Contributions
160 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTerminally Ill Adults (End of Life) BillMy Lords, like many noble Lords in this House, I have wrestled with this Bill for weeks on end and have changed my mind several times. My father died at the age of 97, a proud and…12 Sept 2025HANSARDOnline Communication Offence ArrestsMy Lords, like the noble Lord, Lord Lebedev, I too consider freedom of speech very close to my heart for personal reasons. My mother was born the day before the Russian…17 Jul 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, this is not about ping-pong but about reform, and for reform to be legitimate, it must be principled, proportionate, fair and respectful. The hereditary Peers currently…02 Jul 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillChildren could use phones that do not connect to the internet—phones that do not access social media—like the old phones, if they need to phone their parents in an emergency. With…23 Jun 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillI did not mean under-16s in general, I meant under-16s at school, as in those amendments. However, I agree with some noble Lords that parents also need to be educated. When we see…23 Jun 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I support Amendments 177, 183CA, 183CB and 458. As my noble friends Lord Nash, Lord Bethell, Lady Penn and many others have so eloquently laid out, the devastating…23 Jun 2025HANSARDUK-EU SummitMy Lords, to look at the real world, France has a budget deficit of 5.8% compared to ours of 2.3%. France has an unemployment rate of 7.3% compared to our 4.5%, and France has 19%…21 May 2025HANSARDEmployment Rights BillMy Lords, I, too, rise to support all the amendments in this group. I support the Government’s ambition to boost productivity, create good jobs and crack down on bad employers.…21 May 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, I, too, would like to speak to Amendment 1. I realise that it is a broad amendment, so I shall concentrate on proposed new Clause 1(1)(a), and the “safety and wellbeing…20 May 2025HANSARDEmployment Rights BillMy Lords, I shall speak to my amendments, as well as Amendment 84, for the same reasons so clearly highlighted by the noble Lord, Lord Young of Acton, and the noble Baroness, Lady…19 May 2025HANSARDSchools: Mobile PhonesMy Lords, France has seen an improvement in school results and less bullying in schools since it introduced a national ban in 2018, seven years ago. Is it not time that we…12 May 2025HANSARD80th Anniversary of Victory in Europe and Victory over JapanMy Lords, it is very humbling to speak after 20 such excellent speeches, of course including the maiden speech by the right reverend Prelate the Bishop of Peterborough. I shall…09 May 2025HANSARDChildren’s Wellbeing and Schools BillMy Lords, education in this country has always been about shaping free minds and raising thoughtful, moral citizens who can think for themselves. The Bill threatens that proud…01 May 2025HANSARDEmployment Rights BillUnions; thank you. Remove flexibility and you remove opportunity. This will especially attack young people looking for their first job. We will end up with more workers’ rights…29 Apr 2025HANSARDEmployment Rights BillMy Lords, I, too, support what the noble Baroness, Lady Noakes, and the noble Lord, Lord Frost, said. I too am very worried about this Bill and its outcome, which be to kill job…29 Apr 2025HANSARDTobacco and Vapes BillMy Lords, there is a real problem about being number 39 to speak in this debate, because other noble Lords have said everything that I am going to say. There is an even bigger…23 Apr 2025HANSARDHouse of Lords (Hereditary Peers) BillMy Lords, I too support this amendment, so eloquently presented by the noble Baroness, Lady Mobarik. I find it a little disingenuous for the Government to claim that the Bill must…01 Apr 2025HANSARDFood, Diet and Obesity Committee ReportMy Lords, I, too, congratulate the chair and all the committee members on their excellent report. But while the report is strong, the Government’s response is weak. Despite years…28 Mar 2025HANSARDHolocaust Memorial BillBut will there not be people queuing for the kiosk? That is very close to the playground.20 Mar 2025HANSARDHolocaust Memorial BillMy Lords, I will speak to Amendments 19 and 20, to which I have added my name. Victoria Tower Gardens is not just any green space; it is the home of a playground that has served…20 Mar 2025