 | 0:04:31 | |
As many of the opinion say aye. | 0:04:31 | 0:04:33 | |
Aye! | 0:04:33 | 0:04:34 | |
The ayes have it. | 0:04:34 | 0:04:36 | |
And so Parliament was suspended for the day. | 0:04:36 | 0:04:39 | |
The Lords, which was due to sit at 3pm, called off its sitting. | 0:04:39 | 0:04:43 | |
Meanwhile, MPs were held in the Commons chamber for more | 0:04:43 | 0:04:46 | |
than two hours before being eventually released. | 0:04:46 | 0:04:50 | |
A joint statement from the Commons Speaker, | 0:04:50 | 0:04:52 | |
John Bercow, and Lord Fowler, the Lords Speaker, sent | 0:04:52 | 0:04:54 | |
thoughts to all those affected and their families, | 0:04:54 | 0:04:57 | |
and expressed gratitude to the police and all | 0:04:57 | 0:04:59 | |
the emergency services. | 0:04:59 | 0:05:03 | |
Before the attack, it had been a Wednesday like most others, | 0:05:03 | 0:05:07 | |
when the news agenda was set by Prime Minister's Questions. | 0:05:07 | 0:05:11 | |
The Labour leader had used the session to accuse | 0:05:11 | 0:05:13 | |
the Government of cutting school funding in England. | 0:05:13 | 0:05:16 | |
He said smaller budgets could lead to bigger class sizes | 0:05:16 | 0:05:19 | |
and less choice for pupils. | 0:05:19 | 0:05:23 | |
Theresa May defended a consultation that had been held on school funding | 0:05:23 | 0:05:26 | |
and she accused Labour of wanting to pull up the ladder | 0:05:26 | 0:05:29 | |
on achievement. | 0:05:29 | 0:05:31 | |
But the session began with Mrs May offering | 0:05:31 | 0:05:33 | |
condolences following the death of Northern Ireland's former | 0:05:33 | 0:05:35 | |
Deputy First Minister, Martin McGuinness. | 0:05:35 | 0:05:40 | |
Of course we do not condone or justify the path he took | 0:05:40 | 0:05:43 | |
in the earlier part of his life and we should never forget that, | 0:05:43 | 0:05:47 | |
nor the victims of terrorism. | 0:05:47 | 0:05:51 | |
However, as my noble friend Lord Trimble set out yesterday, | 0:05:51 | 0:05:54 | |
he played an indispensable role in bringing the Republican movement | 0:05:54 | 0:05:57 | |
away from violence to peaceful and democratic means, | 0:05:57 | 0:05:59 | |
and to building a better Northern Ireland. | 0:05:59 | 0:06:03 | |
A sentiment echoed by the Leader of the Opposition. | 0:06:03 | 0:06:06 | |
Martin played an immeasurable role in bringing about peace | 0:06:06 | 0:06:09 | |
in Northern Ireland and it's that peace that we all want to see | 0:06:09 | 0:06:13 | |
endure for all time, for all people in Northern Ireland. | 0:06:13 | 0:06:17 | |
He moved on to proposed changes to school funding. | 0:06:17 | 0:06:20 | |
He said school budgets were being cut by more than 6% | 0:06:20 | 0:06:23 | |
and he took a swipe at the former Chancellor George Osborne's new job. | 0:06:23 | 0:06:28 | |
The manifesto on which he fought the last election promised that | 0:06:28 | 0:06:32 | |
under a future Conservative government, the amount of money | 0:06:32 | 0:06:36 | |
following your child into school will be protected. | 0:06:36 | 0:06:40 | |
No wonder even the editor of the London Evening Standard | 0:06:40 | 0:06:42 | |
is up in arms about this! | 0:06:42 | 0:06:49 | |
Mr Speaker, the cut to school funding equates the loss of two | 0:06:49 | 0:06:55 | |
teachers across all primary schools, six teachers across | 0:06:55 | 0:06:58 | |
all secondary schools. | 0:06:58 | 0:07:01 | |
So is the Prime Minister advocating larger class sizes? | 0:07:01 | 0:07:05 | |
Shorter school days? | 0:07:05 | 0:07:07 | |
Or unqualified teachers? | 0:07:07 | 0:07:08 | |
Which is it? | 0:07:08 | 0:07:12 | |
We have, as we said we would, we have protected the schools budget. | 0:07:12 | 0:07:16 | |
We now see more teachers in our schools, we see more teachers | 0:07:16 | 0:07:20 | |
with first-class degrees in our schools. | 0:07:20 | 0:07:24 | |
We see 1.8 million more children in good or outstanding schools. | 0:07:24 | 0:07:30 | |
That's a result of the policies of this government. | 0:07:30 | 0:07:33 | |
Jeremy Corbyn quoted a letter from a primary school | 0:07:33 | 0:07:35 | |
teacher called Eileen. | 0:07:35 | 0:07:38 | |
She wrote to me to say teachers are purchasing items such as pens, | 0:07:38 | 0:07:43 | |
pencils, glue sticks and paper out of their own pockets. | 0:07:43 | 0:07:47 | |
Fundraising events have quadrupled as funds are so low that parents | 0:07:47 | 0:07:50 | |
are having to make donations to purchase books. | 0:07:50 | 0:07:54 | |
This is disgraceful, says Eileen. | 0:07:54 | 0:07:57 | |
Does the Prime Minister agree with Eileen? | 0:07:57 | 0:08:01 | |
Theresa May said her government wanted children to get | 0:08:01 | 0:08:03 | |
on on the basis of merit. | 0:08:03 | 0:08:06 | |
Jeremy Corbyn was unconvinced. | 0:08:06 | 0:08:08 | |
And in the Budget, the government found no more money for the schools | 0:08:08 | 0:08:12 | |
budget, but it did find ?320 million for her own special schools, | 0:08:12 | 0:08:18 | |
grammar schools, vanity project. | 0:08:18 | 0:08:22 | |
So there's no money for Eileen's schools, yet ?320 million | 0:08:22 | 0:08:24 | |
for divisive grammar schools. | 0:08:24 | 0:08:25 | |
What kind of priority is that? | 0:08:25 | 0:08:32 | |
We've put forward a proposal, we are consulting on it. | 0:08:32 | 0:08:35 | |
Consultation closes today. | 0:08:35 | 0:08:38 | |
We will respond to that consultation. | 0:08:38 | 0:08:42 | |
But he talks about the issue of the sort of system | 0:08:42 | 0:08:44 | |
in schools we want. | 0:08:44 | 0:08:46 | |
Yes, we want diversity. | 0:08:46 | 0:08:48 | |
We want different sorts of schools. | 0:08:48 | 0:08:51 | |
We have put money into new school places. | 0:08:51 | 0:08:53 | |
But I say to the right honourable gentleman, | 0:08:53 | 0:08:55 | |
his Shadow Home Secretary sent her child to a private school. | 0:08:55 | 0:08:59 | |
His Shadow Attorney General sent her child to a private school. | 0:08:59 | 0:09:02 | |
He sent his child to a grammar school. | 0:09:02 | 0:09:12 | |
He went to a grammar school himself. | 0:09:12 | 0:09:14 | |
Typical Labour, take the advantage and pull up the ladder behind you. | 0:09:14 | 0:09:19 | |
The SNP's Westminster leader turned to Brexit. | 0:09:19 | 0:09:22 | |
The Prime Minister says that she wants Article 50 | 0:09:22 | 0:09:26 | |
negotiations to lead to a deal and she wants people to know | 0:09:26 | 0:09:30 | |
the outcome of that deal before it is approved. | 0:09:30 | 0:09:34 | |
Will the Prime Minister confirm that in the period for an agreement, | 0:09:34 | 0:09:39 | |
the House of Commons will have a choice, the House | 0:09:39 | 0:09:42 | |
of Lords will have a choice, the European Parliament | 0:09:42 | 0:09:44 | |
will have a choice, 27 member states of the European Union | 0:09:44 | 0:09:46 | |
will have a choice? | 0:09:46 | 0:09:52 | |
If it's right for all of them to have a choice about Scotland's | 0:09:52 | 0:09:55 | |
future, why should the people of Scotland not have a choice | 0:09:55 | 0:09:57 | |
about their own future? | 0:09:58 | 0:10:03 | |
This isn't a question about whether the people of Scotland | 0:10:06 | 0:10:08 | |
should have a choice on their future. | 0:10:08 | 0:10:13 | |
The people... | 0:10:13 | 0:10:19 | |
The people of Scotland voted, exercised their right | 0:10:19 | 0:10:24 | |
to self-determination, and voted in 2014 to remain a part | 0:10:24 | 0:10:27 | |
of the United Kingdom. | 0:10:27 | 0:10:33 | |
The people of the United Kingdom last year voted to leave | 0:10:33 | 0:10:36 | |
the European Union. | 0:10:36 | 0:10:39 | |
We are respecting both of those votes. | 0:10:39 | 0:10:44 | |
He is respecting neither of them. | 0:10:44 | 0:10:47 | |
Theresa May. | 0:10:47 | 0:10:48 | |
The Transport Department has announced that the ban on airline | 0:10:48 | 0:10:52 | |
passengers carrying laptops and other devices in their | 0:10:52 | 0:10:54 | |
cabin baggage will be brought in by Saturday. | 0:10:54 | 0:10:58 | |
It affects flights to the UK from Turkey, Lebanon, | 0:10:58 | 0:11:00 | |
Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Tunisia and Jordan. | 0:11:00 | 0:11:04 | |
The Transport Secretary, Chris Grayling, told | 0:11:04 | 0:11:06 | |
the Commons he wanted aviation to continue as normal. | 0:11:06 | 0:11:09 | |
These were extra security measures to make sure it was safe. | 0:11:09 | 0:11:13 | |
I know the whole house will recognise the fact that we face | 0:11:13 | 0:11:16 | |
a constantly evolving threat from terrorism and must respond | 0:11:16 | 0:11:18 | |
accordingly to ensure the protection of the public against those | 0:11:18 | 0:11:21 | |
who would do us harm. | 0:11:21 | 0:11:23 | |
The changes we're making to our security measures | 0:11:23 | 0:11:26 | |
are an important part of that process and I assure the house | 0:11:26 | 0:11:29 | |
we'll continue to work closely with airlines, | 0:11:29 | 0:11:30 | |
airports and the wider travel industry over the coming weeks | 0:11:30 | 0:11:33 | |
to ensure that passengers know what is expected of them. | 0:11:33 | 0:11:38 | |
Have checks on these items been stepped up in addition to changes | 0:11:38 | 0:11:42 | |
to their placements on the aircraft and what evidence does he have that | 0:11:42 | 0:11:45 | |
placing potentially problematic items in the hold is safer | 0:11:45 | 0:11:49 | |
than in the cabin, especially as potentially explosive devices | 0:11:49 | 0:11:51 | |
such as lithium ion batteries have been banned from hold luggage? | 0:11:51 | 0:11:57 | |
Mr Speaker, aviation security is rightly under constant review. | 0:11:57 | 0:12:00 | |
Can he assure all of us that all is being done to make sure these | 0:12:00 | 0:12:04 | |
regulations are effective, consistent and put | 0:12:04 | 0:12:05 | |
the passenger first? | 0:12:05 | 0:12:08 | |
We respond in aviation security to the evolving threat | 0:12:08 | 0:12:11 | |
that we face from terrorists. | 0:12:11 | 0:12:16 | |
There are some things that we make public and others that we don't. | 0:12:16 | 0:12:20 | |
I'm not going to give the honourable gentleman full details | 0:12:20 | 0:12:23 | |
of the background to the decision. | 0:12:23 | 0:12:25 | |
It's been taken, it's in response to an evolving threat. | 0:12:25 | 0:12:28 | |
He would not expect me to do that. | 0:12:28 | 0:12:30 | |
Suffice to say to the house, we have taken the steps we have | 0:12:30 | 0:12:33 | |
taken for good reason. | 0:12:33 | 0:12:35 | |
Having just returned from the Conservative Middle East | 0:12:35 | 0:12:37 | |
Council trip to Egypt, we were able to see the devastating | 0:12:37 | 0:12:40 | |
effects to the local economy in Sharm el Sheikh on the continuing | 0:12:40 | 0:12:43 | |
ban on flights to that region. | 0:12:43 | 0:12:46 | |
We were also able to meet with the president and hear first | 0:12:46 | 0:12:48 | |
hand from the Egyptians their concerns that they are being | 0:12:48 | 0:12:51 | |
singled out in some way. | 0:12:51 | 0:12:53 | |
That may be the reaction of other allies who are being named today. | 0:12:53 | 0:12:57 | |
Will my right honourable friend commit to discussing with other | 0:12:57 | 0:13:00 | |
ministers a diplomatic offensive to go to these countries to explain | 0:13:00 | 0:13:03 | |
to them why these actions are being taken and they are not | 0:13:03 | 0:13:06 | |
being singled out? | 0:13:06 | 0:13:09 | |
This is not a question of singling out countries. | 0:13:09 | 0:13:11 | |
We would never embark on a process of singling out countries. | 0:13:11 | 0:13:15 | |
The decisions we take are purely and simply taken on the basis | 0:13:15 | 0:13:18 | |
of what we believe the risks are and where we believe we need | 0:13:18 | 0:13:22 | |
to take steps to protect United Kingdom citizens. | 0:13:22 | 0:13:27 | |
Safety has to be our top priority, but there really | 0:13:27 | 0:13:29 | |
are too many loose ends. | 0:13:29 | 0:13:30 | |
If there really are clear security grounds for the restrictions | 0:13:30 | 0:13:34 | |
the Secretary of State has introduced, he has to be | 0:13:34 | 0:13:36 | |
clearer about what those security grounds are. | 0:13:36 | 0:13:39 | |
Otherwise both the UK government and the US government will remain | 0:13:39 | 0:13:43 | |
open to the suspicion that they are unreasonably singling | 0:13:43 | 0:13:47 | |
out particular countries in the Middle East and North Africa | 0:13:47 | 0:13:51 | |
rather than thinking through properly what precautions | 0:13:51 | 0:13:57 | |
can actually keep flights safe from terrorism wherever | 0:13:57 | 0:13:59 | |
the aircraft involved fly from. | 0:13:59 | 0:14:01 | |
I understand his desire for information, but the reality | 0:14:01 | 0:14:03 | |
is we have an evolving security threat to aircraft, we take | 0:14:03 | 0:14:07 | |
decisions as and when we believe it is necessary to do | 0:14:07 | 0:14:10 | |
so to protect our citizens. | 0:14:10 | 0:14:12 | |
I'm very clear, it's nothing to do with singling out | 0:14:12 | 0:14:14 | |
countries, it's nothing to do with what the destinations are. | 0:14:14 | 0:14:17 | |
The decisions we take are purely and simply based on an evolving | 0:14:17 | 0:14:20 | |
security threat and what we believe is the right way to protect | 0:14:20 | 0:14:23 | |
United Kingdom citizens. | 0:14:23 | 0:14:27 | |
Sir Desmond Swayne. | 0:14:27 | 0:14:29 | |
Why are they safer in the hold? | 0:14:29 | 0:14:34 | |
Mr Speaker, as I said, and I hate to be disingenuous | 0:14:34 | 0:14:39 | |
to my honourable friend in terms of repeating the answers, | 0:14:39 | 0:14:42 | |
but I can't discuss the detail of that evolving security threat. | 0:14:42 | 0:14:46 | |
Would he outline what steps will be taken to reassure passengers | 0:14:46 | 0:14:49 | |
as well as inform them on the work the government is doing? | 0:14:49 | 0:14:51 | |
We are not saying to people do not travel to these countries. | 0:14:51 | 0:14:54 | |
We are not saying to people cancel your flights. | 0:14:54 | 0:14:56 | |
We are not saying to people cancel your holidays. | 0:14:56 | 0:15:00 | |
We want aviation to continue as normal. | 0:15:00 | 0:15:04 | |
We are simply taking additional security measures to make sure | 0:15:04 | 0:15:07 | |
that aviation is safe. | 0:15:07 | 0:15:08 | |
Can I just ask the Secretary of State to give assurance | 0:15:08 | 0:15:11 | |
to my constituents and other Muslim people around the UK who may be | 0:15:11 | 0:15:14 | |
feeling that this is another attack on their liberties? | 0:15:14 | 0:15:19 | |
Can I ask him to give an assurance that it is not that | 0:15:19 | 0:15:22 | |
and that they will be treated properly and with dignity | 0:15:22 | 0:15:25 | |
as they travel through UK airports? | 0:15:25 | 0:15:27 | |
Let me also be clear about this point. | 0:15:27 | 0:15:29 | |
In recent years, we've seen a whole range of | 0:15:29 | 0:15:31 | |
horrendous terrorist events. | 0:15:31 | 0:15:33 | |
In those events, Christians, Muslims, Hindus and people with no | 0:15:33 | 0:15:37 | |
faith and many others have died side-by-side. | 0:15:37 | 0:15:41 | |
Our job is to protect every single citizen of the United Kingdom | 0:15:41 | 0:15:44 | |
whatever their faith. | 0:15:44 | 0:15:48 | |
This is about protecting every single citizen of the United Kingdom | 0:15:48 | 0:15:50 | |
whatever their faith. | 0:15:51 | 0:15:53 | |
Chris Grayling. | 0:15:53 | 0:15:54 | |
You're watching Wednesday in Parliament with me, Alicia McCarthy. | 0:15:54 | 0:15:58 | |
The Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales has strongly criticised | 0:16:04 | 0:16:07 | |
the Lord Chancellor, Liz Truss, saying her view | 0:16:07 | 0:16:09 | |
of her constitutional duty towards the judiciary was completely | 0:16:09 | 0:16:12 | |
and utterly wrong. | 0:16:12 | 0:16:14 | |
Earlier this month, Liz Truss told the Lords Constitution Committee | 0:16:14 | 0:16:17 | |
that she was a huge believer in the independence of | 0:16:17 | 0:16:19 | |
the judiciary, but drew the line at saying what the press should print. | 0:16:19 | 0:16:29 | |
The Daily Mail branded the Lord Chief Justice and two | 0:16:29 | 0:16:31 | |
High Court judges "enemies of the people" after they ruled | 0:16:31 | 0:16:34 | |
against the Government in the first Brexit hearing last November. | 0:16:34 | 0:16:36 | |
Lord Chief Justice, I want to ask you about the press coverage | 0:16:36 | 0:16:40 | |
of the first judgment in the Article 50 proceedings, which you presided | 0:16:40 | 0:16:43 | |
over in the High Court. | 0:16:43 | 0:16:49 | |
He said the Constitutional Reform Act of 2005 placed a duty | 0:16:49 | 0:16:52 | |
on the Lord Chancellor to protect the independence of the judiciary. | 0:16:52 | 0:16:55 | |
The very words are, the need to protect that independence. | 0:16:55 | 0:17:01 | |
Before us a week or so ago, she said she will respectfully | 0:17:01 | 0:17:05 | |
disagree with some who have asked me to condemn what the press | 0:17:05 | 0:17:08 | |
are writing, stating that she draws the line at saying | 0:17:08 | 0:17:12 | |
what is acceptable for the press to print or not. | 0:17:12 | 0:17:16 | |
She thought the best way to proceed was to make the positive case. | 0:17:16 | 0:17:23 | |
In light of the constitutional requirements and those answers, | 0:17:23 | 0:17:27 | |
how and by whom, in your view and that of the judiciary, should | 0:17:27 | 0:17:31 | |
this independence be protected? | 0:17:31 | 0:17:34 | |
In short, I believe the Lord Chancellor is completely and utterly | 0:17:34 | 0:17:37 | |
wrong in the view she takes. | 0:17:37 | 0:17:43 | |
I regret to have to say that. | 0:17:43 | 0:17:45 | |
Can I explain the position I took? | 0:17:45 | 0:17:48 | |
First, it seems to me inappropriate to say anything | 0:17:48 | 0:17:51 | |
during the time of the decision. | 0:17:51 | 0:17:55 | |
Secondly, it was inappropriate to say anything until | 0:17:55 | 0:17:57 | |
the legislation had been passed. | 0:17:57 | 0:18:00 | |
Thirdly, I'm extremely reluctant to get into an argument that in any | 0:18:00 | 0:18:03 | |
way compromises the position that the judiciary have taken | 0:18:03 | 0:18:09 | |
on Brexit, which is to get on with the legal problems and leave | 0:18:09 | 0:18:13 | |
the politics to the politicians. | 0:18:13 | 0:18:17 | |
He said it was important to maintain a free press. | 0:18:17 | 0:18:20 | |
I think criticism is very healthy. | 0:18:20 | 0:18:22 | |
If you've got something wrong, fine. | 0:18:22 | 0:18:25 | |
But there's a difference between criticism and abuse. | 0:18:25 | 0:18:28 | |
I don't think that is understood. | 0:18:28 | 0:18:32 | |
I don't think it's understood, either, how absolutely essential | 0:18:32 | 0:18:34 | |
it is that we are protected. | 0:18:34 | 0:18:39 | |
Because we have to act as our oath requires us, | 0:18:39 | 0:18:42 | |
without fear or favour, affection or ill will. | 0:18:42 | 0:18:48 | |
It is clear, after Brexit, in relation to the first | 0:18:48 | 0:18:53 | |
Article 50 judgment, that the claimant had | 0:18:53 | 0:18:57 | |
been subjected to quite a considerable number of threats. | 0:18:57 | 0:19:04 | |
It's the only time in the whole of my judicial career that I've had | 0:19:04 | 0:19:08 | |
to ask for the police to give us a measure of advice and protection | 0:19:08 | 0:19:13 | |
in relation to the emotions that were being stirred up. | 0:19:13 | 0:19:18 | |
I think that it's very wrong that judges should feel it. | 0:19:18 | 0:19:23 | |
I've done a number of cases involving Al-Qaeda, I dealt | 0:19:23 | 0:19:27 | |
with the airline bombers plot, some very, very serious cases. | 0:19:27 | 0:19:32 | |
I've never had that problem before. | 0:19:32 | 0:19:34 | |
The circuit judges were very concerned. | 0:19:34 | 0:19:37 | |
They wrote to the Lord Chancellor because litigants in person | 0:19:37 | 0:19:39 | |
were coming and saying, you're an enemy of the people. | 0:19:39 | 0:19:42 | |
I regret to have to criticise as severely as I have, | 0:19:42 | 0:19:46 | |
but to my mind she's completely and absolutely wrong. | 0:19:46 | 0:19:51 | |
I'm very disappointed. | 0:19:52 | 0:19:54 | |
I can understand what the pressures were in November, | 0:19:54 | 0:19:56 | |
but she has taken a position that is constitutionally | 0:19:56 | 0:19:58 | |
absolutely wrong. | 0:19:58 | 0:20:04 | |
Thank you, Lord Chief Justice. | 0:20:04 | 0:20:05 | |
I'm very glad that the committee has given you the opportunity | 0:20:05 | 0:20:08 | |
to set out your position. | 0:20:08 | 0:20:09 | |
You have done so very clearly. | 0:20:09 | 0:20:11 | |
I will do so with the whole of the history of this problem | 0:20:11 | 0:20:14 | |
on June 15th here in Parliament. | 0:20:14 | 0:20:17 | |
We shall look forward to that. | 0:20:17 | 0:20:18 | |
I'm relieved to be able to say that the committee produced a report | 0:20:18 | 0:20:22 | |
on the office and role of the Lord Chancellor a couple | 0:20:22 | 0:20:24 | |
of years ago which takes more or less the same view, | 0:20:24 | 0:20:27 | |
but not in such clear and robust terms as you were able to. | 0:20:27 | 0:20:30 | |
I'm sorry, there's no point in mincing words. | 0:20:30 | 0:20:32 | |
Indeed not. | 0:20:32 | 0:20:35 | |
Why I feel so firm about this is that in the Financial Times | 0:20:35 | 0:20:39 | |
article, the Lord Chancellor went on to say that, and I can see | 0:20:39 | 0:20:42 | |
the force of her concern, that when the powers in the European | 0:20:42 | 0:20:50 | |
court are repatriated the decisions of the courts will come | 0:20:50 | 0:20:53 | |
under greater scrutiny. | 0:20:53 | 0:20:57 | |
Well, it really is absolutely essential that we have a Lord | 0:20:57 | 0:21:00 | |
Chancellor who understands her constitutional duty. | 0:21:00 | 0:21:02 | |
Yes, thank you. | 0:21:02 | 0:21:04 | |
I think we need to move on, however. | 0:21:04 | 0:21:06 | |
Before we leave controversy entirely... | 0:21:06 | 0:21:09 | |
I don't think I've said anything controversial. | 0:21:09 | 0:21:14 | |
At least to lawyers. | 0:21:14 | 0:21:15 | |
Indeed not. | 0:21:15 | 0:21:16 | |
The Prime Minister is gearing up to trigger Article 50 next week, | 0:21:16 | 0:21:20 | |
the official start of the process for the UK leaving the EU. | 0:21:20 | 0:21:24 | |
The UK voted by 52% to 48% to leave the European Union | 0:21:24 | 0:21:27 | |
in a poll in June. | 0:21:27 | 0:21:30 | |
Negotiations over the terms of that exit will begin shortly. | 0:21:30 | 0:21:34 | |
In the Commons, the leader of the Liberal Democrats launched | 0:21:34 | 0:21:37 | |
an attempt to have a second referendum once the Brexit | 0:21:37 | 0:21:39 | |
deal is drawn up. | 0:21:39 | 0:21:45 | |
Bringing in what's known as a Ten Minute Rule Bill, | 0:21:45 | 0:21:48 | |
he explained what he wanted. | 0:21:48 | 0:21:49 | |
I accept that we have had our mandate referendum | 0:21:49 | 0:21:51 | |
in which the British people voted to leave. | 0:21:51 | 0:21:53 | |
But voting for departure is not the same as voting | 0:21:53 | 0:21:55 | |
for a destination. | 0:21:55 | 0:21:57 | |
Now the Government should give the British people a decision | 0:21:57 | 0:21:59 | |
referendum to be held when the EU negotiation is concluded | 0:21:59 | 0:22:03 | |
so that the British people have all the necessary information | 0:22:03 | 0:22:06 | |
and know what our future partnership will be. | 0:22:06 | 0:22:10 | |
It is the people who are suffering in this country. | 0:22:10 | 0:22:20 | |
It is the people who are sovereign in this country. | 0:22:21 | 0:22:23 | |
The people can and must have their say over what comes next. | 0:22:23 | 0:22:26 | |
This bill would enshrine in law their right to do so. | 0:22:26 | 0:22:28 | |
The detail or even the general nature of the deal that this | 0:22:28 | 0:22:31 | |
government may reach with the European Union | 0:22:31 | 0:22:33 | |
is currently completely unknown and a mystery to us, | 0:22:33 | 0:22:35 | |
a mystery to them. | 0:22:35 | 0:22:36 | |
Yet the British people are now told they must simply shrug and accept | 0:22:36 | 0:22:39 | |
any old deal irrespective of its content or its quality. | 0:22:39 | 0:22:43 | |
What started with democracy cannot end now with a stitch-up. | 0:22:43 | 0:22:46 | |
The deal must not be merely rubber-stamped by politicians, | 0:22:46 | 0:22:49 | |
it must be agreed by the people. | 0:22:49 | 0:22:52 | |
Tim Farron won the right to take his bill forward, | 0:22:52 | 0:22:55 | |
but as it doesn't have Government backing, it won't become law. | 0:22:55 | 0:23:00 | |
The terror attack at Westminster also had a dramatic impact | 0:23:00 | 0:23:03 | |
on events in Holyrood. | 0:23:03 | 0:23:06 | |
MSPs had gathered for the second day of, and crucially to vote on, | 0:23:06 | 0:23:09 | |
whether or not to back a motion giving the Scottish Government | 0:23:09 | 0:23:13 | |
a mandate to negotiate the terms of a second independence referendum | 0:23:13 | 0:23:15 | |
with the UK Government. | 0:23:15 | 0:23:18 | |
The debate had been opened by the External Affairs Secretary. | 0:23:18 | 0:23:23 | |
The UK withdrawing from the EU presents Scotland with one | 0:23:23 | 0:23:26 | |
of the most critical challenges it has faced in the modern era | 0:23:26 | 0:23:30 | |
as we face being taken out of the EU against our will. | 0:23:30 | 0:23:35 | |
If Scotland can be ignored on an issue as big and important | 0:23:35 | 0:23:39 | |
as this, it is clear our voice and our interest can be ignored | 0:23:39 | 0:23:42 | |
at any time on any issue. | 0:23:42 | 0:23:47 | |
The SNP wants to put the trading relationship with the EU ahead | 0:23:47 | 0:23:50 | |
of the internal UK market. | 0:23:50 | 0:23:55 | |
This refusal to recognise any benefit derived from being part | 0:23:55 | 0:23:59 | |
of the UK is a result of an increasingly | 0:23:59 | 0:24:02 | |
nasty nationalism. | 0:24:02 | 0:24:06 | |
The First Minister says the people's voice must be heard. | 0:24:06 | 0:24:10 | |
She has conversed with them, consulted them, and asked them | 0:24:10 | 0:24:13 | |
a once-in-a-lifetime question. | 0:24:13 | 0:24:17 | |
They gave their answer and it was no. | 0:24:17 | 0:24:21 | |
Now the people are saying enough is enough. | 0:24:21 | 0:24:25 | |
Time to stop the campaign, not restart it. | 0:24:25 | 0:24:29 | |
To heal the wounds, not reopen them. | 0:24:29 | 0:24:32 | |
Listen to them, First Minister, for the love of Scotland. | 0:24:32 | 0:24:36 | |
Listen to them. | 0:24:36 | 0:24:38 | |
MSPs were told of the attack at Westminster by the Deputy | 0:24:38 | 0:24:42 | |
Presiding Officer partway through their debate, but carried | 0:24:42 | 0:24:44 | |
on for another half-hour before the presiding officer intervened. | 0:24:44 | 0:24:48 | |
I've certainly no wish to cause undue alarm here, | 0:24:48 | 0:24:51 | |
and security has been increased here, but I'm also aware | 0:24:51 | 0:24:54 | |
that the fact that our sister Parliament has had a serious | 0:24:54 | 0:25:01 | |
incident is affecting this particular debate and is affecting | 0:25:01 | 0:25:04 | |
the contribution of members. | 0:25:04 | 0:25:07 | |
It is for that reason we are deciding to suspend the sitting. | 0:25:07 | 0:25:10 | |
We will find time to resume this debate. | 0:25:10 | 0:25:14 | |
Thank you. | 0:25:14 | 0:25:18 | |
We will resume this debate and we will be able to do | 0:25:18 | 0:25:22 | |
so in a full and frank manner. | 0:25:22 | 0:25:24 | |
I think to continue at the moment would not allow members to make | 0:25:24 | 0:25:27 | |
contributions in the manner they would wish to. | 0:25:27 | 0:25:30 | |
And so that debate was halted and will now be rescheduled. | 0:25:30 | 0:25:34 | |
The Welsh Assembly also called a halt to its | 0:25:34 | 0:25:36 | |
proceedings for the day. | 0:25:36 | 0:25:39 | |
That's it from me for now. | 0:25:39 | 0:25:40 | |
Do join me at the same time tomorrow for another round-up of the day | 0:25:40 | 0:25:44 | |
here at Westminster. | 0:25:44 | 0:25:45 | |
For now, from me, Alicia McCarthy, goodbye. | 0:25:45 | 0:25:48 |