Extract from
Commons debate on the European Union (Withdrawal)
Act
(South Suffolk)
(Con): Let us look at the facts. The latest figures
show that net migration into this country from the EU is down to
57,000. Net immigration into this country from outside the EU is up
to 261,000. A year ago, the two top countries in the list were
Poland and Romania, and they are now India and China. We are not
talking Liechtenstein in population terms here. That is a serious
point.
(Glasgow North West)
(SNP): I come from a nation that is positive about the
benefits of immigration. Indeed, my constituents embrace
immigrants in their communities. The hon. Gentleman makes a point
about immigration about China and India, but he has not mentioned
that those people are generally international students, who leave
at the end of their degrees. Those students should be taken out
of net migration figures.
: That is a
perfectly fair point, but of course the reason they are in there
is that many do choose to remain. [Interruption.] I take the
figures as they are. I remember your time strictures, Mr Speaker,
so I will move on to my second point, which is on free
trade...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
Extract from Lords
debate on Brexit
(Con):...I finish
on a quote, deliberately from a Labour Prime Minister. A number
of my colleagues in the House will know I have a deep interest
and involvement with the Indian subcontinent. Over the weekend,
I looked up what Clement Attlee said at a difficult time, to
create independence for India. A good number of MPs said that it could
not be done then, because it was all too difficult and would
cause absolute chaos; they said they would not support him. And
he said, in winding up his long speech:
“The British Commonwealth of Nations survives today, and has
survived through the strain of two great wars, precisely because
it is not static, but is constantly developing, and because it
has throughout the years steadily changed … My hope is that we
may forget past differences and remember only how often and in
how many fields of human endeavour Britons … have worked together
in harmony.—[Official Report, Commons, 10/7/1947; col.
2462.]
It was a great speech. Churchill was ill at the time, so
Macmillan had to respond. He agreed with what Clement had
said...
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
