Northern Ireland Debate

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Department: Cabinet Office

Northern Ireland

David Linden Excerpts
Monday 26th June 2017

(6 years, 10 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Damian Green Portrait Damian Green
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I can only say to my right hon. Friend what I have said to Opposition Members, which is that this is clearly an enormously sensitive political topic, and the best place for it to be resolved is within the democratic politics of Northern Ireland itself.

David Linden Portrait David Linden (Glasgow East) (SNP)
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Tonight, many of my constituents in Glasgow East will be wondering why our local jobcentres are being shut when the pavements of Northern Ireland are being made of gold. Was the Secretary of State for Scotland consulted as part of this grubby deal and the finances involved in it, or was the Cabinet’s man in Scotland once again frozen out?

Damian Green Portrait Damian Green
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Like all Cabinet members, the Secretary of State for Scotland plays a key role in all decisions made by the Government. The hon. Gentleman’s characterisation of this deal is, as I hope I have shown over the past hour or so, completely wide of the mark.