Contributions
194 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDCrown Estate (Wales) Bill [HL]My Lords, it is a great pleasure, as always, to follow the noble Lord, Lord Wigley. I was trying to work out how long we have been in Parliament together—it is 38 years since we…07 Feb 2025HANSARDRepresentation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2025Legally—I will come to that in a moment. Therefore, these regulations are absolutely right. We need to ensure that turnout is up, and that people vote and are encouraged to vote.…20 Jan 2025HANSARDRepresentation of the People (Northern Ireland) (Amendment) Regulations 2025My Lords, I support this statutory instrument. It is very important that we try to ensure that as many as people as possible vote in Northern Ireland, and indeed the rest of the…20 Jan 2025HANSARDOperaTo ask His Majesty’s Government what steps they are taking to support opera.10 Dec 2024HANSARDOperaMy Lords, it is a great pleasure, particularly after listening to that very interesting debate on Northern Ireland, to come to a very different topic: the future of opera in this…10 Dec 2024HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Legacy of the TroublesMy Lords, I congratulate my noble friend on this significant achievement. It puts into practice what we said we would do before the general election: repeal the legislation. Some…05 Dec 2024HANSARDRail PerformanceRegarding HS2 and Old Oak Common, what is going to happen to services from Wales and the West Country over the next number of years with the effective semi-closure of Paddington…13 Nov 2024HANSARDHouse of Lords ReformMy Lords, that advice was certainly relevant yesterday, when 80 people spoke in the debate and I was 71st. But it gave me time to reflect on the nature of yesterday’s debate on…12 Nov 2024HANSARDAutumn Budget 2024My Lords, the noble Lord, Lord Northbrook, referred to a recent article in the Times . Yesterday, in the editorial of its sister paper, the Sunday Times , was this sentence:…11 Nov 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]My Lords, I will speak to move Amendment 11 on behalf of my noble friend Lord Hain, who cannot be with us this afternoon. I was present in Committee on the Bill and listened with…05 Nov 2024HANSARDCrown Estate Bill [HL]05 Nov 2024HANSARDCommunity and Voluntary SectorMy Lords, it is a great pleasure, as always, to follow my very good friend—my noble friend Lord Dubs—and to congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Morgan, on her wonderful…31 Oct 2024HANSARDGovernment of Wales Act 2006 (Devolved Welsh Authorities) (Amendment) Order 2024My Lords, I associate myself with the sentiments of the Minister regarding the dreadful accident in mid Wales. I also pay tribute to her in her new role and wish her well in it.…22 Oct 2024HANSARDSocial Care StrategyMy Lords, in 1983, I almost became the Labour candidate for Worsley. I did not, and I am delighted I did not, because we might not have had my noble friend Lady Keeley as the…10 Oct 2024HANSARDPatrick Finucane MurderMy Lords, I welcome my noble friend to the Front Bench. I am sure she will do a wonderful job as the spokesperson on Northern Ireland. When I was Secretary of State, I received…12 Sept 2024HANSARDPatrick Finucane MurderMy Lords—12 Sept 2024HANSARDLords Spiritual (Women) Act 2015 (Extension) Bill [HL]My Lords, about 12 years ago, when I was a Member of the House of Commons, I spoke on the Bill that brought in women bishops for the Church of England. In fact, I went to the…10 Sept 2024HANSARDBudget Responsibility BillMy Lords, I very much support the Bill. The debate has been extremely interesting, although noble Lords seem to want to rewrite recent history. The purpose of the Bill is to…09 Sept 2024HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, I congratulate the noble Baroness, Lady Jolly, on her retirement and wish her well; she has been a great Member of our House. I also pay tribute to the noble Baroness,…19 Jul 2024HANSARDNorthern Ireland: Legacy of the TroublesMy Lords, it is not just the Irish Government who were opposed to the very controversial legacy legislation. Every single Northern Ireland political party opposed it. The Minister…07 May 2024