Contributions
479 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDForeign Interference in UK PoliticsOn procedure, I suspect that on the Opposition Front Bench the lady doth protest too much, judging by what I hear about the precedents. It is rather a good thing that there is a…09 Jul 2026HANSARDPolitical Party Finance and the Electoral CommissionThe noble Earl, Lord Kinnoull, introduced the debate with his usual courtesy and wisdom, but he reminded us that, as a highlander, for all the courtesy, he carries a claymore. I…02 Jul 2026HANSARDDefence Investment PlanMy Lords, I was head of the Treasury’s defence division, and I welcome all this concentration on the money, but the document is actually about investment and where the money is to…01 Jul 2026HANSARDHong Kong Economic and Trade OfficeMy Lords, I have not yet heard an answer to the question asked by the noble Lord, Lord Fox, on conflict of interest. Is it acceptable for a Crown servant—an immigration officer, a…22 Jun 2026HANSARDRefugee Move-on Period Pilot Evaluation ReportReverting to the question from the noble Baroness, Lady Lister, if the person granted asylum has only 42 days to navigate housing, employment and the markets, and to get himself a…10 Jun 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillMy Lords—14 Apr 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillIt has been said that the Americans are against the necessary revision of the 1966 exchange of letters. That is not my understanding. I would be grateful if the Minister could…14 Apr 2026HANSARDStatement of Changes in Immigration RulesIt is daunting to follow two such experts on the subject. I cannot match their eloquence, but, like them, I feel strongly that these rule changes are wrong. Some of them, we have…14 Apr 2026HANSARDSmall Boat Deaths: Cranston Inquiry ReportFour years ago, the Government chose not to act on Alexander Downer’s recommendation to then Home Secretary Patel that responsibility for search and rescue in the channel pass…25 Mar 2026HANSARDTreaty Scrutiny in Westminster (International Agreements Committee Report)My Lords, I need to respond to the rather surprising compliment from the noble Lord, Lord Lilley. I can do so because I agree with a number of things that he said, in particular…16 Mar 2026HANSARDTreaty Scrutiny in Westminster (International Agreements Committee Report)I was making the point that the European Parliament has the right to vote on the outcome of any treaty negotiation, of course: treaties require its positive consent. Its debates…16 Mar 2026HANSARDUK-India: Comprehensive Economic and Trade AgreementI shall save my panegyric on the noble and learned Lord, Lord Goldsmith, for 16 March. I had prepared several pages of panegyric, but he throttled me by reminding me that he has…04 Mar 2026HANSARDResetting the UK-EU Relationship (European Affairs Committee Report)It is an excellent report and very well presented, but I wonder why the negotiation has to be so transactional, so timid and so slow. What could be done to speed it up? I suspect…26 Feb 2026HANSARDPublic Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025I did not agree with the noble Baroness, Lady Bennett, about Just Stop Oil blocking motorways and I do not agree with her now about animal testing, which must be carefully…04 Feb 2026HANSARDPublic Order Act 2023 (Interference With Use or Operation of Key National Infrastructure) Regulations 2025I thank the noble Lord, but I think I will stick to my line of argument. I do not think we discussed laboratories. Hansard shows that we did not. It is important to remember that…04 Feb 2026HANSARDChinese EmbassyI appreciate all the constraints, and any expertise that I had is extremely out of date, but does the Minister agree that it is conceivable that those responsible for keeping an…15 Jan 2026HANSARDIranMy Lords, the Minister wants to discourage young people from Iran who are fleeing for their lives from coming to this country on a small boat. I entirely agree, but the noble…15 Jan 2026HANSARDVenezuelaIf a family member makes what one thinks is a serious mistake, it is often the case that one tries to avoid saying so in public. The Prime Minister is quite right not to attack…06 Jan 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillI am very impressed by the noble Lord’s speech. Can he tell us what proportion of the resources of the Royal Air Force and the Royal Navy are currently deployed in the Indian…05 Jan 2026HANSARDDiego Garcia Military Base and British Indian Ocean Territory BillMy Lords, one criterion which the House may like to have in mind as we consider the amendments before us is whether they would prevent the Government ratifying the treaty. We have…05 Jan 2026