Contributions
2,386 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, I do not agree; I have respect for the Prime Minister. On who was at these events, as I have said, the primary purpose of the investigation will be to establish swiftly…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, I believe it is a wise course in human events and in life generally to act on the basis of full facts. I have assured the House that the investigation is being conducted…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, adherence to the law is important, and the noble Baroness is correct to anticipate my answer on that point. As I have told the House, an investigation is already taking…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, first I will address what the noble Baroness said in the opening part of her remarks, which will strike a chord with the whole House. Frankly, there is not a single…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, as I said in the Statement, as with any internal investigation, if evidence emerges of what was potentially a criminal offence, the matter will be referred to the…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, it will not please the noble Lord opposite, but I repeat that a fair truth in a democracy is that it would not be appropriate to comment on or prejudge the outcome of an…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, I believe in the rule of law, the sanctity of respect between human beings and in due process. I repeat what I said in the Statement, that as with all investigations, it…11 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street EventMy Lords, I would answer in a similar tone to that in which I replied to the noble Baroness. I pay huge respect to the role of the clergy and faith leaders of all faiths and to…11 Jan 2022HANSARDLegislation: Skeleton Bills and Delegated PowersMy Lords, I do not agree with my noble friend Lord Hodgson of Astley Abbotts that this debate would not interest people in the Dog and Duck—though it has to be said I have not…06 Jan 2022HANSARDLegislation: Skeleton Bills and Delegated PowersMy Lords, I am sad; I was seeking courteously to acknowledge the contribution made by my noble friend. I am grateful that he has reiterated what he said. I have said, and will say…06 Jan 2022HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesMy Lords, I will now repeat the Answer to an Urgent Question made in the House of Commons: “Mr Speaker, as the Prime Minister said to the House yesterday, he understands and…09 Dec 2021HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesMy Lords, I just responded to that in answering the question from the noble Lord, Lord Wallace.09 Dec 2021HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesAs a preamble, I failed to respond to the noble Baroness opposite on who might have been at any of these alleged events. I can assure her that, obviously, that is part of the…09 Dec 2021HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesMy Lords, I reject the characterisation of both my right honourable friend the Prime Minister and the many people who work in No. 10 Downing Street and elsewhere, whether…09 Dec 2021HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesThose who participate are very vocal on the matter. The third factor, in response to the noble Lord, is that there is a vital task—which the Prime Minister is engaged on and has…09 Dec 2021HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesMy Lords, the rules of the House of Commons are for the other place. As far as I am concerned, every Minister acts on his or her honour to be truthful to whichever House they are…09 Dec 2021HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesMy Lords, I sincerely hope that that would be the case. Obviously, the Cabinet Secretary is responsible for the conduct of the inquiry. He is the senior civil servant and will own…09 Dec 2021HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesMy noble friend is entirely right—he perhaps put it more elegantly than I did—that there is a political strand to this. In this country, there is an ancient presumption that…09 Dec 2021HANSARDDowning Street Christmas PartiesMy Lords, as I said, the terms of reference will be published by the Cabinet Secretary later today. If that is not clear in the terms of reference, I hope that it will be made…09 Dec 2021HANSARDCovid-19: National MemorialYes, we should always seek to be better prepared for everything in life. When we have the inquiry, I have no doubt there will be lessons to be learned by this Government, and I…08 Dec 2021