Contributions
1,541 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsWe have discussed these issues on a number of occasions. The Foreign Secretary and the Prime Minister have set out why we had to take the difficult decisions we have made, but I…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsI was clear yesterday, in response to the news that my hon. and learned Friend refers to, that their continued detention is unjustified and appalling. He has been a doughty…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsI completely agree with the right hon. Gentleman that Shi’a communities—whether in Lebanon, Iraq, Iran or, indeed, Pakistan—overwhelmingly want peace and human rights like…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsI thank the right hon. Gentleman, my Lincolnshire neighbour, for his kind words and attention to these matters. I take the challenge that there is a completely untrue narrative…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsIt does. Of course, flags are much less important than the horrific loss of life that we have discussed over the course of this afternoon. However, it is hard to draw the…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsI thank my hon. Friend for his question and for his commitment to the region and developments in the middle east. We are proud that we are now one of the largest humanitarian…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsI think we have to be a bit careful when we describe the Government of Israel. I do not think they have a thirst for the blood of innocent civilians. We have to be a bit more…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsWords do matter. It has been a long-standing principle of this Government, and indeed previous Governments, that it is not for Ministers to say what crimes are—that is for courts…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsI recognise my hon. Friend’s engagement in and commitment to these issues. I just gently say back to him that I have met the children displaced by this escalation. We have taken…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsI am grateful for the hon. Lady’s questions. As I am sure was clear in my answer, we do call for an immediate and meaningful ceasefire. I also commented on the extent of civilian…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsI thank my right hon. Friend for her continued interest in Lebanon. I have been south of the Litani, and I have handed over watchtowers to the Lebanese armed forces in those…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Lebanon: Israel Defence Forces OperationsBefore I answer the hon. Lady’s important urgent question, let me say that I am sure the whole House will join me in condemning Iran’s strike on Kuwait International airport with…03 Jun 2026HANSARD Middle EastI thank my hon. Friend and former colleague in the Foreign Office for her question. We are pressing for full consular rights—we made that point this morning. We understand from…21 May 2026HANSARD Middle EastI have sought to set out the action we are taking in relation to Israel and Palestine, both our publicly announced steps and the diplomatic work going on behind the scenes, and I…21 May 2026HANSARD Middle EastI absolutely agree with my hon. and gallant Friend that we need to work with our partners across the region to have the best effect.21 May 2026HANSARD Imprisonment of Craig and Lindsay Foreman in IranI raised the case with the Iranian ambassador very recently—whenever I last saw him—and I have raised it in every single interaction I have had with him, but I reassure the hon.…21 May 2026HANSARD Middle EastI am grateful to my hon. Friend for the question. I will not go further on sanctions, for the reasons I have set out, but I am sure she is aware that I and the Foreign Secretary…21 May 2026HANSARD Middle EastI would take the point with more force if we were not today seeing our European partners looking to imitate things that we did some considerable time ago. I recognise the depth of…21 May 2026HANSARD Middle EastI am reluctant to pass comment on the deliberations of other legislatures. The hon. Member referred to a number of European Union countries; as I am sure he knows, they have not…21 May 2026HANSARD Middle EastI do not accept the characterisation, but I reassure the right hon. Member that it does not take my being stood at the Dispatch Box for us to be taking action on behalf of British…21 May 2026