Contributions
2,291 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDAnti-Muslim Hostility: Non-statutory DefinitionMy Lords, the anti-Muslim hostility definition allows things to be said that are “in the public interest”. Can the Minister clarify who decides what the public interest is, and…12 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, before we were interrupted, I was just saying that we are very grateful to all noble Lords who spoke on 11 February—it was as far away as that, and we have not met since…05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I am grateful to all noble Lords who have spoken on what was—05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI understand all that money coming in, but it is targeted to certain communities. The community right to buy was for communities across the whole country. They had the ability to…05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I will speak briefly to my noble friend Lord Lucas’s opposition to the question. His intention is not to frustrate the purpose of the legislation but to probe an…05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillI did ask about this: if there is a disagreement between the national park authority and the mayor, who takes precedence?05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, we absolutely understand the intention behind this amendment. Social media clearly brings its challenges, particularly around misinformation, public confidence and data…05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I will focus my remarks on the amendments standing in my name and that of my noble friend Lord Jamieson, which concern the proposed local audit office. Having read the…05 Mar 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I shall speak to this final group of amendments, beginning with Amendment 251 in the name of my noble friend Lord Norton of Louth, which would require the Secretary of…05 Mar 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationMy Lords, the estimated outcomes of the local government reorganisation are very unclear, so could the Minister clarify how much money overall that reorganisation is going to save…04 Mar 2026HANSARDBallot Secrecy Act: BreachesMy Lords, the Government have announced voting pilots, as we have heard, in a number of local authorities for the May 2026 local elections, which, apart from other things, will…04 Mar 2026HANSARDLocal Government ReorganisationMy Lords, the Government have sown confusion and imposed unnecessary costs upon the taxpayer by cancelling local elections, only to reinstate them weeks later and then seek to…25 Feb 2026HANSARDDonations to Political PartiesMy Lords, I am grateful to the noble Lord, Lord Sikka, for bringing forward this debate but I cannot, in any way, agree with his solutions, either the ideas for all-party use of a…12 Feb 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I will be brief in closing, but very clear about the position of the Official Opposition on this group. After many hours of debate, one point should now be beyond doubt:…11 Feb 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillIn any local democracy, you will get that happening. That is right: people should get together to lobby, to make sure that their local representatives understand what they want…11 Feb 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I will speak to the notice that Clause 61 and Schedule 28 do not stand part of the Bill. These remove the changes being made to some local election voting systems. I…11 Feb 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, when we ask these questions, the Minister always talks about the complexity of these changes, but what I do not quite understand is that, in 2009, the then Labour…11 Feb 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, I support the principles behind this amendment in the name of my noble friend Lord Parkinson of Whitley Bay, which has attracted widespread interest from both within and…11 Feb 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillMy Lords, London does have a parish. It was set up in 2014 after a local referendum, and it is Queen’s Park—just so your Lordships know. There is nothing at all to stop the…11 Feb 2026HANSARDEnglish Devolution and Community Empowerment BillThis is an important group of amendments, particularly if health does decide to devolve down either power or money in the future. But if local areas have specific health needs…09 Feb 2026