Police and Justice Bill

You bet—I will prove it. I appeal to the Minister, through you, Madam Deputy Speaker, please, please, please go back and think again. Go back and re-examine, and think about the 82 per cent. of the people throughout the north-east who want a referendum. Go back and think of the 65 per cent. of people throughout the north-east who do not want the merger. Those people are talking to us. We are in the House because of the people. They send us here and pay us to be here, so let us listen to them for heavens sake—we might make history. I do not enjoy voting against my Government and party, although I have done, I think, about 14 times in 23 years. It has always been painful, but I do it because of my conscience—believe it or not, I have got one. On this issue, the Government cannot count on my support, so I beg you—I apologise, Madam Deputy Speaker; I beg you too, in a way. I beg the Government: for God’s sake, think again.