Part of Private Members' Business – in the Northern Ireland Assembly at 1:00 pm on 8 August 2024.
Timothy Gaston
Traditional Unionist Voice
1:00,
8 August 2024
If the Member had listened to me, she would have heard me say that immigration has been a factor. I did not say that it was solely the cause of the problem.
There are also greater pressures in my Constituency, like seeing a doctor or dentist, where — whether or not you like to admit it — immigration has played a part. There are pressures in schools, and immigration has been a factor, mainly due to a language barrier.
[Interruption.]
The Opposition are the political parties in the House of Commons other than the largest or Government party. They are called the Opposition because they sit on the benches opposite the Government in the House of Commons Chamber. The largest of the Opposition parties is known as Her Majesty's Opposition. The role of the Official Opposition is to question and scrutinise the work of Government. The Opposition often votes against the Government. In a sense the Official Opposition is the "Government in waiting".
In a general election, each Constituency chooses an MP to represent them. MPs have a responsibility to represnt the views of the Constituency in the House of Commons. There are 650 Constituencies, and thus 650 MPs. A citizen of a Constituency is known as a Constituent
