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2,107 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsAs I said earlier, I simply do not understand the comments of the police and crime commissioner. I had a call with him this morning, as hon. Members would expect, and these…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsThe right to protest, like the right to free speech or to free assembly, is a gem to be treasured. It is a delicate vase, of which we must all take care, and those who abuse it,…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsI am more than happy to meet my hon. Friend to talk about the issues in his constituency. He is quite right, as I said earlier, that there is nothing inevitable about crime. If we…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsAbsolutely right. My hon. Friend speaks the truth. The sad effect of the events this weekend is that they have probably turned more people off the cause then they have encouraged…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsI completely agree with my hon. Friend. Having met far too many victims of knife crime myself, I know she is absolutely right. It behoves us all—we all have a duty—to think…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsThe classification or otherwise of any group depends on their conduct. Perhaps Extinction Rebellion, in its wider sense, needs to think about the group within its number that is…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsNotwithstanding my hon. Friend’s obvious concern for justice to be served for those victims, I obviously cannot comment on the case or, indeed, what the person who I understand is…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsDirect action is not the same thing as a crime. If the hon. Gentleman is saying that there are certain crimes that he wishes to ignore, then I am afraid the Opposition are in a…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsI know that my hon. Friend is the genuine voice of his constituents, and he will have received many emails from them on this issue. As I said earlier, the classification of any…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsEven before the events of this weekend, we were keeping the rules and regulations, the law and police powers around protest under constant review. As the hon. Lady will know, the…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsAs I have said repeatedly, the classification of any organisation depends on its conduct in society. There is a question for the wider membership of Extinction Rebellion about…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsI can reassure my hon. Friend that police forces within the area and surrounding it were able to deploy significant assets to both incidents in fast time.07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsOnce again, the hon. Gentleman asks a question that is outside my purview. Just to reassure nationalist colleagues, this Government have no problem with being urged to go further…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsAs my hon. Friend knows, Suffolk will receive an uplift of police officers over the next few years, and I know it is making good progress on recruitment so far. Although he is…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsMy hon. Friend is quite right that that is the unfortunate effect of some of those protests. As I said earlier, the Metropolitan police has made over 600 arrests now, with dozens…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsWe are obviously going into a spending round and giving consideration, through the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, my Department and the Ministry of Justice, to…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsI have no doubt that they will be watching this session with interest. Notwithstanding one or two voices in support, the vast majority of Members have been against. No doubt as…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsAs I have said, I came prepared to answer questions on that protest. It was not deemed to be of a scale necessary to make a statement about, particularly given the impact of the…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsI wish I could comment on the circumstances of the case and the individual. Of course, I have been briefed by the chief constable. No doubt, in time, as this matter is brought…07 Sept 2020HANSARD Birmingham Attacks and Extinction Rebellion ProtestsNot all crimes are violent.07 Sept 2020