Nick Clegg: I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman and the Committee he chairs for their work on the operation of the Fixed-term Parliaments Act 2011. Fixed-term Parliaments give greater predictability and continuity, enabling better long-term legislative and financial planning. The full effect of introducing fixed-term Parliaments is something that can only be assessed over time, which is why the Act will...
Christine Grahame: ...and surfaced only as an expeditious attempt to prevent independence. Even Murdo Fraser called it, in this chamber, the “so-called vow”, although I notice that he did not call it that today. Nick Clegg, however, prefers to call it “vow max” or “vow-plus-plus”. How far the Liberals and federalism have fallen. The proposal is not even coherent—a key word that was used by Mark...
Alistair Carmichael: ...with me today. The front page says, “The vow delivers.”Let me draw the House’s attention to the article itself. On page 3, it says that “it’s is now clear that they”— David Cameron, Nick Clegg and Ed Miliband— “have stood behind this agreement to deliver change. Lurid claims to the contrary by some pro-Yes commentators”— it must have known what the hon. Gentleman was...
Baroness Ludford: ...and positive role with our partners, with the goal of ensuring that all the nations of Europe are equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century”. I can but agree with my party leader, Nick Clegg MP, who yesterday described as “idiotic” the suggestion by Mr Owen Paterson MP that the Conservative manifesto should commit them to an exit—a Brexit—from the EU. Mr Clegg said:...
Nick Clegg: I have made clear my support for a constitutional convention to ensure that a new constitutional settlement is robust, fair and engages the public. It is clear, especially in the wake of the Scottish referendum and the ongoing work of the Smith commission, that our current constitutional settlement needs root and branch reform, but it must come from the bottom up and be based on the views of...
Nick Clegg: I am pleased to confirm that negotiations on future devolution to the Leeds city region are under way, and I am hopeful of an announcement in the coming weeks. These negotiations build on the growth deal that I recently signed on behalf of the Government, which devolved £573 million to the local enterprise partnership from April next year.
Nick Clegg: As Deputy Prime Minister I support the Prime Minister on a full range of Government policies and initiatives—[Laughter.] Oh yes I do—most of the time. Within Government I take special responsibility for the Government’s programme of political and constitutional reforms.
Jackie Baillie: ..., it was Westminster’s fault. However, we hear that he wants to go back there and that he even believes that he could be the Deputy Prime Minister. He has gone from urging Scots to vote for Nick Clegg to wanting to be Nick Clegg. Is it not the case that the First Minister’s real legacy is leaving Scotland more divided than ever? Before he answers, I know from his first response that...
...Steve Rotheram Frank Roy Chris Ruane Dame Joan Ruddock Adrian Sanders Anas Sarwar Andy Sawford Alison Seabeck Richard Shepherd Jim Sheridan Gavin Shuker Dennis Skinner Andy Slaughter Angela Smith Nick Smith Owen Smith Mr John Spellar Bob Stewart Mr Jack Straw Graham Stringer Gisela Stuart Mark Tami Gareth Thomas Emily Thornberry Stephen Timms Jon Trickett Andrew Turner Karl Turner Derek...
...Peter Aldous Stuart Andrew Mr James Arbuthnot Sir Tony Baldry Harriett Baldwin Gregory Barker Richard Benyon Paul Beresford Andrew Bingham Brian Binley Bob Blackman Nicola Blackwood Crispin Blunt Nick Boles Peter Bottomley Karen Bradley Angie Bray Julian Brazier Steve Brine James Brokenshire Annette Brooke Jeremy Browne Fiona Bruce Sir Malcolm Bruce Robert Buckland Aidan Burley Mr Simon...
...Grahame M. (Easington) Morris George Mudie Paul Murphy Ian Murray Pamela Nash Fiona O'Donnell Sandra Osborne Albert Owen Ian Paisley Teresa Pearce Toby Perkins Bridget Phillipson Stephen Pound Mr Nick Raynsford Jamie Reed Steve Reed Rachel Reeves Emma Reynolds Jonathan Reynolds Linda Riordan Margaret Ritchie John Robertson Geoffrey Robinson Steve Rotheram Frank Roy Lindsay Roy Chris Ruane...
Lord Forsyth of Drumlean: ...by post, an opinion poll which had eliminated the “don’t knows”—who turned out to be the “no but won’t says”—put the separatists in the lead. The three unionist party leaders panicked and published a joint statement—not a vow—in an exclusive for a tabloid newspaper, pledging more undefined powers to the Scottish Parliament. This was done by three privy counsellors...
Baroness Walmsley: ...in the UK, to protect children. I thank my noble friend the Minister and his officials for these discussions, and I especially thank my right honourable friend the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, and Norman Baker, the Home Office Minister for Crime Prevention, for their good offices in ensuring that we will now have open public consideration of the benefits of this measure. Nobody,...
Iain Gray: ...already been made public. Those principles are important. Many SNP members have tried to misrepresent somewhat the promises that were made by various illustrious personages such as Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg, David Cameron and Ed Miliband. Christina McKelvie based her entire speech on a promise that exists only in her own febrile imagination and nowhere in the real world. Annabelle Ewing...
...Mitchell Jessica Morden Graeme (Livingston) Morrice Meg Munn Ian Murray Lisa Nandy Pamela Nash Fiona O'Donnell Chi Onwurah Teresa Pearce Toby Perkins Bridget Phillipson Stephen Pound Lucy Powell Mr Nick Raynsford Steve Reed Emma Reynolds Jonathan Reynolds Linda Riordan John Robertson Geoffrey Robinson Dame Joan Ruddock Andy Sawford Alison Seabeck Virendra Sharma Barry Sheerman Dennis...
...Murphy Paul Murphy Ian Murray Lisa Nandy Pamela Nash Fiona O'Donnell Chi Onwurah Sandra Osborne Albert Owen Ian Paisley Teresa Pearce Toby Perkins Bridget Phillipson Stephen Pound Lucy Powell Mr Nick Raynsford Jamie Reed Steve Reed Rachel Reeves Emma Reynolds Jonathan Reynolds Geoffrey Robinson Steve Rotheram Frank Roy Lindsay Roy Chris Ruane Dame Joan Ruddock Andy Sawford Alison Seabeck...
Nick Clegg: No one should be prevented from fulfilling their potential by the circumstances of their birth. What ought to count is how hard people work and the skills and talents they possess. Of course, the UK is still a long way from achieving that ideal. Income and social class background have a significant and lasting impact on a child’s future life chances. That is why our 2011 strategy,...
Nick Clegg: The referendum in Scotland has led to demands for political and constitutional reform across the United Kingdom, and marks a new chapter of constitutional renewal. It will start with the devolution of significant new powers to Scotland, which will establish, in effect, home rule there. The Prime Minister has asked the Leader of the House of Commons to lead a Cabinet Committee that will...
Nick Clegg: As Deputy Prime Minister, I support the Prime Minister on a full range of Government policy and initiatives. Within Government, I take special responsibility for this Government’s programme of political and constitutional reform.
Nick Clegg: This six-hour debate has been at all times thoughtful, respectful and sober, on an issue of great significance and also of great complexity. In the time that remains, I want to address myself to those who have spoken out worrying that we are doing too much and possibly repeating the mistakes of the past, and to those who, conversely, feel that we might be doing too little and should be going...