Contributions
1,912 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARD Islamophobia Awareness MonthDoes my hon. Friend agree that on such a sensitive subject such as this, the highly partisan nature in which the debate has been opened, if watched by our Muslim constituents,…24 Nov 2021HANSARD Islamophobia Awareness MonthDebates such as this are symbolically important to show our shared commitment, but symbolism does not improve lives on its own. The Government have done a lot and we have some of…24 Nov 2021HANSARD Islamophobia Awareness MonthIt was disappointing that the hon. Member for Bath (Wera Hobhouse) used her speech to make partisan attacks on colleagues on the Government side of the House. She said that she…24 Nov 2021HANSARD Islamophobia Awareness MonthI would like to conclude my speech without being talked over. I can barely hear myself. This is not the spirit in which we should— [ Interruption. ]24 Nov 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsI thank the hon. Lady for raising that very important point. I do not have the Ministry of Justice figures to hand, but what I can do is get one of my colleagues in that…24 Nov 2021HANSARDTopical QuestionsBuilding trust between different communities and the institutions that serve them was a central theme of the report by the Commission on Race and Ethnic Disparities. We will…24 Nov 2021HANSARDDiversity and Freedom of Belief: Public InstitutionsI completely agree with my hon. Friend. Indeed, John Cleese was quite right to highlight this issue. However, it should not be up to comedians to educate students on core values…24 Nov 2021HANSARD Islamophobia Awareness MonthIt is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr Dowd. I thank all hon. Members for their contributions. It has been a very feisty debate, and it is quite clear that concerns…24 Nov 2021HANSARD Islamophobia Awareness MonthI barely have time to finish my speech, so I am afraid not. No one in our society should be discriminated against because of their religion. In the spirit of remarks of the hon.…24 Nov 2021HANSARDDiversity and Freedom of Belief: Public InstitutionsI thank the hon. and learned Lady for bringing that question to me. She is absolutely right. I have been appalled by the disgraceful treatment of Professor Kathleen Stock. I think…24 Nov 2021HANSARD Islamophobia Awareness MonthThe UK is one of the best places in the world to live, no matter who you are or where you come from. It is full of opportunities. We have a large and thriving Muslim population…24 Nov 2021HANSARDDiversity and Freedom of Belief: Public InstitutionsI regularly discuss these important issues with other Ministers, as does the Minister for Women and Equalities. Freedom of belief and speech are vital pillars of our democratic…24 Nov 2021HANSARD Islamophobia Awareness MonthI am afraid I do not have the time.24 Nov 2021HANSARDDraft Local Audit (Appointing Person) (Amendment) Regulations 2021I beg to move, That the Committee has considered the draft Local Audit (Appointing Person) (Amendment) Regulations 2021. It is a pleasure to serve under your chairmanship, Mr…22 Nov 2021HANSARDDraft Local Audit (Appointing Person) (Amendment) Regulations 2021I thank the shadow Minister for his comments. Members on both sides of the Committee clearly agree that timely completion of audits is vital in maintaining the transparency and…22 Nov 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Twelfth sitting)I believe it was a coalition Government who introduced PCCs, not a purely Conservative Government. We have had PCCs for 10 years now and there has been plenty of time to review…26 Oct 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Twelfth sitting)I want to respond to a few points made by Opposition Members. On engagement, the policy was announced back in March. It is just that it was not a Cabinet Office policy; it was a…26 Oct 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Twelfth sitting)And I still reject the hon. Gentleman’s point. The fact is that we have a Labour Mayor at the moment; we have had more Labour Mayors than Conservative Mayors; and first past the…26 Oct 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Twelfth sitting)No. I do not have a list of the mayoral elections that would be different, because the point is that we are not doing this for political reasons; we are doing it to simplify the…26 Oct 2021HANSARDElections Bill (Twelfth sitting)I will finish this point, because I know we want to finish this this afternoon. This was a manifesto commitment; people voted in the 2019 election knowing that this was in our…26 Oct 2021