Contributions
879 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDForeign Interference in UK PoliticsMy Lords, I welcome the Government’s acceptance of the recommendations of the Rycroft report. The Statement says: “We will also strengthen our response to the wider influencing…09 Jul 2026HANSARDHistorical Forced AdoptionMy Lords, I declare a painful personal interest. My mother was working as a volunteer for the Church of England Moral Welfare in the 1950s and I did not fully understand what it…07 Jul 2026HANSARDArmed Forces BillMy Lords, I find it rather rich that the noble Earl, Lord Minto, has attacked the Government for not spending enough on defence when the Conservative Party is still calling for…06 Jul 2026HANSARDPolitical Party Finance and the Electoral CommissionMy Lords, in following the noble Lord, Lord Maude, with whom I worked in the coalition many years ago, I am thinking of the 2022 Act, through which the Conservative Government…02 Jul 2026HANSARDDemocratic Institutions: ThreatsThat this House takes note of the threats to democratic institutions in the United Kingdom, including disinformation, foreign interference, and levels of public trust in politics.25 Jun 2026HANSARDDemocratic Institutions: ThreatsMy Lords, I am sure we are all grateful for how cool the Chamber is today. I want to talk about the interconnection between domestic and foreign threats to British democracy.…25 Jun 2026HANSARDDemocratic Institutions: ThreatsMy Lords, I thank the Minister for that very thoughtful reply. I am very sorry to hear about the noble Baroness, Lady Anderson. We all hope we will see her again soon. We will be…25 Jun 2026HANSARDSocial Media: Use of X by Government DepartmentsMy Lords, on Thursday, this House will be discussing threats to democracy. We are close to the point now where one has to see X— and Elon Musk—as something of a threat to British…23 Jun 2026HANSARDHS2 Ltd: ConsultantsMy Lords, as someone who has spent most of my life living in the north of England, I strongly agree with the Minister that we need very considerably to improve the capacity of…22 Jun 2026HANSARDForeign Interference in UK Democratic ProcessesMy Lords, the report that the noble Lord, Lord Pack, referred to was by a French government agency about the apparent operations of an Israeli company in exerting influence over…17 Jun 2026HANSARDImmigration: Eurodac and SIS IIWill the Minister confirm that it has always been very strongly in the interests of the British police and other authorities to promote closer co-operation with our neighbours? I…15 Jun 2026HANSARDUK Defence CapabilityMy Lords, the SDR made it clear that the Russian threat is now not simply a threat from abroad in eastern Europe and the North Sea but is also a homeland threat. It suggested a…08 Jun 2026HANSARDCabinet Manual: Guidelines for Government FormationMy Lords, I welcome this announcement and thank the Minister for alerting me to the Statement yesterday. The coalition Government produced the Cabinet Manual as a guide for future…03 Jun 2026HANSARDCabinet Manual: Guidelines for Government FormationTo ask His Majesty’s Government what consideration they have given to including in the Cabinet Manual guidelines for government formation in the event of the next election not…03 Jun 2026HANSARDDonations to Political PartiesMy Lords, how are the Government going to get at the increasingly shadowy area of what the Minister has just called political life, where donations are not specifically to…01 Jun 2026HANSARDHigher Earners: EmigrationMy Lords, does the Minister remember the argument, at the time of the Brexit referendum, that the divide in Britain was between the intellectual elite, who were people from…21 May 2026HANSARDDisadvantaged Pupils: Music Attainment GapThe Minister mentioned music hubs. The key thing in getting an opportunity for disadvantaged students from schools that do not have good musical education is to put them in touch…20 May 2026HANSARDRetirement and Participation CommitteeMy Lords, like others, I note that the King’s Speech did not mention constitutional or political reform. The Representation of the People Bill addresses many of the external…18 May 2026HANSARDLocal Government Pension FundMy Lords, this is about local government pension funds and we are discussing guidance; the Minister has just talked about an instruction. Does she recognise that the autonomy of…18 May 2026HANSARDKing’s SpeechMy Lords, like others, I note that the King’s Speech did not mention constitutional or political reform. The Representation of the People Bill addresses many of the external…18 May 2026