Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 2:47 pm on 11 February 2004.
I am most grateful to the hon. Gentleman for taking a second intervention so quickly. Does he accept that the Government threw away their major leverage over the republican movement by granting the elections last October? It is a great shame that his party and its sister party in Northern Ireland accepted that decision. [Hon. Members: "It is democracy."] With the greatest respect to others who sit on this Bench, could I please finish? [Interruption.]