Contributions
238 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCrime and Policing BillThe noble Baroness is quite right that the response to IICSA came from the previous Government. It was written by the Ministry of Justice and signed by the noble and learned Lord,…09 Dec 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing BillMy Lords, I absolutely accept much of what the noble Baroness, Lady Brinton, has said about the awful nature of historic child abuse and the reasons why there is often a delay…09 Dec 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing BillMy Lords, I have an amendment in this group. I repeat a declaration of interest I made at Second Reading: that I have appeared as a barrister in a number of the leading cases…09 Dec 2025HANSARDCriminal Court ReformMy Lords, I too welcome the Statement. I congratulate the Government on having the courage to confront a really difficult issue. The status quo is quite unacceptable. I would…02 Dec 2025HANSARDAsylum PolicyMy Lords, during the passage of the Border Security, Asylum and Immigration Bill, the Minister made it quite clear that the Government would not in any way amend the Human Rights…20 Nov 2025HANSARDChild Grooming Victims: Compensation AwardsMy Lords, the Minister mentioned three possible avenues for compensation. I think she would accept that the largest award is likely to be if there is a civil claim, rather than…20 Nov 2025HANSARDFinancial Provision on DivorceI, too, congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Deech, on introducing this debate, and I congratulate her and the noble Baroness, Lady Shackleton, on their tenacity in bringing…10 Nov 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillI do not want the noble Lord to have to repeat himself, but he said earlier that there was going to be a statement in relation to the Government’s approach to asylum, but then he…05 Nov 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillMy Lords, I put my name to this amendment, together with the noble Lord, Lord Alton, whom we are very glad to see in the Chamber after his most unfortunate accident. I apprehend…05 Nov 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillMy Lords, there cannot be any doubt that the system which has been working—if that is the right word—for some considerable time is very unsatisfactory. I think that is probably…05 Nov 2025HANSARDCrime and Policing BillMy Lords, I will talk about one specific issue in the Bill, which has been referred to by the noble Baronesses, Lady Hazarika and Lady Royall, which is the limitation period for…16 Oct 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillMy Lords, it is not obvious how there could be any sensible objection to this group of amendments. They are all concerned with open justice. There are many well-known judicial…13 Oct 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillI would be grateful for one final intervention; I hope that the Minister will forgive me, as I appreciate that it is late. The Labour Party had 14 years in opposition to disagree…13 Oct 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillMy Lords, the amendment is legally coherent and that is very much in its favour. It contains a tacit acknowledgment of the dualist system that we have in this country. That means…13 Oct 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillI have one further question, if I may. We understand from the Minister’s colleague that there is likely to be legislation coming telling tribunals how they should make these…13 Oct 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillThe noble Lord said that it “suits us”. What does that mean? Is he happy with a situation where the general public do not know, because the previous Government apparently did not…13 Oct 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillI know that the Minister is in some difficulty because he has not been given clear riding instructions, but this is a fundamental point for the British public. They need to know…13 Oct 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillMy Lords, when the Government first came into power last year, great emphasis was placed by the Prime Minister and his Attorney-General on the importance of the rule of law and in…13 Oct 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillMy Lords, I know that the Government vigorously opposed the Rwanda Bill, and indeed the Prime Minister described it as a gimmick, or words to that effect. I understand that that…03 Sept 2025HANSARDBorder Security, Asylum and Immigration BillWhat is the noble Lord’s answer to the point made by the noble Lord, Lord Kerr, that we have no business interpreting the refugee convention on a domestic level and that it is a…03 Sept 2025