Contributions
1,032 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Rennard, called this a world-leading policy. It is world-leading, because no one else in the world has chosen this policy. One wants to know why. At…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillI am allowed to come back on that. All I want to say is that I do not want it to go down in Hansard that I am such a libertarian that I support the smoking of cannabis: I am not…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, I half support Amendment 26. I would also like to congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Moylan. The introduction of this regressive and untested generational ban on tobacco…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, I, too, warmly welcome government Amendments 14 and 15, which create an exemption for vape vending machines in mental health hospitals. This was really good to see: it…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, I commend the noble Lord, Lord Udny-Lister, for helping to differentiate products and for having some precision in the way we discuss these issues. I have been concerned…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, I wanted to speak to two amendments in this group that are about the opposite ends of the retail spectrum. On the one hand, there are law-abiding shopkeepers who need to…24 Feb 2026HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillIn terms of duplication, I argued on the Crime and Policing Bill that it was probably not necessary to legislate for assaulting a shop worker to be against the law, as assaulting…24 Feb 2026HANSARDCounter-Extremism StrategyMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord, Lord Goodman of Wycombe, for this crucial debate. I want to focus on the normalisation of Islamism and virulent antisemitism but first I need to…12 Feb 2026HANSARDAmbassadors: Vetting ProcessMy Lords, I appreciate that this is a Question about vetting, but behind it is potentially a question about political judgment. When choosing an ambassador for any country, rather…10 Feb 2026HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillMy Lords, I will speak to my Amendment 103. I thank the noble Baroness, Lady Hollins, for adding her name to it. It is a modest amendment simply seeking to ensure that a person is…06 Feb 2026HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillI also want to respond to the noble Baroness, Lady Gerada. Words do matter, which is why plain speaking matters. Being told that you cannot say certain words because they might…06 Feb 2026HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillMy Lords, this small group, which I did not expect there to be so much rich conversation about, indicates why care homes really are an important focus for the Bill. I absolutely…06 Feb 2026HANSARDCrime and Policing BillWe need them to understand that the criminal justice system is not targeting them personally for crime but is fair and proportionate. That is what we should do.05 Feb 2026HANSARDCrime and Policing BillMy Lords, if ever there was a day to consider whether we should just assume guilt by association, then today’s political context provides us with a reminder that it is…05 Feb 2026HANSARDPublic Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025My Lords, I just want to throw in a bit of a spanner—which is to say that I am completely torn between the two sides. It might be helpful to explain my dilemma. First, I would…04 Feb 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I have added my name to Amendment 207 to create a duty to keep schools open for attendance. The speeches that have been made excellently explained why. I arrived in this…03 Feb 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I have added my name to Amendment 220, relating to the guidance for schools on gender-questioning children, which is still long overdue and which I think we have to…03 Feb 2026HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, one year ago today, on 3 February 2025, 15 year-old Harvey Willgoose was tragically stabbed in the heart at All Saints Catholic High School in Sheffield. It happened in…03 Feb 2026HANSARDCrime and Policing BillCan I clarify something in relation to the amendment? Very often the women we are talking about are not prosecuted and do not end up in court. The problem is that the process is…02 Feb 2026HANSARDCrime and Policing BillMy Lords, I mainly want to defend Clause 191 remaining in the Bill, but with some reservations. Before that, I want to acknowledge public interest in this issue and a popular…02 Feb 2026