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Proceeding contribution from Lord Sarwar (Labour) in the House of Commons on Thursday, 6 February 2014. It occurred during Backbench debate on Scotland’s Place in the UK.


Scotland’s Place in the UK

That demonstrates that we have a Government in Scotland who are determined to win women’s votes but not to change women’s lives. That is why we need a Labour Government in this place and in Holyrood.

Some people argue that we can deliver social and economic change only when we have constitutional change, but the truth is very different. The fact is that the big challenges we face in reducing poverty and inequality cannot be put on pause until after September 2014. It is not surprising that the SNP is using the extent of constitutional change as its measure of success. Labour is, and always has been, about so much more. The Labour movement has never argued for the status quo; indeed, it is something we have always fought against. For us, the real measure of success is the extent of economic and social change and the positive impact it has on people’s lives. That is why, for those on either side of this debate, this is a change referendum. We will argue for a strong voice across the UK, and for a strong Scotland within the United Kingdom.

12.54 pm


Secondary information

Type
Proceeding contribution
Reference
575 c464 
Session
2013-14
Chamber / Committee
House of Commons chamber
Subjects
Devolution European Union Economic policy Politics and government Overseas trade Scotland Sovereignty Sterling
Link
View this Proceeding contribution on www.publications.parliament.uk