Contributions
1,244 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillAs ever, my right hon. Friend is a bastion of good sense. He reminds us that there is no moral equivalence between the people who were sent to try to keep the people and services…18 Nov 2025HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillAs ever, my right hon. Friend is entirely correct. The courts have no power to strike down statute; they can advise this House to remove legislation.18 Nov 2025HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillWith all due respect to the hon. Lady, who I enjoyed working opposite, the last Government did not offer delay and dithering; we offered firm legislation. What she outlines, I am…18 Nov 2025HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillI thank my right hon. Friend for his intervention; I remember that he made a similar intervention in 2017, and again in 2023, on just that point, based on the work his Committee…18 Nov 2025HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillI hate to disagree with the hon. Gentleman, but if he goes back and looks at the news stories from the time, he will discover very clearly that Sinn Féin withdrew their support…18 Nov 2025HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillNo. Let me start with conditional immunity. The legacy Act provided immunity to individuals in return for their providing an account to the commission that was true to the best of…18 Nov 2025HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillIt was never given a chance because this Government dropped their appeal—something I will return to shortly.18 Nov 2025HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillI concur greatly with my hon. Friend’s remarks, and I will return to them in a few moments.18 Nov 2025HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillI will give way first to my hon. Friend the Member for Rutland and Stamford (Alicia Kearns) and then to the right hon. Member for East Antrim (Sammy Wilson).18 Nov 2025HANSARD Northern Ireland Troubles BillI am going to make some progress. We will have plenty of time in Committee to discuss our particular concerns with this legislation, but I will raise a small number of them today.…18 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictThank you for granting this urgent question, Mr Speaker. I, too, begin with a thought for the families left bereft by the events of that day in 1972. It was a Conservative Prime…03 Nov 2025HANSARD“Soldier F” Trial VerdictTo ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland if he will make a statement on the verdict in the trial of Soldier F.03 Nov 2025HANSARDChina Spying CaseMy right hon. Friend is right: the National Security Adviser showed a great reluctance to attend. I understand that he has now agreed to attend, although the report I read said…28 Oct 2025HANSARDChina Spying CaseThe hon. Gentleman will have a perfectly good opportunity to question the people responsible in a few moments’ time. The point is that the Government have been unclear,…28 Oct 2025HANSARDChina Spying CaseMy right hon. Friend is absolutely correct, and the Director of Public Prosecutions has been very clear and consistent on that point.28 Oct 2025HANSARDChina Spying CaseMy right hon. Friend makes a very pertinent point and is personally very experienced in such things. It has been reported that the National Security Adviser chaired that meeting.…28 Oct 2025HANSARDChina Spying CaseThat is the million-dollar question. Why were the Government not prepared to say something that was manifestly evidentially true to all and sundry? The third example is that on 15…28 Oct 2025HANSARDChina Spying CaseI will give way one more time, and then I will make some progress.28 Oct 2025HANSARDChina Spying CaseWill the Minister give way?28 Oct 2025HANSARDChina Spying CaseMinisters do get involved; it is their job to be involved. Ministers represent the Government. Ministers represent all of us. It is not good enough for the Government to say that…28 Oct 2025