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BRITISH FOREIGN SECRETARY Jeremy Hunt said that the story of Lassie holds a “lesson for all of us” during a debate about Brexit.
The Tory minister was responding to questions from Labour shadow foreign secretary Emily Thornberry during the third day of debates on Brexit, ahead of next Tuesday’s crucial vote on the Withdrawal Agreement.
Thornberry took aim at Hunt’s description of the UK’s international relationships post-Brexit as “the invisible chain”, which he used during a trip to Singapore last week.
“…the invisible chain linking countries across the globe.” A truly inspiring phrase Mr Speaker but colleagues may not realise the inspiration has an unlikely source.
Because the phrase “the invisible chain” first originated as the Spanish-language title of the 1943 film Lassie Come Home.
After an eruption of laughter, Thornberry continued that British ministers weren’t waiting for unicorns to come over the hill, alluding to the impossibility of getting the Brexit deal that everyone is happy with, but were instead waiting for Lassie.
She added: “The health secretary with his invisible green paper on social care, the Transport Secretary with his invisible ferries and his invisible traffic jams, and of course the Prime Minister running around Europe obtaining invisible concessions on Brexit.”
When Hunt responded, he said that Lassie Come Home was one of his “favourite childhood films”. Drawing on a separate comparison, Hunt responded:
Lassie, of course, in that story was given to a member of the aristocracy, in fact the Duke of Rudling.
But Lassie wasn’t happy and she broke free without any kind of referendum and she came home, and there is a lesson for all of us.
Earlier, Hunt had pressed the Labour MP on whether her party wanted to limit the free movement of people, to which she replied they did.
He rounded off the debate by telling MPs that Brexit would allow the UK for the first time in over 40 years to respond to public concern by “restoring sovereign control over immigration policy, part of which is of course being generous to EU citizens who live amongst us and contribute so magnificently to our national life”.
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Martin is losing his marbles making him Minister for Finance
Another man the bankers, developers, cuckoo funds and vulture funds can count on. This man won’t do anything for the ordinary irish person.
@Washpenrebel: It was ok for Doherty to go off to London in April courtesy Davy Stock Brokers. Now these slanderous accusations are being made about Chambers without foundation. The election showed that thumbs up in the Journal is probably orchestrated.
@Washpenrebel: I am delighted for you shinners, a hunger strike couldn’t even save ye now lol
@Washpenrebel: ‘this is the way’
Chambers, another FF shyster who rose without a trace!
@Brian Hunt: nah he’s been working in my area for years , actually he’s a good lad with incredible work ethic and was fully engaged in transport job he’s had recently.
We do need fresh faces with a high level of competence. I’m not surprised he was picked for the job. As for finance , civil service run that department. He’ll have very little to do except hold up the USB drive on budget day like his predecessors ( who held up a brief case) for the photo op.
He’s a cold, callous weirdo and his expedited ascension from the FF test tube is unnerving.
The Hypocrisy of those in the Dail standing applauding Natasha O Brien, when they have failed her & all other victims of crime.
Sickening watching Helen Mc Entee & the leaders of the parties, when they are the ones responsible for the breakdown of Law & Order & the hames of a Judicial system we have.
The “anger” of Harris & Micheal Martin at the Defence Forces is sickening & deflection from their own failures over the years. No reform of the Judiciary, Legal System or Sentencing as it’s the Golden Circle, while victims pay the price.
Remember Ashling Murphy & that round of applause & things would change & Micheal Martin dismissing her boyfriend. Nothing changed, now another round of applause.
Natasha has done more in one week to highlight their failures & as she says, just do your jobs !
@SV3tN8M4: it was sickening alright, even seeing the shinners clapping given their track record towards women
@SV3tN8M4: you are so so right..Asling Murphy RiP.
Anybody else think Chambers looks like a young version of Stan Smith from American Dad
There is no knife that cuts so sharply and with such poisoned blade as treachery.
Ouida
I think it’s a great appointment. Just because he is young does not mean he is not capable.
If someone else, who was hinted at, was appointed, people would say here we go again.
Always the trolls.
@rory457: But he’s more than likely Not suitable for the job, but that’s the way it goes in government & sure he doesn’t need to know much as he’ll have loads of advisers!!
@rory457: Nothing to do with “trolls” Rory. Here we go again…
@rory457: he’s a 34 year old with no real job experience,such what can go wrong ???
@rory457: I hope I am wrong but I think his appointment is a bit scary. A senior minister needs to be very experienced and capable of arguing their point against the likes of Pearse Doherty and the mandarins in the Dept of Finance. And he has to have a strong and assertive public persona to put his policies across to the public. He may be highly intelligent but on TV, he couldn’t argue his way out of a paper bag. Just like McEntee.
He has being rushed to the top to counter Simon Harris and FG, he ain’t no Simon Harris. And to give Martin a tighter grip on his party.
For the sake of the country, I wish him well but am not going to hold my breath
@Colette Kearns: And if SF win an election and Doherty is, yes the same Doherty who lied about his qualifications and has never worked in Finance in his entire career, his financial experience was to pay someone 8k from his unclaimed expenses when they should have been returned to the Exchequer…….
For heavens sake
@BarryH: Pearce Doherty lied about his qualifications and is nothing special. I think it’s changing of the Guards and let’s be honest we don’t need 60 year olds deciding for 30 year olds, if he makes a mess the electorate will tell him.
No qualifications in business or economics but sure hay Jack your perfect to run the countries finances. :)
Didn’t he drop out of studying medicine to become a politician?
@James Brennan: Had studied political science in Trinity too
@James Brennan: At least he has a degree.
John doe =orange c,,t
have your say