'Ethical statements are simply expressions of emotion' Discuss

Introduction- Ethical statements are not simply expressions of emotion. Although the non-cognitive branch of meta-ethics emotivism claims ethical statements are only expressions of emotion due to no evidence justifying the idea there is an objective ethical standard, this stance is very narrow-minded and so unconvincing as it assumes scientific arrogance. More convincingly, intuitionism takes into account the fact that ethics cannot be proved empirically, but it reaches the conclusion that ethical statements are more than expressions of emotion as everyone seems to have an inward sense of what is right and wrong. 
Firstly, the non-cognitivist branch of emotivism argues ethical statements are simply expressions of emotion. New atheist A.J Ayer in ‘language, Truth and Logic’ would support the statement as he contends there is no objective, universal standard for what is considered right and wrong. Due to this, a claim such as murder is wrong has no other meaning than simply being an outlet of emotion as the claim cannot be empirically verified. Barnes’ ‘Boo hurrah’ theory also supports this as ethical statements can only be seen as subjective to the person. However, although this contention may be convincing from a logical positivist’s point of view, the issue is that scientific arrogance is imposed here as the only important statements are ones which are empirically verifiable. Also, ethical statements seem to be shared amongst human beings as most ethical judgements are materialized through the law such as murder being a crime. Due to this, it seems more convincing to argue ethical statements are more than simply outlets of emotions as people seem to have a common consensus as to what is right and wrong. Therefore, ethical statements are more than simply outlets of emotion.
Furthermore, intuitionism poses the most convincing argument to undermine the idea ethical statements are no more than expressions of emotion. As H.A Prichard contends, although ethical statements cannot be proven to be valid through empirical validating means, it seems that people have a shared idea about what is right and wrong. Just like one is unable to describe the colour yellow, everyone recognizes it through intuition. Although Bertrand Russell tries  to undermine this as he argues the mind is unable to recognize non-physical qualities, this does not explain why most people intuitively see when something is right or wrong and act on gut reaction. Thus, ethical statements are more than simply expressions of emotion.