Defence

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 12:00 am on 22 March 1977.

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Photo of Michael Mates Michael Mates , Petersfield 12:00, 22 March 1977

It would be difficult, if not impossible, for me to follow the speech of the hon. Member for Coventry, South-West (Mrs. Wise), so widely divergent are our views. I have never heard matched the sheer hypocrisy that she revealed in the first part of her contribution to the debate. The hon. Lady has constantly opposed her Government's defence policy and has constantly called for more cuts in defence expenditure, but now she has turned round and bleated about her constituents who might be affected. That sticks in one's gullet.

The hon. Member for Sheffield, Hillsborough (Mr. Flannery) has been sniping at our troops in Ulster. For him to bleat about Nimrod, the contract for which his constituents' jobs depend on, is beyond any condemnation.