Contributions
1,032 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDNationality and Borders BillMy Lords, there has been great public frustration and concern about the seeming inability of the British state to control its own borders, so I sympathise with what the Bill aims…05 Jan 2022HANSARDSchool Openings: January 2022My Lords, this morning we discussed children in care. For them, the in loco parentis role of schools is especially important. We also mentioned the awful murder of young Arthur,…16 Dec 2021HANSARDHealth Protection (Coronavirus, Restrictions) (Self-Isolation) (England) (Amendment) (No. 6) Regulations 2021My Lords, I commend the 126 MPs in the other place who voted on their principles and conscience, despite heavy whipping, in yesterday’s rebellion. They formed an ad hoc Official…15 Dec 2021HANSARDAnimal Welfare (Sentience) Bill [HL]My Lords, I also associate myself with and will support the regret amendment. I have not been able to be at the discussions on the Bill, but I followed them very closely in…13 Dec 2021HANSARDFreedom of SpeechMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Singh of Wimbledon, has, through using some very challenging and hard-hitting ideas, just illustrated the value of free speech, because we learned…10 Dec 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillMy Lords, I am not particularly keen on GDPR legislation as it is, so I do not want to use it to support this group of amendments. I have also been happy to consider extraordinary…08 Dec 2021HANSARDCovid-19 UpdateMy Lords, I did not agree with cancelling Christmas last year: I thought that it was disproportionate and far too risk-averse, based on the evidence then. It was cruel, with…08 Dec 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillThe Minister listened very carefully to the debate in Committee on IPP. Some of us have read that and thought about it a lot since then. The problem is that noble Lords have not…08 Dec 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillMy Lords, I cannot speak as eloquently as the speakers we have just heard, but I want to say that this feels so much like law made by press release, and law made to virtue-signal,…08 Dec 2021HANSARDHate Crimes: MisogynyMy Lords, first, even before we decide whether we should bring in hate crime for misogyny—hatred of women—could the Government clarify that they understand what women are and…06 Dec 2021HANSARDBBC: Government SupportThe noble Lord agrees with me; how brilliant. But, if the BBC is to be of value in the UK, we—its supporters—need to stop being defensive and accept that all grievances are not…02 Dec 2021HANSARDAdult Social CareMy Lords, I feel torn on this. On the one hand, it is irritating that the White Paper has come out but everybody wants to bash it, when I am relieved that somebody has suggested…02 Dec 2021HANSARDBBC: Government SupportMy Lords, the BBC’s value as a beacon of excellence has always rested on the impartiality of its news output, but internationally and certainly domestically, that impartiality is…02 Dec 2021HANSARDMigrantsLike others, I commend the noble Baroness, Lady Hoey, for tabling this debate. It is important because the reluctance of parliamentarians to understand the public’s dismay at the…25 Nov 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillMy Lords, I support those who oppose the clauses in Part 3 standing part of the Bill, but I will support each and all of the specific amendments that aim to mitigate the most…24 Nov 2021HANSARDSmoke-free PavementsMy Lords, is there anywhere in the public square where smokers will be left in peace and permitted to indulge in a legal, if anti-social, habit that they as adults freely choose…24 Nov 2021HANSARDOfcom: Appointment of ChairMy Lords, regardless of his suitability for the job, Paul Dacre’s stinging critique of the blob rang true with many of us, especially as only yesterday Dame Kate Bingham accused…24 Nov 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillMy Lords, despite being an anti-racist—24 Nov 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillI do apologise.24 Nov 2021HANSARDPolice, Crime, Sentencing and Courts BillMy Lords, I apologise for taking the instruction to hurry up rather too literally. Despite being an anti-racist and a football fan, I have serious free speech concerns about the…24 Nov 2021