Today, I had the pleasure of standing in Westminster Hall for a debate on two separate E-petitions; one for, and one against a second Independence Referendum.
Watch: https://goo.gl/1nxkSj
Here’s what I said:
It is an honour to serve under your chairmanship and indeed an honour to play a part in this debate that has been inspired by a public petition from the people. The ability of the public to influence the agendas that we set here shows how open a parliament we are and how engaged so many people are.
Let no one be in any doubt that people remain concerned about the Scottish Government’s obsession with independence. In my constituency some 3,243 signed the petition against a second referendum.
People have indicated strongly and in vast numbers that they are fed up of the uncertainty and want a second independence referendum taken clearly off the table.
Mr Chairman, it is the uncertainty caused by the first minister of Scotland’s threat of an independence referendum which is stifling Scotland. It is a background noise, like the din of an overloud sound system in a busy pub. It makes it harder for us to hear each other and make rational informed decisions.
The referendum background noise makes it hard for businesses in my constituency to make decisions about investment. It makes it hard for families and communities, divided by the first referendum, to settle down and build the bridges needed to make better choices. It makes it hard for Scotland to have a decent conversation about anything.
And this lack of a decent conversation or a functional debate affects all of us.
Societies are by their very nature diverse. Collections of individuals, families and free associations of people exist in a community where compromise is the only way things can happen and betterment can take place. Without dialogue there can be no compromise.
Divisions can be a destructive influence on our country and I am sad when people cannot work together because of positions taken during the 2014 referendum.
This happens when Nationalist ideology pervades our political culture and a “for us or against us” mentality grows. It also happens when Unionists cannot trust the intentions of nationalists.
We were promised this would be a once in a lifetime event and many people tell me that we need to heal the wounds caused by the referendum with a period of stability. Nationalists have a responsibility to respect the outcome of the 2014 referendum as they committed to do in the Edinburgh agreement.
We need our Government to get on with the job of governing.
But then Scotland isn’t getting what it needs now.
We needed Stability, we got chaos.
We needed Civility, we got abuse
We needed accountability, we got conflict
We needed Ability, we got the Scottish National Party
This SNP is crippled by inactivity. The only thing that holds them together is the combined effort for independence and it occupies their thinking and their effort. This nationalist ideology, which has been rejected by an overwhelming majority of Scots, is the only thing holding the Scottish Government together.
Scotland is part of the United Kingdom, we decided this in 2014. Nationalism has been firmly rejected.
We are part of a United Kingdom, not a mere member of an association. Scotland is at the heart of the United Kingdom.
The nationalist pursuit of a second referendum is not conducive to experiencing the full benefit of our place in the United Kingdom. Nationalism is holding us back.
Business growth in Scotland was the lowest for any region of the UK. The growth in the number of businesses in Scotland was just 1.6 per cent, less than a quarter of the growth in the East of England.
Investment dropped 3% after the SNP doubled the large business supplement. Just another nail in the coffin for business investment in Scotland as the Scottish Government relentlessly push to make Scotland the highest taxed part of the UK.
This should be of concern to us all as the growth of the UK is not enjoyed across all the parts of the UK.
It does make me wonder if it is a lack of ability on the part of the SNP, or a lack of will. Are they somehow doing this on purpose?
Nationalists wallow in this divergence. They react with grievance rather than action when faced with problems, preferring to blame other people than to get on with the job of governing.
They obsess with the eradication of our sense of Britishness. The majority of Scots see themselves as British as well as Scottish (as do I, Mr Chairman), but the nationalist ideology at the heart of our Government in Scotland seeks to eradicate all British elements.
Whether it is removing union flags and sidelining her majesty the queen at the opening of the Queensferry crossing or going after the British Transport police for political reasons, their motives are obvious to all of us.
Nationalism is a unpleasant and divisive ideology which we do our bit to challenge today and the strength of feeling from this petition is obvious to all.
The message is clear to politicians in Scotland. Put ideology to the side. Get on with the job of building a better country and focus on the issues that matter to people. A strong economy, a well educated workforce, a healthy population, a working national infrastructure, streets that are safe to walk on and dignity for all. The debate on Scottish Independence which obsesses the SNP helps to secure these objectives not one jot.
I say it is time for our politics to become positive and focus on the priorities that people expect us to focus on. Ending the background noise of nationalist ideology from our national debate will create the dialogue and the stability needed for Scotland to get the full benefits of its place in the United kingdom and, indeed, it’s place in the world.