Contributions
331 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Valedictory DebateIndeed I am—wholeheartedly.05 Nov 2019HANSARDTributes to the SpeakerMr Speaker, may I echo the heartfelt comments that have been made about you from so many quarters over the past few days? May I do so by way of two confessions, which I have been…31 Oct 2019HANSARDEngagementsWhen a high-profile person has been wrongly accused of a sexual crime and has had his livelihood and reputation destroyed, following which the police, it seems, would rather fight…23 Oct 2019HANSARD Prime Minister's Role in Creating a Safe EnvironmentMr Speaker, if you were to reread your Samuel Pepys, you would find a line in the diaries of over 350 years ago, which says that so low had the rump fallen in the eyes of the…26 Sept 2019HANSARDEarly Parliamentary General Election (No. 2)I had no intention a few moments ago of speaking in this debate, but I would like to say three things that I hope the House will take on board. The first is to appreciate the…09 Sept 2019HANSARDEarly Parliamentary General Election (No. 2)No, I will not give way to anybody.09 Sept 2019HANSARDEarly Parliamentary General Election (No. 2)No! Those are the three points that I simply want to make. I hope that, as this House goes through what is a very difficult and painful process as we approach the election, when…09 Sept 2019HANSARDPersecution of Christians OverseasI am grateful to my hon. Friends the Members for Croydon South (Chris Philp) and for Congleton (Fiona Bruce) and to the hon. Members for Strangford (Jim Shannon) and for Glasgow…18 Jul 2019HANSARDPersecution of Christians OverseasThank you for the offer. There are not many saints in this House, but the hon. Gentleman is about as close as anyone gets to being one. On Monday 8 July, the Foreign Secretary…18 Jul 2019HANSARDPersecution of Christians OverseasI absolutely agree with my right hon. Friend, and in fact he is making my point for me: this is not just a Foreign Office thing. Indeed, it is not just an envoy thing; it is an…18 Jul 2019HANSARDPersecution of Christians OverseasWe cannot have one set of standards for abroad and a different set of standards for our own domestic life; they all have to be consistent, and in that sense my hon. Friend is…18 Jul 2019HANSARDForeign Affairs CouncilThe Minister for the Middle East, my right hon. Friend the Member for South West Wiltshire (Dr Murrison), will attend the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 15 July. It will be…11 Jul 2019HANSARD Resignation of UK Ambassador to USAIt was with deep regret that, yesterday, the Government accepted the resignation of Her Majesty’s ambassador to Washington, Sir Kim Darroch. Over a distinguished 42-year career,…11 Jul 2019HANSARD Resignation of UK Ambassador to USAI am grateful to the hon. Lady—at least for her kind words about me. I do feel obliged to defend my right hon. Friend the Prime Minister. I think that in these difficult times the…11 Jul 2019HANSARD Resignation of UK Ambassador to USAThe right hon. Gentleman has spoken with authority and wisdom. What he said should be pinned on every wall as an instruction to people on how to act, respectively, in public life…11 Jul 2019HANSARD Resignation of UK Ambassador to USAI hope the House will understand if I hold back today from making any further comment on my right hon. Friend the Member for Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Boris Johnson). I said…11 Jul 2019HANSARD Resignation of UK Ambassador to USAThere are those who break all the rules of decency who think they can benefit from it themselves. Quite who is benefiting from this, I cannot see, but what is quite clear is that…11 Jul 2019HANSARD Resignation of UK Ambassador to USAI thank my hon. Friend for what he has said consistently over the past few days. I thank him for his response and his support, and for that of the Foreign Affairs Committee, which…11 Jul 2019HANSARD Resignation of UK Ambassador to USAI thank the hon. Gentleman for bowling me such easy balls and I will endeavour to answer as frankly as I can. He will forgive me if I do not commit to a timescale, simply because…11 Jul 2019HANSARD Resignation of UK Ambassador to USAI seem to recall that that was one of the kinder words that I used yesterday. [Laughter.] There is one thing that I have omitted to say today, which I hope I can say now in…11 Jul 2019