Contributions
1,488 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDBritish Indian Ocean Territory: SovereigntyMy Lords, I have in my hand a BBC News report of Jeremy Corbyn welcoming the Government’s decision on the exercise of sovereignty of the Chagos Islands. It reports that he was…03 Jul 2025HANSARDIndia: MinoritiesMy Lords, this should not be separate, because the noble Baroness, while in opposition, was in the same Division Lobby as me on a Labour Motion that said that every trade…02 Jul 2025HANSARDDeep Sea Mining in International WatersWill the Government confirm, as the ISA has, that their view is that the executive order is contrary to international law, when it comes to the law of the seas, and contrary to…30 Jun 2025HANSARDUK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos ArchipelagoThat this House resolves, in accordance with section 20 of the Constitutional Reform and Governance Act 2010, that His Majesty’s Government should not ratify the Agreement between…30 Jun 2025HANSARDUK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos ArchipelagoIn light of the position that the Conservatives have taken—no, that was a joke. In light of the Minister accepting the terms of my Motion and the fact that this House, and indeed…30 Jun 2025HANSARDUK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos ArchipelagoMy Lords, I have a Motion in my name in the debate. I thank the Minister for the open way in which we have had discussions since the agreement was laid before Parliament and put…30 Jun 2025HANSARDUK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos ArchipelagoI refer the noble Lord back to Hansard for the Statement from James Cleverly, and I am afraid that he should withdraw his comment that I was incorrect. I quoted the Written…30 Jun 2025HANSARDUK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos ArchipelagoThe noble Lord is a stickler for accuracy. I quoted Hansard from 3 June when the noble Earl, Lord Minto, said that the Conservatives had tabled a fatal Motion.30 Jun 2025HANSARDUK-Mauritius Agreement on the Chagos ArchipelagoI am listening attentively to what the noble Lord is saying. If he has time, could he outline a little more of the background to the decision James Cleverly made in November 2022…30 Jun 2025HANSARDNational Security StrategyMy Lords, I also thank the Leader for repeating the Statement. Most people in our country take for granted the liberties and freedoms we enjoy. In a way, that is a good thing, as…26 Jun 2025HANSARDMiddle EastMy Lords, every casualty in the Iran-Israel conflict is one that could have been avoided, but it is worth remembering that, in the same period, almost as many people have been…24 Jun 2025HANSARDOfficial Development Assistance: Vulnerable ChildrenMy Lords, we know that the impact of conflict, climate and other world crises has a disproportionate impact on girls and education in particular. We also know that by far the best…23 Jun 2025HANSARDIsrael and IranMy Lords, the danger that the Minister referred to is exacerbated by the unpredictability of our most significant ally, the United States. I am glad that the Foreign Secretary is…19 Jun 2025HANSARDInternational Vaccine Programmes: FundingFurther to the question of the noble Lord, Lord Fowler, we know that any reduction in vaccine availability has a massively disproportionate impact on girls and young women. In the…17 Jun 2025HANSARDGibraltarMy Lords, I should declare that I have visited Gibraltar previously, both before and immediately after the Brexit referendum. I am conscious that there has been a regrettable…17 Jun 2025HANSARDConflict in the Middle EastI thank the Minister for repeating the Statement made today. I start by referring to the previous Statement on the designations. I have previously described in the House a visit…16 Jun 2025HANSARDIsrael: Arab Israeli and Jewish Israeli CommunitiesMy Lords, I thank the Minister for his reference to Search for Common Ground and declare that I am the voluntary chair of its UK board. On a profound visit that I made to the…16 Jun 2025HANSARDChinese Embassy DevelopmentThat update from the Minister is most helpful. We know from public warnings from the director-general of MI5 that China has been operating on an “epic scale” in its attempts to…12 Jun 2025HANSARDWinter Fuel PaymentMy Lords, following the reference to those on these Benches and ISAs, I should perhaps declare to the House that I do not have £1 million in my ISA—I wish. The Minister said that…12 Jun 2025HANSARDCriminal Justice Act 1988 (Offensive Weapons) (Amendment, Surrender and Compensation) (England and Wales) Order 2025My Lords, I apologise but I wish to make two very quick points with regard to these measures that we debated last week in Grand Committee. I gave the Government Whips’ Office…10 Jun 2025