Contributions
1,178 recent contributions in Hansard
HANSARDSituation in the GulfMay I reassure my hon. Friend that this is absolutely not about appeasing Iran? It is about trying to see whether there is a diplomatic avenue to prevent the seizure of British…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfI hope that the hon. Gentleman will understand that we do not discuss rules of engagement publicly, for very obvious reasons, but we are always doing everything we can to make…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfI have just asked the Defence Secretary that very question, to which the answer is yes. [Official Report, 24 July 2019, Vol. 663, c. 16MC.]22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfI hope that the hon. Gentleman will let us and particularly the Home Office and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government know if he comes across any examples of…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfI might be straying slightly from my brief as Foreign Secretary, but it will not surprise my hon. Friend to know that I support increased spending on our armed forces. We have to…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfI commend the hon. Lady for staying in touch with the Iranian diaspora in this country, who remind us that at their heart many Iranians fundamentally do understand our values and…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfWhat my hon. Friend says is close to my heart, as the son of a naval officer, a phrase I have been known to use in the last few weeks one or two times— [ Interruption ] —and as an…22 Jul 2019HANSARDForeign Affairs Council 15 July 2019I attended the Foreign Affairs Council (FAC) on 15 July. It was chaired by the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (HRVP), Federica…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfThat is a very fair question. The truth is that we have to do that by being very frank with the Trump Administration when we disagree with them and about why we disagree with…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfI agree with my right hon. and learned Friend and thank him for his question. Just to add to my earlier comments, at the point of Brexit, that will be a moment when a lot of…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfYes: continue to support the Iran nuclear deal, despite the pressure that it is evidently under; do everything we can to persuade Iran not enrich its uranium towards 20%, which is…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfMy right hon. Friend makes a very important point about Qatar, because LNG is absolutely critical to the global economy. That is one of the main reasons, alongside oil, that we…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfYes, and the hon. Gentleman is absolutely right. He speaks very powerfully of one country where we are see the malign impact of Iranian sponsorship, and we doing everything we can…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfYes, and I wish I had made more of my strong agreement with what my hon. Friend has just said in the last few months. As we have been talking a lot about the Gulf and he has…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfI congratulate the right hon. Gentleman on his eagle eye in spotting that detail, but I want to reassure him that when HMS Duncan arrives HMS Montrose will not be going out of…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. People who have been studying the region for longer than I have would say that there is no issue with Iran being a regional power and a great…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfMy hon. Friend is absolutely right. When the Stena Impero was taken, HMS Montrose was actually only 20 minutes away and trying very hard to get there in time. I hope one of the…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfAbsolutely. What we want is secure freedom of navigation for the thousands of ships that pass through the region every year. If the ship is returned and the crew released, and if…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfWith permission, I will make a statement about the situation in the Gulf. At approximately 4 pm UK time on Friday, Iranian forces intercepted the British-flagged tanker Stena…22 Jul 2019HANSARDSituation in the GulfFirst, those on the Government Benches wholeheartedly endorse what the shadow Minister said about the shadow Foreign Secretary, whom we wish every success in having a rapid…22 Jul 2019