Contributions
96 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDMilitary in the GulfMy Lords, despite all the noise about the imminent arrival of much more money, is it not now a fundamental fact that the biggest constraint on both the generation and deployment…04 Jun 2026HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, it is a pleasure to follow the noble Lord, Lord Lamont, now a fellow traveller on the International Relations and Defence Committee. I draw the attention of the House to…21 May 2026HANSARDGreenlandGiven the darkening geopolitical situation and the reality behind the pace at which more money is being spent—frankly, there is this faffing around with the defence investment…08 Jan 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillMy Lords, I rise to speak in support of Amendment 1, to which I attach my name, and to reinforce the arguments made by my noble and gallant friend Lord Craig of Radley. This…05 Jan 2026HANSARDStrategic Defence Review 2025More fundamentally, does the Minister agree that the real resilience of a nation does not rest on the state of its physical infrastructure, or military numbers, or the number of…08 Dec 2025HANSARDUkraineMy Lords, I am grateful for this debate on Ukraine and the opportunity that it presents. Mine will be an uncomfortable but honest contribution. I start by observing that it is…31 Oct 2025HANSARDNational Curriculum: Religious EducationMy Lords, the national security strategy and the strategic defence review both talk of the need to build societal resilience in an age of hybrid attacks. I understand that the…30 Oct 2025HANSARDUkraine: NegotiationsI thank the Minister for his response, but I thought his view of the prospects for peace was somewhat glossy. Is not a better strategic assessment, first, that Putin shows…09 Sept 2025HANSARDF35A and F35B JetsMy Lords, can the Minister confirm that the following precis of programme A activity rings true? The F35As are not additional to the programme; they replace 12 F35Bs. The 12 F35As…01 Jul 2025HANSARDUK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos ArchipelagoMy Lords, I echo the words of those who have said, and will no doubt go on to say, what a pleasure it was to be in the Chamber to bear witness to a most delightful maiden speech…30 Jun 2025HANSARDNational Security StrategyMy Lords, I congratulate the Government on the strategy, which is both considered and sobering. It is considered because it strikes all the right balances between reinvesting in…26 Jun 2025HANSARDUK Nuclear DeterrentMy Lords, does not the Minister crystallise in what he says the stupidity of the situation in which we find ourselves? The declaration that at all costs, at any cost, the nuclear…03 Jun 2025HANSARDStrategic Defence ReviewI briefly add my congratulations to the authorship of this review. It is, in my view, the most considered, professional and comprehensive review that I have ever seen at close…03 Jun 2025HANSARDSocial Mobility: Sutton Trust Opportunity IndexMy Lords, when it comes to opportunity, a ubiquitous one is service in the Armed Forces, which offers access to the greatest number of apprenticeships, longer life expectancy and…22 May 2025HANSARDOne Hundred Year Partnership Agreement between the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and UkraineMy Lords, I am delighted to follow my good friend, the noble Lord, Lord Marland, and have this opportunity to make a small and relatively brief contribution to this debate. I do…22 Apr 2025HANSARDFuture Defence CapabilityMy Lords, in the context of additional defence funding, what is now the Government’s dominant policy consideration about how that funding should be spent? Is it to make good our…26 Mar 2025HANSARDUkraine (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)My Lords, I am delighted to have the opportunity to speak in this debate. I am sorry that I have missed some of it. I declare a relevant interest in the register as an adviser to…06 Mar 2025HANSARDRussian Maritime Activity and UK ResponseMy Lords, I thank the Minister for sharing the Statement. In the context of tactical action, it is not a bad tactical response. Having read it only just before today’s sitting, I…28 Jan 2025HANSARDUK Strategy Towards the Arctic (International Relations and Defence Committee Report)My Lords, I welcome this opportunity to debate this excellent report regarding the UK’s strategy towards the Arctic. I share the view that this has been a somewhat neglected area…09 Jan 2025HANSARDDefence: 2.5% GDP Spending CommitmentMy Lords, arguably, one of the most difficult tasks of government is to determine the level of expenditure and therefore capability needed to reduce external threats to the…17 Dec 2024