Contributions
1,745 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDTopical QuestionsI have seen the letter to which my right hon. Friend refers. I found it totally unacceptable, and it is not in any way in accordance with policies at the Home Office. I have…01 Apr 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsMy deepest sympathies go out to all those affected by the terrorist massacre in Christchurch, New Zealand. To help protect our faith institutions, we are increasing next year’s…01 Apr 2019HANSARDTopical QuestionsOf course resources are very important in fighting knife crime. Alongside the £100 million that the Chancellor announced in his spring statement, which all the forces have told us…01 Apr 2019HANSARDSerious Violence: PreventionTackling serious violence is a top priority for the Government. In April 2018, we published the “Serious Violence Strategy” that set out the need for a multi-agency approach to…01 Apr 2019HANSARDPlaces of Worship: Protective SecurityThe UK stands shoulder to shoulder with New Zealand against terrorism and we will not falter in our commitment to uphold the values of tolerance, religious freedom, and democracy.…19 Mar 2019HANSARDJustice and Home Affairs Post-Council StatementThe final meeting of EU Interior and Justice Ministers that the UK is expected to attend as an EU member state took place on 7 and 8 March in Brussels. I represented the UK for…15 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesWe estimate that over 900 people left the UK to engage with the conflict in Syria and Iraq. Many have been killed fighting, some remain there, some have returned and others could…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesFirst of all, the one thing I do concur with the right hon. Lady about is that the death of any child is a tragedy, wherever it takes place in the world. It is not something that…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesThe first point that my right hon. and learned Friend raised was on citizenship. Again, to make it clear, under international law it would clearly not be possible for the British…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesI absolutely understand my hon. Friend’s point. He has pointed out, quite correctly, the challenges of prosecution of foreign terrorist fighters who return to the UK. As we have…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesI can confirm that if a child is born to a British citizen anywhere in the world, as long as that British citizen is not a naturalised British citizen, that child is British, even…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesI always listen carefully to what my right hon. Friend says, and he was right in his opening comment. Much has been said about this case—many accusations and insinuations and much…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesThe hon. and learned Lady suggests that because journalists are getting into Syria—into some of the camps—that it is perfectly safe, then, for British officials to enter. She will…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesThat is right, and it is as true for me as it has been for my predecessors. As I have said before, it has been the case for predecessors of all political colours. This whole power…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesFirst, my hon. Friend reminds the House that, sadly, many children have died in Syria because of the conflict, with many having died because of the acts of Daesh and its terrorist…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesFirst, let me say that I have respect for my hon. Friend, too. I say gently to him that, although he is absolutely entitled to his view, he could not possibly know the facts of…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesIt is worth reminding the House that there is no British Government consular presence in Syria, which is why we have made it very clear since 2011 that no one should enter Syria.…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesFirst, we are in the final stages of appointing the independent reviewer of terrorism legislation, so I will come back to the hon. Lady on the specific point about the 2014 Act.…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesMy hon. Friend makes a fair point and draws out the fact that each decision must be made on a case-by-case basis. There is sometimes a fine balance to be struck about the best way…11 Mar 2019HANSARDShamima Begum and Other CasesI very much agree with the hon. Gentleman about the loss of any child, whether the child of a terrorist or any other child. All children, especially babies, are innocent in every…11 Mar 2019