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1,320 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityThe strikes that we conducted last night were a result of the fact that America, our closest ally, has been coming under near daily attack from the Houthis; that shipping has more…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityIt does indeed, Mr Speaker. My hon. Friend has been steadfast from the Back Benches as a strong voice for Ukraine, and I welcome his support for the actions the UK Government have…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityThe hon. Gentleman has managed to broaden his question from this specific statement on the overnight strikes. The strategic defence review is a strategic defence review. It will…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityOperation Rough Rider is a US military campaign. We took action last night alongside the US. Any future military interventions such as last night’s will be reported to the House.30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityMy hon. Friend is right. Iran is a destabilising influence across the region, not just in its own terms but in particular in the way it has developed, sponsored and supplied proxy…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityThe right hon. Gentleman is right to remind the House of the extreme hardship faced by many Yemenis in what has been a war-torn country for years. The strikes last night were…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityFor too long, I believe, the previous Government overlooked that. They certainly failed to meet their recruitment tests. I am proud to be a Defence Secretary in a Labour…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityOn Ukraine and a potential role in a coalition of the willing on security guarantees—if a negotiated peace settlement, which we all hope President Trump secures, can be put in…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityI do indeed. The US-UK defence relationship has a special depth that has lasted decades. We do things together as two nations that no other nations do: we train together, we…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityYes. I mentioned the in-year uplift that the Foreign Secretary gave to our contribution to the Yemeni humanitarian assistance plan, which makes us the third-largest donor. Our…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityI am really not going to disclose in public, or even to this House, the steps that we are taking to deal with some of that covert Russian activity, which goes well beyond Yemen to…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityAs I said earlier, my responsibility as Defence Secretary is for the military components of the wider approach that must be pursued if we are to help play an important role in…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityThe hon. Gentleman has been around long enough to know that I will not comment on the process of proscription. Suffice it to say, the Government have sanctioned a number of major…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityI am confident that my right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary has that in mind. He will be conscious, as is the right hon. Gentleman, that the UK acts not just as the…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityI gently urge my hon. Friend not necessarily to believe everything he reads in the newspapers. He is very experienced and has a very good insight into the political world. Just to…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityMy hon. Friend puts the argument very well. This is a matter of freedom of navigation and a matter of international law, but it is also a matter of economic self-interest for…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityThe right hon. Gentleman, who I think served as a Defence Minister under two Administrations, will know that Defence Ministers and Secretaries, including me, give the highest…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityI do indeed. It is part of a longer-term programme to degrade the ability of the Houthis to hit international shipping, to defend and protect freedom of navigation, and to…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityWell said. The hon. Gentleman is absolutely right to say that standing behind our armed forces and the ultimate professionalism that they display is a large cadre of civilian and…30 Apr 2025HANSARDUK Airstrike: Houthi Military FacilityIt will indeed. The AUKUS programme is a good example of how big defence commitments provide not just long-term deterrent commitments to our own security and that of our allies…30 Apr 2025