argyrotsipi/train-dataset huggingface dataset:
Prime Minister's Role in Creating a Safe Environment — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): No, I am not going to take a whole series of points of order—[Interruption.] Sorry, no, I am now going to proceed with the statement from the Secretary of State—[Interruption.] Order. I do not require assistance from the hon. Gentleman. We come now to the statement by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. [Interruption.] Order. If people who are leaving the Chamber would please do so quickly and quietly, we can attend to the terms of the statement from the Secretary of State. I think there is now something approaching calm.
International Climate Action — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): I hope the hon. Gentleman is not the agent for that particular book and taking a commission on every one sold. Obviously, that would be a conflict of interest. Nevertheless, I take his point. We need to be shouting from the rooftops. There are so many brilliant young people out there doing that for us, but he is right: we all need to do all we can to tackle the issue.
International Climate Action — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend tempts me to make some budgetary commitments, which I cannot do right now, but I am always delighted to talk to him about his brilliant ideas for his constituency and the surrounding area.
International Climate Action — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Andrea Jacqueline Leadsom (Conservative, Centre-right): We have already taken a number of actions on charging infrastructure for electric vehicles, investments in hydrogen and low-carbon technology to reduce emissions from industry. We will be doing a lot more, and we will set out our plans in the next few weeks.
ADJOURNMENT (CONFERENCE) — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): I am not taking a slew of points of order now. I will take the one from the hon. Member for Leeds East (Richard Burgon) of which I had advance notice. [Interruption.] Order. I say very gently to the hon. Member for Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Angus Brendan MacNeil), whom I am accustomed to indulging, that I think the House wishes to hear the business statement from the Leader of the House. I will take the point of order from the hon. Member for Leeds East and then we will have the business statement. [Interruption.] Patience, hon. Member. It will come in due course. If you have got a plane to catch, I am sorry but that is, with the very greatest respect, your problem.
ADJOURNMENT (CONFERENCE) — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): I am grateful to the hon. Gentleman for his point of order and for his courtesy in giving me advance notice of his intention to raise it. I can confirm that my understanding of the electoral timetable under the existing statutory framework is the same as his. [Interruption.] I said: under the existing statutory framework my understanding is the same as his.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
John Simon Bercow (Conservative, Centre-right): We come now to the general debate on principles of democracy and the rights of the electorate. We have until 5 o’clock. I have spoken to the Minister, who has undertaken to try to deliver an economical speech, although of course he does have the Floor and it is important that we hear the Government’s position.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Oliver James Dowden (Conservative, Centre-right): I beg to move, That this House has considered the principles of democracy and the rights of the electorate This is a Government who believe in letting the British people exercise their democratic rights, and as Minister for the Cabinet Office my responsibilities include the smooth running and safeguarding of our elections, and ensuring that every elector has the opportunity to cast their vote Since we came to office in 2010, we have made significant progress to give more people a say. Through the implementation of individual electoral registration, we have grown the electoral roll to nearly 47 million people—the biggest that it has ever been. People across the country are now able to go online to ensure that they have the opportunity to cast their vote. We have worked to open up the franchise for homeless people and increased accessibility for those with disabilities. We have committed to introducing voter ID, to protect the ballot and to stop those who want to steal other people’s identities and votes. Voters deserve to have confidence that their elections are secure, and protected from electoral fraud.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Oliver James Dowden (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank the hon. Gentleman for his intervention. I would recommend that he reads the Electoral Commission’s report on that subject. I frankly find it astounding that Opposition Members should think that we should not have identity for voting. People in major democracies such as Canada are aghast that people can turn up at our polling stations with no evidence of their identity.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
Steven John Baker (Conservative, Centre-right): To help the Minister on this point, I can tell him that the very first moment that I get a chance to sit at my desk I will be asking him to come to the House for an end-of-day Adjournment debate, in which I will give him evidence from my constituents of the kind of practice that is going on in my constituency, in their view, which I am quite sure will stand up to the requirement to make the changes that he would advocate.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Steven John Baker (Conservative, Centre-right): The hon. Member for Brighton, Kemptown (Lloyd Russell-Moyle) asked, "Will you take it to the police?" I am happy to tell the House today that in the 2015 election, my agent and I told our candidates—because there was a district council election at the same time as mine—that if there was any evidence of malfeasance we would be the first to take it to the police; so I found myself knocking on the door of the police station with the Liberal Democrat candidate and my agent, to report somebody who was subsequently arrested. Unfortunately he was not prosecuted, and he was one of mine. I will not have any abuse of the electoral system, and although I understand the hon. Gentleman’s concerns, I must tell him that we have got to sort this mess out.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Oliver James Dowden (Conservative, Centre-right): If Members will forgive me, I will make a little more progress, and then I will give way to the hon. Member for Kilmarnock and Loudoun (Alan Brown) We are working to reduce intimidation around the ballot box, and intimidation of those in public life. I am sure the whole House will agree that the latter is a deeply worrying trend that we must reverse. Indeed, earlier this year the Government legislated to prevent candidates in local elections from having to declare their addresses on the ballot paper. We have consulted on, and committed ourselves to, a new electoral offence to prevent people from intimidating candidates and campaigners However—and this, really, is the essence of the debate—more important than the preparations for an election are the consequences of that election. One seismic democratic event has dominated our proceedings since I was elected to the House in 2015, and that, of course, is our referendum on membership of the European Union. It was something that we had promised in the manifesto on which I was elected, and I well recall the deep scepticism of voters that we would ever deliver on it. Frankly, I do not blame the voters. Other parties had been promising referendums for years: Labour in 2005, the Liberal Democrats in 2008, and the Greens in 2010. In fact, one way or another, every major political party in Britain fought an election between 2005 and 2015 with a pledge to hold a referendum on our relationship with Europe.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
Oliver James Dowden (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend has made an excellent suggestion. I am sitting next to the Minister for the Constitution, my hon. Friend the Member for Torbay (Kevin Foster). We would have to proceed on an all-party basis, but I should be happy for us to take that suggestion further.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
Oliver James Dowden (Conservative, Centre-right): I say to the hon Gentleman that a deal was put forward by the last Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Maidenhead (Mrs May), and I voted for that deal three times. I do not remember the hon. Gentleman being in the Lobby with me Since that moment of unity on the outcome of the general election campaign, parliamentarians have got stuck. We have talked endlessly about this. There have been hours of debates, motions, votes and Committees, and extraordinary parliamentary manoeuvres on all sides. Three whole years have ticked by, and while we have been double-checking the finer points of "Erskine May", the public have been wondering what on earth we have been doing in this place.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
Robert William Henry Seely (Conservative, Centre-right): The Minister has talked about the spirit of unity. Will he join me in congratulating the 11 members of Her Majesty’s major Opposition party who are attending this debate? Having forced us back after demanding that Prorogation should not happen, the rest have all gone home.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Oliver James Dowden (Conservative, Centre-right): My hon. Friend makes an important point. I remember the cries of outrage on Prorogation and the demands that Parliament should return because we had so much to discuss. Members opposite were desperate to discuss these things, yet here we are, mid-afternoon on a Thursday, two days in, and I think I can count the number of Labour Members present on the fingers of one hand None of us came into Parliament to avoid making decisions, to duck the issues or to indulge ourselves in parliamentary processes, but to the outside world this appears to be exactly what the House is doing.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Mixed Topics
Oliver James Dowden (Conservative, Centre-right): The right hon. Lady is a passionate campaigner for a second referendum, but I seem to recall that the only amendment that passed was the Brady amendment, which sought to remove the backstop. That is precisely the position that the Prime Minister is pursuing in his negotiations.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Oliver James Dowden (Conservative, Centre-right): I think my right hon. Friend answers his own question. It is only too clear that there is only one reason why the Opposition do not wish to have an election: they do not believe they will win it. They wish to keep this Parliament in a state of suspended animation until they think they may have a chance to win a general election Indeed, even as the Opposition continue to frustrate a general election, leaflets from the Labour party are dropping through voters’ letterboxes demanding an election. It is an extraordinary state of affairs, and this from a Leader of the Opposition who has spent his life going weak at the knees for revolutionaries. He suddenly seems rather scared of change. Apparently there is a world to win and nothing to lose but chains, but maybe just not right now. Is it not the truth that the public have had enough of this dither and delay? They are saying "enough," and we are saying "enough." If the Opposition do not have the courage to say what they are for, they should at least have the courage to ask the electorate what they think of that Conservative Members have always recognised that the principles of democracy and the rights of the electorate matter. I am proud to be in a Conservative party that, time and again, has embraced reform to give people their say and has represented them effectively. We are the party of Disraeli’s second Reform Act, which helped enfranchise the working classes; of the law that gave all women the same right to vote as men; of the first female Member of Parliament to take her seat; and, of course, of two great female Prime Ministers In this case, the principle also unlocks something far more practical: 17.4 million people gave us an instruction three years ago to leave the EU, and they want us to move on. I am conscious that Mr Deputy Speaker also wishes me to move on, so I will wind up my remarks very shortly.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Steven John Baker (Conservative, Centre-right): Of course, as my right hon. Friend knows, they are now committed to always ignoring a leave result. That, too, is an outrage, but at least they are clear about it, and I feel confident that we could rely on them to abide by it The fundamental point is that the people must get the Government they vote for, and they must not get the Government they did not vote for but cannot get rid of. This is a fundamental point related to the dreams we all have of a better society. It is about the dignity of the individual and the right of every person to determine their future peacefully at the ballot box.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Maria Frances Lewis Miller (Conservative, Centre-right): We in this place are all custodians of this country’s democracy, and I think it is right that we should feel that as a heavy weight on our shoulders. In many ways, the reason why yesterday was such a difficult day in this Parliament is that we faced a perfect storm. We faced questions at the very heart of our principles of democracy. We faced questions about freedom of speech and the rule of law; fundamental questions about the very functioning of this Parliament, all of which are at the core of our democracy I will deal with each of those so that Members might reflect as we move forward on how we can strengthen our democracy and not undermine it, albeit unintentionally. Members are right that language matters in politics; behaviour matters in politics. I am afraid that the inflammatory language used by Members accusing others of being inflammatory was as damaging as damaging can be. We have to tread carefully in what yesterday became high politics, which risked people feeling as if they could not speak out in the way that they wanted in this Chamber.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
William Peter Wragg (Conservative, Centre-right): It is important that we all accept that we are all entirely responsible for our language and the speeches that we make, from the Prime Minister to the most humble Back Bencher. Does my right hon. Friend agree that one of the things that was absent from the urgent question earlier today was a sense of personal responsibility? Is it not incumbent on us all to think of a time when we have impugned the motives of another Member and seek them out this afternoon and simply apologise? Is that not a way we can move on and make this a better place?
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
Owen William Paterson (Conservative, Centre-right): It is a great pleasure to follow my near neighbour from Wrexham, though sadly in the time available I will not pick up his points I would like to pick up on the early intervention by the hon. Member for Bridgend (Mrs Moon), who mentioned an horrific attack this afternoon using the word "fascist". I must sadly remind her that there is balance on both sides. I am a member of the European Research Group.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Other
Giacomo Lopresti (Conservative, Centre-right): I thank my right hon. Friend for giving way. Does he share with me the frustration and anger that I hear every day in my constituency? People say to me, "You asked for our opinion. We gave you our opinion. Why have you not left yet and what are you still talking about?"
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Robert William Henry Seely (Conservative, Centre-right): I do not quite understand how the hon. Lady can keep talking about the language of hate when I have just given her examples of the abuse that Labour MPs are putting out there about their opponents, and also material from the Labour party conference, which I presume that she may have been at, where she sees the abuse from extremists aimed at moderate Labour party MPs. The abuse is coming from the left.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Ross Thomson (Conservative, Centre-right): I agree with what my hon. Friend is saying. As he says, following the referendum, the division—particularly in terms of language—is still there. It is unhelpful when people who serve in government, such as Mike Russell, describe the 13 Scottish Conservative MPs as traitors by referring to the Ragman Rolls. This is the nationalist perspective in Scotland now. It is yet another example of how people are seeking to demonise those who hold different opinions, or treating them as "other". That is what comes of nationalism.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Luke Patrick Graham (Conservative, Centre-right): The point I am making is about nationalism as a whole. Nationalism of any kind, regardless of the connotations, can rarely be benign because it divides people, and yes, the SNP—in its rhetoric and what it does—seeks to divide the United Kingdom. That is the raison d’être of the SNP; it wants to break up the country—
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Kevin John Foster (Conservative, Centre-right): It is always a pleasure to see you in the Chair, Madam Deputy Speaker. This has been a fascinating debate and we have heard a range of contributions. In the spirit of civility, I say that I always enjoy my conversations with my two shadows, the hon. Members for City of Chester (Christian Matheson) and for Lancaster and Fleetwood (Cat Smith). I hope they agree that we treat each other with respect and that although we may disagree at times, we are still able to find common ground in the mutual interest of those we represent I will start by responding to some of the issues raised. Contrary to some of the comments we have heard, the individual electoral registration reforms produced the biggest electoral roll ever at the last general election, with more people registering to vote than ever before. Online registration is one of the easiest methods for younger voters in particular to get themselves on the electoral roll. That is a sign of commitment. It is now literally possible to register online. People can do it in a few minutes. They no longer have to get a form and send it to their local council. Obviously, the arrangements in Northern Ireland are slightly different. Many of us know the reasons for that, and it has a more devolved structure.
Principles of Democracy and the Rights of the Electorate — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Civil Rights
Kevin John Foster (Conservative, Centre-right): I will not take interventions, given that I have given up time to allow more Members to contribute to the debate We are also looking at reforming the annual canvass and are working constructively with the Scottish and Welsh Governments. The system is great at identifying people who have lived in one location for a long time, but we want to reform it, through the use of databases and other information, so that it targets other communities that we also want on the electoral register. We want a modern system. Fundamentally, the system originated in the 19th century, when heads of household would register to vote on behalf of the whole household, but that does not reflect modern lifestyles. It also means that resources are not targeted to getting the most vulnerable on the roll It has been good to hear some of the other speeches. I cannot go through them in detail, but I certainly enjoyed the contributions from my hon. Friends the Members for Ochil and South Perthshire (Luke Graham) and for Isle of Wight (Mr Seely), especially when they talked about picking and choosing results. It is interesting to see how referendums described as once in a generation or once in a lifetime, with people told, "You have the power in your hands to make a sovereign choice," suddenly, a couple of years later, become a matter of, "Actually, we’d like to have a rethink, please, and it was only an opinion poll." In fact, referendums are different: people are told that they will make the decision and it will be binding People know my views on the separation of the Union; I think it would be a hugely retrograde step. However, had that been the decision of the Scottish people in 2014, we would have had to vote through the legislation. We cannot pick and choose which result we respect.
Morrisons Supermarket Shirley — House of Commons, 2019-09-26
Topic: Domestic Commerce
Julian Carlton Knight (Conservative, Centre-right): After two days of verbal perambulations in this place, we have finally come to the main event. I rise to register my constituents’ deep concerns about the proposals to close the Morrisons store in Shirley. The Shirley store has served our community for over 14 years. It employs almost 100 people and is relied upon by many in the surrounding area. I thank our local Shirley councillors, Mark Parker, Annette Mackenzie and Karen Grinsell, for organising an online petition urging Morrisons to keep open this store, which has been such a focal point for our community for so many years. It has collected 1,299 signatures, which clearly shows the extent of public concern about these proposals. It is not right that Shirley should face the closure of a business that plays such a vital role in the community, and it is a privilege to put the concerns of my constituents directly to the House today The petition states: The petition of residents of Solihull, Declares that local residents have great concern over the proposals to close Morrison’s Store, in Shirley The petitioners therefore request that the House of Commons urges the Government to encourage WM Morrisons PLC to reconsider proposals to close Morrisons in Shirley And the petitioners remain, etc [P002523]
Kashmir — House of Commons, 2019-09-03
Topic: Civil Rights
Robert John Blackman (Conservative, Centre-right): It has been a long-standing policy of the Government that the situation in Jammu and Kashmir is a bilateral issue. It has also been this House that stands up for human rights and the protection of minorities. Therefore, does my right hon. Friend agree that the abolition of article 370, which discriminates against women and minority religions, is to be welcomed?