Contributions
19 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, I will discuss trade and our relations with the European Union, matters which are integral to our domestic, economic and political health, as well as the wider…18 May 2022HANSARDNationality and Borders BillMy Lords, I believe this Bill is one of the most inhumane Bills yet put forward by the Government. I will discuss the attitude of the Home Secretary towards people seeking asylum.…05 Jan 2022HANSARDAssisted Dying Bill [HL]My Lords, there have been substantial changes since the last time this subject was discussed in this House. One of the most important has been the changed attitudes of the…22 Oct 2021HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, I want to discuss democracy. Our democracy is in danger and very few Conservatives seem to care. It is in danger when we cannot trust our leaders and when voters cannot…13 May 2021HANSARDBudget StatementMy Lords, one glaring omission from the Chancellor’s Budget speech was an assessment of the likely economic consequences of Brexit. The early signs are not encouraging, with…12 Mar 2021HANSARDEuropean Union (Future Relationship) BillMy Lords, when Chamberlain came back from Berchtesgaden with a piece of paper proclaiming “peace in our time”, he was greeted with almost universal acclaim. When Johnson came back…30 Dec 2020HANSARDAgriculture BillHello, can you hear me? Nobody can. Just a moment—28 Jul 2020HANSARDAgriculture BillThen that is all right. I have two apologies to make. First, I was listening to the noble Baroness, Lady Young of Old Scone, having followed the great debate with enormous…28 Jul 2020HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, I believe that we are too ready to ignore some real present dangers to democracy. Johnson is of course no Hitler, but there are disturbing signs that he does not…08 Jan 2020HANSARDQueen’s SpeechMy Lords, I want to return to one of the most important decisions that we face in the near future about the future of Britain as a whole. It is the question of whether we should…15 Oct 2019HANSARDQueen’s SpeechI quite agree. I have great admiration for the noble Viscount as a scientist; he has written some excellent books about science. The evidence produced by the IFS and many…15 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexitMy Lords, I had not realised that I was the next speaker—02 Oct 2019HANSARDBrexitMy Lords, what a delightful speech. There was a lot of wisdom in it. Let me cast caution to the winds and start by making three predictions. First, Boris will not get his deal.…02 Oct 2019HANSARDReligious PersecutionMy Lords, that was a most interesting speech, and it certainly makes me want to look again at some of the recommendations. I congratulate the noble Lord, Lord Elton, on tabling…11 Jul 2019HANSARDBrexit: Appointment of Joint CommitteeMy Lords, I hope that one of the costs that the committee will consider in its deliberations is the cost of uncertainty. Industry longs for certainty and there is a widespread,…03 Jul 2019HANSARDBrexit: The Customs Challenge (European Union Committee Report)My Lords, I was not a member of the committee but, having read its report several times—it is not an easy read—I am impressed. First, as many speakers have pointed out, it…01 Apr 2019HANSARDBrexit: The Customs Challenge (European Union Committee Report)It was not exactly over a million; I cannot give more details. It would be an extraordinary travesty of justice if people who voted to leave because they thought that was what…01 Apr 2019HANSARDEU WithdrawalMy Lords, it is often forgotten that in May 1940, when we faced our deepest crisis, it was Labour, led by Clement Attlee, that saved Britain. It put country firmly before party,…13 Feb 2019HANSARDBrexit: Withdrawal Agreement and Political DeclarationMy Lords, it has been my view, repeated perhaps too often in speech after speech in this House, that once the Government declared that they would not stay in the customs union and…10 Jan 2019