Contributions
1,320 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentI will not. The Minister has 15 minutes in which to make his point. [ Interruption. ] Okay, I will give way.21 Mar 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentNo, it is not. We have a much better solution, which is to legislate for an independent armed forces commissioner, like there is in Germany. They will be a voice for armed forces…21 Mar 2024HANSARDArmed Forces Readiness and Defence EquipmentAs has been pointed out in this debate, 2.5% is an aspiration for when economic circumstances allow—there is no timetable, no plan and no credibility. The last time this country…21 Mar 2024HANSARDUK Armed ForcesI pay tribute to HMS Richmond’s actions over the weekend, defending shipping in the Red sea against a large-scale Houthi attack. Those are the demands that our armed forces face…11 Mar 2024HANSARDUK Armed Forces(Urgent Question): To ask the Secretary of State for Defence to make a statement on the state of the UK armed forces.11 Mar 2024HANSARD Situation in the Red SeaI thank the Defence Secretary for advance sight of his statement. We accept that the weekend’s airstrikes were legal, limited, and targeted to minimise the risk of civilian…26 Feb 2024HANSARD UkraineI thank the Defence Secretary for his statement. This is his first statement on Ukraine, and he could not have chosen a more important moment, as we mark two years since President…22 Feb 2024HANSARDUkraine: Military SupportIn the last year of the last Labour Government, we were spending 2.5% of GDP on defence, a level that has not been matched in any of the subsequent 14 Tory years. Like the Defence…19 Feb 2024HANSARDUkraine: Military SupportLong horizons are fine, but Ukraine needs more help now. I am concerned about the £2.5 billion for Ukraine that was announced last month and described by the Prime Minister as…19 Feb 2024HANSARDTopical QuestionsThe agonies of the Palestinian people are extreme. We all want the fighting to stop now, for hostages to be returned now, for aid to be ramped up now, and a ceasefire that lasts…19 Feb 2024HANSARDSituation in the Red SeaI thank the Defence Secretary for the advance copy of his statement. We back the UK-US airstrikes that took place at the weekend to protect shipping in the Red sea. We know that…05 Feb 2024HANSARD Situation in the Red SeaAt the risk of sounding a bit like the shadow Leader of the House responding to a business question, my hon. Friend is right. He is very experienced and I am sure he will find a…24 Jan 2024HANSARD Situation in the Red SeaThe hon. Gentleman has insights into the situation that are rare, even in this House, from his own experience and his particular interest. He is totally right. It is not just…24 Jan 2024HANSARD Situation in the Red SeaToday the House was set to debate the full sweep of defence and international affairs until the change of business yesterday, which gave this debate its focus on the Red sea. I…24 Jan 2024HANSARD Situation in the Red SeaWhat do I think? Well, it would be helpful to have access to the sort of classified information that the Defence Secretary has in order to make these decisions. It is his…24 Jan 2024HANSARD Situation in the Red SeaOne other way of stretching the limits of a tightly drawn debate is experienced interventions of the nature that the right hon. Gentleman has just demonstrated. One advantage of…24 Jan 2024HANSARD Situation in the Red SeaI, for one, appreciated the right hon. Gentleman’s leadership of his party when Putin invaded Ukraine. Like us, he has demonstrated that the UK has been and remains totally united…24 Jan 2024HANSARD Situation in the Red SeaThe hon. Gentleman has great experience and he is right to say that Government time signals the importance that the Government give to the business they bring to this House. While…24 Jan 2024HANSARDUkraine: Military SupportIn just five days last week, Russia fired 500 drones and missiles at Ukraine. Putin is stepping up his attacks, so we must step up UK support, but current military aid funding…08 Jan 2024HANSARDProtection of Shipping RoutesI welcome what the Defence Secretary has to say. These attacks on Red sea shipping must stop. They destabilise regional security, disrupt international trade and put civilian and…08 Jan 2024