JIM DOWD MP QUIZZES PM ON DANGEROUS DRIVING LAW / “NONE OF US REALLY KNOWS WHAT BREXIT MEANS” – MP HELEN HAYES
Lewisham West and Penge Jim Dowd (Lab) has quizzed Prime Minister Theresa May in the House of Commons on dangerous driving laws.
Jim Dowd: Will the Prime Minister join me and, I am sure, the whole House in sending our deepest sympathy and sincere condolences to the family and friends of Rozanne Cooper and her 10-year-old nephew, Makayah McDermott, who were mown down by a stolen car in Penge last week?
May we also send best wishes to the three young girls who were involved, all family members?
While other inquiries, including those by the police and the Independent Police Complaints Commission, are being undertaken and the matter is before the courts, I shall say no more about the specific case.
However, is the Prime Minister aware of the widespread public concern that the law on causing death by dangerous driving is wholly inadequate? Will she undertake a review of both its suitability and its applicability as the courts implement it?
Theresa May: First, I join the hon. Gentleman in expressing our sympathies to all those who were involved in that terrible accident—the terrible tragedy that took place when, as he said, a stolen car mowed down two people and affected others as well.
I am aware of the concern that there is about the law on dangerous driving.
The daughter of constituents of mine was killed as a result of dangerous driving, and they have raised concerns with me specifically about their case. This is a matter which, I believe, the Ministry of Justice is looking at.
“NONE OF US REALLY KNOWS WHAT BREXIT WILL MEAN” – MP
The following comments came in a debate on the EU referendum:
Helen Hayes Labour, Dulwich and West Norwood: Yesterday, the Prime Minister confirmed that there is no commitment to give additional funds to the NHS as a consequence of Brexit—a pledge that toured the country on the side of a bus, and on the basis of which millions of people voted in good faith to leave the EU.
The Prime Minister says that Brexit means Brexit, but when such pledges are broken almost immediately, none of us really knows what Brexit will mean.
Does the hon. Gentleman agree that that lack of clarity further underlines the case for enabling the British people to see the detail of the actual Brexit deal and vote again on whether they would like to proceed on those specific terms, and that that should take place before article 50 is triggered?
Ian Blackford Shadow SNP Spokesperson (Pensions): It is fair to say that those on the Brexit side failed to put across exactly what Brexit means.
The week after the Brexit result, the Chancellor—then the Foreign Secretary—said that the Government have no plan. That is the difficulty that the hon. Lady is referring to. When the Prime Minister says “Brexit means Brexit”, what does that mean? There has not been an explanation of exactly what it means.
Helen Hayes’ comments came in a Westminster Hall debate on EU Referendum Rules on September 5th moved by Mr Blackford: That this House has considered e-petition 131215 relating to EU referendum rules. Motion lapsed.