Conduct Of The Hon. Member For Bridlington

EDM number 385 in 1989-90, proposed by Jimmy Wray on 25/01/1990.

That this House finds it unacceptable that the debate on acute social problems, such as poverty, bad health or homelessness, should be reduced by members of the Government or their supporters to the simplistic and very low level of allegations that the victims of these problems are either lazy, alcoholic or scroungers; believes that such demonstrations of prejudice do nothing for the standing of Parliament and have much to do with unfettered prejudice and ignorance; is sad to see that calls by Ministers to the homeless to go back to their families, whatever that means, will bring no nearer a solution for homelessness; protests that high costs and other health problems in Scotland should be blamed on the alleged alcoholism of the Scottish people; calls for better informed and documented arguments from members of the Governments who, after all, have the financial and staff support to do so; and dissociates itself from the derogatory remarks against the Scots made by the honourable Member for Bridlington, a former Chairman of the Yorkshire and Humberside Wine and Spirit Merchants Association.

This motion has been signed by a total of 29 MPs.