Contributions
387 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDLebanonThe UK remains fully committed to helping to promote Lebanon’s security and stability. The Prime Minister conveyed that message to Prime Minister Hariri as recently as 24…02 Apr 2019HANSARDOverseas Soft PowerI had a chance to speak directly with Lord Ricketts in a radio studio a week ago. He recognises, I think, the difficulties that we face in dealing with the Brexit negotiations. I…02 Apr 2019HANSARDOverseas Soft PowerIt is incumbent on all of us not to talk the country down in what we appreciate are difficult times. We want to see progress—significant progress—in this regard. I am struck by…02 Apr 2019HANSARDOverseas Soft PowerIronically, a recent UN report showed the UK rising up the happiness league, but I appreciate that some of these surveys cannot be relied on too much. On a serious note, the hon.…02 Apr 2019HANSARDOverseas Soft PowerThe GREAT campaign is a fantastic success. Part of my role is to deal with communications, representing the Foreign Office on a cross-departmental basis. We recognise the…02 Apr 2019HANSARDOverseas Soft PowerI fear that I may have to disappoint my hon. Friend, who represents a coastal constituency. As a regular visitor to Broadstairs in his constituency, I know what a wonderful part…02 Apr 2019HANSARDOverseas Soft PowerMy hon. Friend is absolutely right that the UK has an unbreakable connection to the Commonwealth and the democratic, inclusive values that it upholds—we discussed earlier the…02 Apr 2019HANSARDOverseas Soft PowerWe regard the UK as a soft power superpower, and this is widely recognised in independent international surveys and reports. [ Interruption. ] A few more tongue twisters and I…02 Apr 2019HANSARDMiddle EastThe right hon. Lady is absolutely right. She will recognise that Hamas is one of a number of Iranian proxies in the region. Our position is that Hamas must renounce violence,…02 Apr 2019HANSARDMiddle EastClearly, we want to try to avoid violent confrontation at all costs. As I said in my earlier answer, mercifully the major concerns about violence at the protests this weekend,…02 Apr 2019HANSARDMiddle EastThere are two issues at stake, so I shall go into some detail, if I may. We abstained on that UNHRC resolution calling for an inquiry on the basis that the substance of such a…02 Apr 2019HANSARDMiddle EastI think we all recognise that Israel is an important strategic partner for the United Kingdom and that we need to collaborate actively on issues of defence, security and…02 Apr 2019HANSARDMiddle EastWe are concerned by the recent violence in Israel and Gaza, and we welcome the Egyptian efforts to de-escalate the situation. At the UN Security Council on 26 March, the UK…02 Apr 2019HANSARDForeign and Commonwealth OfficeWill the hon. Gentleman please be assured that there is ongoing legal advice on all the matters to which he referred? I should perhaps also say, to correct the record in that…27 Mar 2019HANSARDWestminster Foundation for Democracy: Tailored ReviewI am announcing today the publication of the recent tailored review of the Westminster Foundation of Democracy (WFD), an arm’s-length body of the Foreign and Commonwealth Office…27 Mar 2019HANSARDForeign and Commonwealth OfficeWill the hon. Gentleman please be assured that there is ongoing legal advice on all the matters to which he referred? I should perhaps also say, to correct the record in that…27 Mar 2019HANSARDYemenAs I mentioned in the answer to my hon. Friend the Member for Kettering (Mr Hollobone), we obviously recognise that Iran has an important part to play, not least because it is the…26 Mar 2019HANSARDYemenTo be honest, until all parties in Yemen are committed to the peace process or start down that path, it is going to be very difficult. That is the truth. We will do as much as we…26 Mar 2019HANSARDYemenThe work we are doing within the UN is clearly vital. We have to bring both sides of this conflict together, and we have done our level best to do that. We think the Yemeni…26 Mar 2019HANSARDYemenAs we see it, the next phase of the Stockholm agreement is to provide for a mutual redeployment of the forces away from Hodeidah. Again, we are looking to work, as we need to do,…26 Mar 2019