Skip to main content

Proceeding contribution from Lord Selsdon (Conservative) in the House of Lords on Wednesday, 19 January 2011. It occurred during Debate on bill and Committee of the Whole House (HL) on Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill.


Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill

My Lords, I intervene when anybody mentions the word Islay, since my family comes from Islay. With a name like McEacharn, one of the biggest whiskey producers in Islay for many years, with a black labrador called Islay and with a great-grandfather who was Lord Provost of Edinburgh, I have to support the noble Lord, Lord Watson of Invergowrie. But he is making a few mistakes. We, in the McEacharn family, created the Scottish Line—the only shipping line allowed to carry the Scottish flag. As things became bad, we migrated and helped the migration of people all over the world. My other great-grandfather was the first Lord Mayor of Melbourne, and one of the first Members of the Parliament there. Therefore, what the noble Lord says now strikes a chord with me. I support him fully, but he must accept that, over time, there have been movements and migrations and changes in the economies of the various countries. If he speaks of Leith, where my family came from as well—the shipowners and others—then I congratulate him on promoting the part of Scotland that I love.


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
724 c497 
Session
2010-12
Chamber / Committee
House of Lords chamber
Subjects
Boundary commissions Constituency size Constituencies British overseas territories Electoral register Isle of Wight Prisoners Members Voting rights Population
Legislation
Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Bill 2010-12