20/06/2014 The Week in Parliament


20/06/2014

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jury did not believe. Now on BBC News: The Week in

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Parliament. Hello and welcome to The Week in

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Parliament. We've lost in the football. Could the Prime Minister

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be about to lose in Europe? Under the treaties, we should choose who

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runs the European Commission. And I don't mind how many people on the

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European Council disagree with me, I will fight this right to the very

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end. The battle to become the next European Commission President comes

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to a climax. Now, what about that other contest that's hotting up? Are

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the claims too exaggerated in the Scottish referendum battle? Both

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sides have made the mistake in the past of getting into negative

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campaigning, and certainly, the Better Together campaign realise

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that mistakes were made there, and that it is important to be positive

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about the future. We talk to both the Yes and the No campaigns about

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the latest developments. But first, if a Luxembourg politician is the

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talk of Westminster, it can mean only one thing. Yes, a new President

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of the European Commission is about to be appointed. The front runner is

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Jean`Claude Juncker, the former Luxembourg premier. We're just a few

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days away from the meeting of EU leaders that will, in effect, decide

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who follows in the footsteps of such notable, perhaps notorious, figures

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as Jacques Delors, Jacques Santer, and Manuel Barroso. Mr Juncker is

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far too much of a eurofederalist for the liking of David Cameron, who,

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not for the first time, is looking increasingly isolated in Europe. It

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was a former Foreign Office Minister who raised the subject of the next

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Commission President at Prime stop Mr Juncker? Well, it is a simple

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issue of principle. It is a simple issue of principle much more

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connected to the principle than the name. The principle is this, and I

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think it will be shared on every side of the house, that the members

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of the European council who are the elected prime ministers and the

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elected presidents under the treaties, we should choose who runs

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the commission. And I don't mind how many people on the European council

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disagree with me, I will fight this right to the very end. And what I

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would say, what I would say to my colleagues on the European council,

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many of whom have expressed interesting views about both this

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principle and this person, if you want reform in Europe, you have to

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stand up for it. If you want change in Europe, you have to vote for it.

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That is the message I will take, and it is the right message for our

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country. Is my right honourable friend aware that at the conference

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this weekend in Athens of the national chairman of the European

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select committees, with delegates from all parties, but also, chairman

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of the European Parliament three committees as well, that the British

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delegation defeated an attempt to treat the word euroscepticism as

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equivalent to xenophobia and racism? And furthermore, that on the

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question of the procedure, the unprecedented procedure relating to

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the proposed appointment or election of Mr Juncker, that the conference

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also agreed with the British delegation that this was an

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unprecedented and unacceptable and unsuccessful procedure? Well, no

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surprises that my horrible friend was successful in this very

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important negotiation on behalf of Britain, and there is support right

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around Europe for the concept of the council of ministers making these

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choices, but as I say, it requires the elected Prime Minister 's

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presidents to vote in the way that they believe. The Prime Minister in

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resolute mood in the Commons. So why is the appointment of the next

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European Commission president causing such a headache? Claire

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Gould now explains more about this pivotal role and why David Cameron

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isn't in the same boat as his fellow European leaders this time around.

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While the votes were being counted in the European Parliament elections

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last month, you might not have been aware that another very important

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European election was just around the corner, the race to become the

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12th European Commission president. The centre`right European People's

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Party topped the European parliamentary poll, making their

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preferred candidate, Jean`Claude Juncker, hot favourite to succeed

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the current incumbent Jerseyman well Barroso. TRANSLATION: I feel fully

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entitled to become the next president of the European

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Commission. The commission president, holder of the most

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powerful office in the EU, proposes legislation by the European

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Parliament and oversees the EU's treaties, so if you are a European

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leader and he wants change your reform in Europe, you the President

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on side. ``you need the President on side. The trouble is, Mr Juncker's

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federalist views are a major problem for British Prime Minister David

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Cameron, who strongly opposes Mr Juncker's candidacy. It has got the

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British Prime Minister going round in circles, trying to find allies

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amongst the other European leaders ahead of the crucial decision on

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Friday. But as former friends, like the Dutch and the Swedish, seem to

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be melting away could the argument be lost already? Claire Gould

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reporting. And we're joined in the studio now by Stephen Booth, of the

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think tank, Open Europe. What is really at stake here? Is it a

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crucially important post? Well, yes, it is the body that proposes

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legislation in the European Union, so for someone like David Cameron

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who wants to see that change, he is in some ways dependent on what the

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commission is prepared to propose in terms of going forward. How did Mr

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Juncker become the top candidate, as it were? In essence, we have a power

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battle between the European Parliament on the one hand, pushing

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this idea of candidates, and Juncker was the lead candidate, this is the

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European Council, where the directly elected representatives of national

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government have traditionally appointed this person. This power

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battle seems to have the parliament taking the upper hand at the moment.

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Quite a lot of manoeuvring going on behind`the`scenes. That is the

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ironic thing. This is being held up by some as the acme of the

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democratic process, but we are still back into the old horse trading and

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everything else, and I think that is the case, and however Juncker gets

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there, if he does, in the end, it will because a backroom deals and

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horse trading among member states and everyone else. As it has always

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been. This seems to keep happening to David Cameron. He looked as if he

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has allies, and then they are not there. Are his tactics wrong? I

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think in this case, he was right to fight the principle, because this is

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not just about the personality. You can like or dislike Juncker as a

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personality, but this is about how this important post is selected. The

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Lisbon Treaty is quite clear about how it is meant to happen. The

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European Council are meant to recommend an appointment, and then

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the parliament accents or reject it. ``accepts. I think it is important

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to fight for that principle, because it is about two visions of how to

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run the EU. Does legitimacy come from national governments or this

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experiment in pan`European democracy? What is your prediction

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about what is going to happen? It is quite difficult to predict. It looks

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like it will go to a vote and Juncker will get the job, and that

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is bad news for Cameron in one sense, because he has put a lot of

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political capital into opposing him, but the consolation, ironically,

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maybe that Britain is offered some kind of compensation for that. I

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think Angela Merkel has already said that that would be something that

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would have to happen if Juncker is appointed. So, perversely, it is

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mostly good thing if Mr Juncker gets appointed, because Britain might

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benefit. I think it would be a great change in how we run the EU, but in

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terms of practical day`to`day policy, the UK might be compensated

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with a better post in the EU than I hope for otherwise. What position do

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you think they might get? It is difficult to speculate, but the UK

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does want a more economic portfolio, be that trade, internal markets, or

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competition. These are areas where the UK has traditionally had a

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greater interest. Thank you. The battle over Scotland's future

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continues to attract plenty of interest. On Tuesday the Chinese

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premier, Li Ka`Shing, backed the No campaign in the independence

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referendum when he said he favoured a "united United Kingdom". The Yes

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camp immediately countered by saying "unlike people in China", the Scots

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will have a "free and democratic vote" on September the 18th. On

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Monday the No camp organised a photo opportunity to show the breadth of

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opposition to independence, with the Labour, Conservative and Liberal

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Democrat leaders in Scotland appearing together at Carlton Hill

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in Edinburgh. All three parties have promised more tax`raising powers for

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the Scottish Parliament if Scotland stays in the UK. So that was a sunny

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Edinburgh last Monday. I'm joined in the studio now by the former Labour

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Deputy Chief Whip in the Commons, Lord McAvoy. Can I ask you firstly,

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the results of The Financial Times poll on the effectiveness of the yes

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and no campaigns, because it was a very interesting result? 51% of

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people for the yes to independence was fighting an effective campaign,

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but only 23% thought the no camp had an effective campaign. That is an

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enormous difference. The referendum debate is now only really hotting

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up. I wouldn't say there was a phoney war before, because both

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sides fought hard, but it is the message that counts, and the facts

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are, if the no campaign is that bad, they would be behind in the opinion

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polls, and they are not. So it is about the message, and we will

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continue to re`emphasise that message, that we do not want

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Scotland to separate, and the closer it gets to the referendum, I think

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that message will resonate with the Scottish people. They are remarkable

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figures, though, aren't they? I would accept that it has taken

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longer for the Better Together campaign to get fully up to speed

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than it has for the Yes campaign. The reasons for that, I think, first

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of all, it is much easier to campaign for the word Yes than it is

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for the word No, and I think it has taken the Better Together campaign

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some time to work out its best strategy. Also, the Yes campaign is

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effectively part of the SNP, whereas the Better Together campaign is a

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coalition of three parties, and it takes longer for the three to start

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working together than it does for one party, but I am confident that,

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particularly with last Monday's announcement between the three

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parties about more powers for the Scottish Parliament, I am confident

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that the Better Together campaign is fully up to speed, and that the

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Scottish people will realise that the future is best staying within

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the United Kingdom. But putting your allegiance to one side, have you

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actually been impressed by the professionalism of the Yes campaign?

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It is a hard sell to traditional Labour voters, particularly in the

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west of Scotland. For many Labour voters, they make six the Tories as

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a class enemy? Made me do. We are talking about the future of our

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country, to divide our country from the rest of the United Kingdom. Your

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opinion polls and other indicators although some Labour voters may have

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reservations about the Conservative party, I think the declaration, if

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we are honest about it, people like to see us one to get a. Another

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problem for the campaign is the fact that there will be a disaster if

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Scotland votes yes, it will be awful if Scotland vote yes, you can build

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up too many disasters consequences and the public then start to be very

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sceptical. We are making the focus of our campaign what will happen if

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we stake in the UK. If people take a pessimistic future, it can rebound

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on them and that's what we have, what our campaign is not to do that.

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At one point, it was called Project Fear. Well, that is what the SNP

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labelled the campaign. It must be pointed out that negative

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campaigning is not just on the no side of the argument. We get a lot

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of nonsense from the SNP, claiming that if it is a no vote, the

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Scotland budget will be cut, powers will be taken away from the Scottish

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parliament. That is just nonsense. Both sides have made the mistake in

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the past of getting into negative campaigning, and certainly, the

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Better Together campaign realise that mistakes were made there, and

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it is important to be positive about the future. All three of the UK

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national parties have come up with their own plan for what would happen

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to Scottish devolution in the event of a no vote, but what about a

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united plan, one you could all absolutely agree on? You are right,

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each of the three parties have different emphasis, different detail

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but the Secretary of State for Scotland has said that within a

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month of Scotland voting, he will convene at the future convention and

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bring everyone together, including the SNP. Just the same as the

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Constitutional Convention in the 1980s and 90s we will leap to

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agreement on future powers. There may be a difference in detail. A

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particular question for you, Ed Miliband's fortunes do seem to be in

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decline. There may be thought that the only way they can avoid another

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Tory led government at the next election is to vote yes to Scottish

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independence in September. Is a worry? It may seem that way if that

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particular scenario, if people feel they are going to be led by a Tory

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government, to get away from it. I have not done on the ground. It is

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up to the Labour Party to make sure we come across as a credible

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election for Westminster. I do not think it is any doubt about that.

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Finally, a question to both of you. The in is at headbutt it is not huge

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lead in the polls. A few months ago on to the polling on September 18.

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It must be that thought that the yes campaign is going to come through

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with big support for yes piling through in the last few weeks. Is

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that the thought that goes through the" at is not really in the bag? I

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do not like to pursue a victory is in the bag, you are right, no

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campaign has been ahead in every single poll. I echo that

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completely. The fate is now getting to the nitty`gritty stages. Thank

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you very much for joining us. The views of two unit auditions from

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north of the border. What's the yes camp viewed now that the Unionist

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parties have come closer together on extra devolutionary powers for

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Scotland if the voters reject independence. I very much welcome

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the fact that the Unionist parties have moved a week from the line in

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the sand approach. I do not think under any circumstances you could

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describe it as Betamax. Most of the money raised would still, under

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their proposals, be decided here in Westminster. The only wait to

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guarantee more powers is to vote yes. The campaign seems to be good

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at winning hearts but are they willing minds? Are there be more

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affected by talking about people 's pensions and what might happen to

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the pound? There has been a lot of scaremongering but more people think

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about the issues and the more they are just began public finances in

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Scotland, the more they are coming around to a "yes" vote. That is what

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of the reasons you see the narrowing of the polls as the campaign heats

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up over the summer. I am really struck by the number of people

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getting engaged with politics. People who have never voted before

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are determined to, and how to say because they think it is an

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important issue. Now, look at some of the other stories around

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Parliament in the last seven days. The controversy over on the runs in

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Northern Ireland has produced a confrontation. Ian Paisley wondered

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why the ex` Northern Ireland Secretary had previously mentioned

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significant correspondence sent to the judge in the case of John

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Downey. The suspect wrongly sent a letter, telling him he was not being

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sought by police. I have a lot of respect for you, outside this

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committee I regard it as a friend. That is an outrageous suggestion. I

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demand you withdraw it. I demand you withdraw at! I think the word was

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used and the suggestion was that the memory... The letter is there. That

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is outrageous! Dilemma I have come to this committee in good faith and

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have stayed extra time as you asked me to do. I will answer all your

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questions but that is outrageous. They might make shopping simpler but

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loyalty cards and mobile phones simply mean someone, somewhere has a

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lot of information about us. Time to take action, declared one peer. They

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are able to collate data about who we are, where we go, what we buy,

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who we speak to an even the state of our health. Next year is the hundred

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anniversary of Magna Carta. To celebrate this in a modern setting,

:20:24.:20:28.

should be introduced digital Magna Carta, designed to guarantee our

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online rights and privacy. Alongside those queues at passport offices, a

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queue of apologies in Parliament. Sorry seems to be the easiest word.

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The first came on Tuesday that the would you like to apologise?

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Absolutely. I recognise the anger and distressed that people have,

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some people have suffered and I would like to apologise and say that

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in every case where we have not met our standards, where we have not met

:20:58.:21:00.

the customers needs, yes we are sorry for that. So we take that as

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an apology? Yes. The second one came the next day. A number of people

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waiting to long for their passport applications. I would like to say to

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anybody who is unable to travel because of a delay in processing

:21:17.:21:21.

their passport application that I am sorry and government is sorry for

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the inconvenience they have suffered and we are doing all we can to put

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things right. Is it time to abandon this annual site at the Palace of

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Westminster? The traditional sea appears at the State opening. Labour

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says it must be brought to an end. It might make for good television

:21:42.:21:46.

but it does nothing but detract from our very positive conclusions to the

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working of our democracy. Picking up on occasion in robes helps people

:21:54.:21:59.

understand who I am, what I am about and what they represent. Whenever

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there is a photograph of this house, is always wearing the robes and we

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look totally out of date with modern times. Frankly, it is just not a

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sensible way forward. Scrutinising our hospitals and healthcare

:22:17.:22:22.

systems. An MP who is a GP wins the chairmanship of the health

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committee. Doctor Sarah Wollaston was elected chair with 226 votes.

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The other candidate in that round was Doctor Philip Ni who received

:22:34.:22:40.

195 votes. I think the role of the committee is to ask those

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challenging questions on behalf of patient and taxpayers so that this

:22:46.:22:50.

most cherished of our institutions in this country can continue to be

:22:51.:22:53.

there for all of our constituents when they need it most. Delighted to

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have got her new job at Westminster. You are watching the week in

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Parliament after a week when manoeuvrings continued over who gets

:23:03.:23:13.

the big job in Brussels. We have got some pretty decent

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